NEW PORT RICHEY — Golf cart traffic — and specifically the ability to legally cross city roads such as Main Street as well as U.S. 19 — remains on residents’ minds, the New PORT RICHEY City Council has learned Port Richey on February 21.
New Port Richey has partnered with the City of Port Richey to lobby the Florida Department of Transportation to legalize golf cart crossings at certain intersections along US 19, Marine Parkway and Gulf Boulevard being two in the study.
The stretch of US 19 through Pasco County is considered one of the most dangerous roads in the country. It was never legal to cross the highway with a golf cart, but that didn’t deter people until “no trespassing” signs were recently installed, causing many residents to wrongly believe that the crossing ban is a new regulation.
At the meeting, Kathleen Simington, owner of Krafts by Kathleen on Main Street, asked the council to do everything it can to ensure golf carts “can still get across 19th.” As a trader, she said: “It’s really important for us to offer this convenience to our customers. » Simington is one of many merchants who have denounced a real or potential loss of customers since the installation of the signs.
“Probably about 50 percent of our customers come to us by golf cart,” she said.
Victoria Green, who identified herself as a city resident, business owner and golf cart owner, told the council she bought her golf cart because a lot of people were using them and that looked like fun. Where she lives, she said, you can stop on Madison Street and see a sign that says “Golf Cart Friendly.”
“Now it says ‘No carts allowed.’ »
Green said she also drives her cart to her business, which is on the other side of U.S. 19, and “now I find out the people who live here can’t cross 19.”
“It’s like you’re working against us,” she told council members. “You don’t want me to be a successful business owner. You say, “Come live in New Port Richey.” It’s good; we accept golf carts. But we are not.
Green said she doesn’t understand why there can’t be a crossing on Main Street, especially since it’s the area where restaurants and businesses attract the most people: “I don’t understand not the difference between Main Street and Gulf Drive. She also pointed out that during festivals, parking is a major problem, but two or three golf carts can fit in one space, alleviating some of the problems caused by the lack of parking downtown.
“Let us know what we can do to help get this measure approved,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Mike Peters said golf carts are great “until someone gets hurt.” He added that there are some streets in the city, although not many, where, due to speed limits or other factors, it is not considered safe to allow golf carts to operate.
Likewise, he said, the intersection of U.S. 19 and Main Street is not considered safe for golf cart crossing because of the number of lanes there. He noted that final decisions rest with FDOT, but that City Manager Debbie Manns, along with the city’s state representative, is working with FDOT to find a way to allow golf carts to cross the US 19.
At the Port Richey city public meeting Feb. 14, that city manager John Dudte said Port Richey officials are also part of this effort.
In other news
The city of New Port Richey accepted $9,500 from the Pasco Florida Kennel Club so the police department could purchase a new canine officer. Police Chief Robert Kochen said the city has four dogs, one of which will likely be retired soon. So the department will spend the funds once it determines what type of dog best fits its current needs.
In addition, Dell deChant, Rose Mohr and Amber Blais were reappointed to the environmental committee.
