Traffic and infrastructure during peak season

[DuneAHH]

I don't know of a way to reduce traffic jams at check-in/out aside from a new road or two, but am trying to think how we can reduce in-season congestion.

Like a Smart car or Tata* club where 2nd homeowners or renters get a membership and they can then park their SUV or take a shuttle from the airport and have a small, easy to park, and safe vehicle to use during their stay.

*NOT LSVs, real cars with seat belts and AC!!!

Ta-ta Club
I have no idea what you mean SB... but I love the name. Let's insert it always & alot! Tata Club - Tata Club - Tata Club! Who wouldn't want to be a tata toting member??

 

[scooterbug44]

It's a cheap car like a Smart car - cheaper than the kitchen appliances in most rentals at around $2500.

Tata 'NANO' - The People's Car from Tata Motors

 

[NotDeadYet]

I thought I read somewhere that the Tata is not sold in this country due to failure to meet safety standards.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I thought I read somewhere that the Tata is not sold in this country due to failure to meet safety standards.

yeah, I read that too.

 

[Minnie]

I have out of state friends who still want to vacation at the beach but simply cannot afford an entire week.

Tell them to come in the nonpeak time and it won't be a problem finding a place for 3 nights.

Rather than a week in peak time we come 4 nights in the late Spring and 4 nights in the Fall.

 

[Matt J]

I'm not picking here, just pointing things out when I see them.

Yes, thank you. What I have been trying to do is promote some "out of the box" thinking.

We aren't going to build another road any time soon and maybe never--and there are good reasons for that (See NotDeadYet above) and people have been attending meetings and calling and writing Commissioners for years being concerned with it; and yet, all we seem to is authorize more money for more marketing..and pay for expensive televison ads to bring more people...331 four laned will not be enough if we have more visitors via the new airport; and if we ever get to 100% capacity...well, there are no words.

It seems to me we are on the way to "killing the goose that laid the golden egg" if we continue along this track without some creative solutions to infrastructure problems.

SWGB and KitLit I love you and I hear you and I wish you would step outside the box and find another solution that just might work....What if some enterprising rental company did a survey of their visitors a who are booked for the summer and asked them a few questions about check in check out...three day minimums, one week minimums, etc., etc.,

We might all be surprised by what we find. (I love it when I get another chance to blow bubbles...or have pipe dreams..)

Keep in mind that the BCC doesn't spend any money on advertising. The TDC does and that is what they are supposed to do. Unfortunately they can't spend money on infrastructure. I'd love to know how that could be changed, but currently their money can't be used to widen roads.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I'm not picking here, just pointing things out when I see them.



Keep in mind that the BCC doesn't spend any money on advertising. The TDC does and that is what they are supposed to do. Unfortunately they can't spend money on infrastructure. I'd love to know how that could be changed, but currently their money can't be used to widen roads.

I know and I did not say that they did...although, technically, I just looked it up...the TDC is a county entity that reports to the BCC. I know they like to talk about their "bed tax" as though it was some different kind of tax money--but...it's still OPM, albeit with a specific, statutory definition of what it can be spent for. .

kinda funny when you think of it: we tax the visitors to stay in the vacation units...and then keep them stalled in traffic for hours, wasting gasoline, polluting the air, and getting frustrated and reckless, because we don't have any money to spend on roads, or coordinated traffic systems, or even traffic cops...and we can only spend the tax money they pay to stay here, to advertise for more people to come, so they can pay more tax, stall in traffic...

surreal isn't it?"
\

 

[Matt J]

I know and I did not say that they did...although, technically, I just looked it up...the TDC is a county entity that reports to the BCC. I know they like to talk about their "bed tax" as though it was some different kind of tax money--but...it's still OPM, albeit with a specific, statutory definition of what it can be spent for. .

kinda funny when you think of it: we tax the visitors to stay in the vacation units...and then keep them stalled in traffic for hours, wasting gasoline, polluting the air, and getting frustrated and reckless, because we don't have any money to spend on roads, or coordinated traffic systems, or even traffic cops...and we can only spend the tax money they pay to stay here, to advertise for more people to come, so they can pay more tax, stall in traffic...

surreal isn't it?"
\

I'd love for a TDC member to stand up and announce that to lure tourists here they are going to start building roads or sending money into a fund for a new bridge. Won't happen, but it's still a nice dream.

 

[NotDeadYet]

I know about the statutory limitations on how TDC bed taxes can be spent although it's been a while since I actually read the statute. Some $ can be spent on things other than advertising, i.e. beach maintenance, walkovers, restrooms, the goofy crabby safety program, signage (remember that one?)etc. Maybe someone familiar with the statute can tell us if we are 100% sure some of that money cannot be spent to hire off-duty deputies to direct traffic? Or to subsidize trolleys during the weeks of heavy occupancy? Or on creative ways to shuttle people back and forth to the beach?
Here is the thing about 30A. The right of way is what it is, and it isn't going to get any bigger. Even if land were available for purchase to expand the right of way the price would be prohibitive. Don't forget that more north-south connectors will also be used southbound, or incoming, by which I mean they will be used to funnel more cars onto 30A, so we still need to focus on moving people around once they are here.
And are all the rental property owners so booked that we are sure four or five day rentals during the season are still out of the question?

 

[GoodWitch58]

I know about the statutory limitations on how TDC bed taxes can be spent although it's been a while since I actually read the statute. Some $ can be spent on things other than advertising, i.e. beach maintenance, walkovers, restrooms, the goofy crabby safety program, signage (remember that one?)etc. Maybe someone familiar with the statute can tell us if we are 100% sure some of that money cannot be spent to hire off-duty deputies to direct traffic? Or to subsidize trolleys during the weeks of heavy occupancy? Or on creative ways to shuttle people back and forth to the beach?
Here is the thing about 30A. The right of way is what it is, and it isn't going to get any bigger. Even if land were available for purchase to expand the right of way the price would be prohibitive. Don't forget that more north-south connectors will also be used southbound, or incoming, by which I mean they will be used to funnel more cars onto 30A, so we still need to focus on moving people around once they are here.
And are all the rental property owners so booked that we are sure four or five day rentals during the season are still out of the question?

thank you for good questions.

And, even if the statute is quite restrictive, it could be changed given the right kind of leadership.

Just because a law is on the books doesn't mean it has to stay that way. Laws are changed all the time. If it's not working, then, someone in leadership should step up and find a better way.

Building more roads is not the answer...it's much more complicated than that.