Siesta crash highlights street safety concerns

On June 15, one day after a three-car collision on north Siesta Key left one dead and three in the hospital with critical injuries, Mark Cassis reached out to City Manager Tom Barwin with a plea for help.

Cassis lives at the corner of Higel Avenue and Ogden Street, close to where the collision occurred. An initial police report said the driver responsible was speeding. The aftermath was a gnarly scene: One of the cars was split in two, with the rear end backed up against a residential fence.

That fence walls off Cassis’ home from the street. Cassis said the proximity of the crash underscores an issue that’s gone unaddressed for years. He implored Barwin to change that.

“Siesta Drive and Higel are no longer safe for pedestrians, bicycles and children,” Cassis wrote.

Barwin responded with a series of directives the city is undertaking. He said city engineering staff would review the road for potential improvements. He asked the Sarasota Police Department to increase traffic enforcement in the area.

As the city explores its options in the wake of the crash, a group of residents in the Bay Island neighborhood is continuing its push to make the road safer. In April, at a neighborhood association meeting, members identified Siesta Drive and Higel Avenue — and the curve where one street turns into the other — as a major concern.

Out of that meeting, a subcommittee formed, focused on improving that stretch of road. Led by residents Dee Reams, Carolyn Allgeier, Shirley Wulf and Pat Wulf, the Make Siesta Drive Safer campaign is trying to navigate the complex overlapping bureaucracies with a stake in the area.

The city-county boundary splits the residential area on north Siesta Key, which means both the Sarasota Police Department and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office are responsible for traffic enforcement. And Siesta and Higel are part of State Road 758, which the Florida Department of Transportation manages.

“What we’re trying really hard to do is work the system in the right order,” Allgeier said.

They’re also tracking down data regarding the dangerous conditions on the road from multiple sources. According to the information they’ve compiled, along a 1.9-mile stretch of road — from Siesta and Osprey Avenue to Higel and Roberts Point Road — there have been 180 crashes and 10 fatalities in the past five years.

The group has developed a wish list for improvements in the area. They’d like to see officials lower the speed limit, install rumble strips along portions of the road, add crosswalks and post responsive speed limit signs. They know progress takes time, but they also don’t want to lose momentum.

“We’re trying to do what seems intelligent and keeping everybody informed,” Allgeier said.

That means regularly updating their neighbors, so the rest of the community doesn’t feel angst over a perceived lack of progress. They’ve started a Facebook page, called Make Siesta Drive Safer. They’ve reached out to the San Remo Neighborhood Association, the Siesta Key Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving for support. So far, the response has been positive from all parties.

On every level, the group feels like they’ve gotten encouraging responses. Allgeier said people understand residents’ concerns when they learn about them, and their inclination is to help. As they continue to advocate for changes along Siesta Drive and Higel Avenue, the Make Siesta Drive Safer residents are determined to make sure nothing gets in the way of following through on those good intentions.

“This is a very devoted committee,” Allgeier said. “None of us is going anywhere. If something doesn’t work, we’re going to try something else.”