Cape Coral residents push for lower speed limits to boost neighborhood safety

CAPE CORAL - The city is considering ways to slow down drivers on neighborhood streets, focusing on safety rather than just traffic.

The Cape Coral Transportation Advisory Commission shared the results of a citywide study at a public meeting from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The study could lead to changes in speed limits in your area.

John Kaplan, a Cape Coral resident, expressed his concerns about high speed limits near residential areas.

"Kids sitting on the sidewalks, playing on an iPad, and there's 45 mile an hour traffic three feet away from them. You might as well be sitting on the expressway," said Kaplan.

He believes speed limits should be reduced in residential neighborhoods, emphasizing that Cape Coral is essentially one large residential area.

"All the driveways every 85 feet for every lot leading right out onto the major roads," he said.

The commission's study covers 120 square miles of Cape Coral, highlighting areas that could become 25-mile-per-hour zones. The study suggests that higher speeds increase the likelihood of accidents.

Kaplan shared a personal story to support the initiative. "I know a friend of mine got hit on his bicycle about two and a half years ago. He's severely injured and that was off of Pelican," he said.

With the study results out, Kaplan hopes the city council will back the plan for slower speeds. "They talk about traffic calming all the time, but they're feeding into it with these higher speed limits. People need to just drop it down a little bit," he said.

The next step for the city's Transportation Advisory Commission is to finalize its plan and present it at Cape Coral's Committee of the Whole meeting.