ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Neighbors in St. Petersburg’s Snell Isle community are asking the city to address speeding concerns on Snell Isle Boulevard, where residents say the straight roadway carries heavy traffic and creates safety concerns for people who live there.
Snell Isle resident Keisha Bresica said she is worried about drivers speeding past her home.
“I can’t even pull out of my driveway without worrying,” Bresica said, adding she has even been putting up her own signs in an effort to get drivers to slow down. “I’ve been constantly purchasing ‘slow down’ signs and placing them everywhere I can,” Bresica said. “And then as they go down, I’ll buy more. I’ll keep doing it if it helps.”
Bresica said she believes Snell Isle Boulevard has become busier because of nearby construction and drivers using the road to reach other neighborhoods.
“And they like to make this turn onto Snell Isle Boulevard and shoot off,” Bresica said. “And that’s what you see.”
Stephen Smith, vice president of the Snell Isle HOA, said speeding is the top complaint he receives from residents.
“People think this is a speedway,” Smith said. “It goes out to Shore Acres and Venetian Isles. There’s a lot of traffic that goes through here.”
The city of St. Petersburg told Bresica that Snell Isle Boulevard carries nearly 8,000 vehicles per day, so speed bumps would not work with that level of traffic volume.
Bresica said the city also told her that new radar speed signs would be added, but those signs have not been installed yet.
City officials said that they are aware of the speeding concerns on Snell Isle Boulevard. The city is currently finalizing two traffic studies in the area.
As for the radar speed signs, the city said it is still working with utilities to get them installed.
“It really is about action,” Bresica said. “We really need some help here, because I am worried about the neighborhood.”