GIBA reports historic number of vehicles over bridge in March
More than 5,000 crossed the bridge in two consecutive days, a new record
At its spring quarterly meeting Thursday, May 5 the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority had some interesting news about the traffic flow in recent days, particularly about two days this past March. GIBA Executive Director Kathy Banson-Verrico gave a report on the traffic passing through the toll booths during the first six months of the fiscal year. She reported that traffic numbers were up. Cash tolls were about 13 percent above the same time last fiscal year. Customer service tolls, or bridge passes, were up by about 10 percent, and overall traffic was up eight percent. She said this represented about 47,000 more vehicles than the number from the same period last year.
Banson-Verrico said that total traffic for the first six months of the fiscal year had been 625,000 vehicles, “so if we keep on the same trend, our overall traffic will be close to 1.2 million for the year, and our revenue will be a little over $6 million.”
She also noted that in the three months of February, March and April of 2022, GIBA’s customer service department has opened 300 new bridge pass accounts.
“People are coming all the time and opening new bridge pass accounts,” she said. “Right now, we have almost 20,000 active cards and stickers out there, which is amazing!”
March, she said, was the highest traffic month on record, with 136,000 vehicles.
“It was actually a historic first: 26 days out of the month we had more than 4,000 vehicles each day. This means it was busy all day, every day,” she said.
She continued. “It’s also a historic first that we had more than 5,000 vehicles come through on two consecutive days, which has never happened before.”
The director was asked how the dedicated pass lane has impacted the way traffic moves. While she did not believe the special lane had had a major impact, several board members had a different view. They believed that the new lane provided a speedier transaction time. Banson-Verrico agreed, “as long as the people who are supposed to be in that lane are the ones in that lane.” Accommodating drivers who are mistakenly using that lane has been a minor inconvenience, the board members agreed.
Banson-Verrico said most of the bridge pass holders do use the specially designated lane, except the “dog people” who love getting the biscuits. “In fact,” she added, “many people who have bridge passes are not aware they can use the other lanes. We get that question sometimes, about whether they can use the other lanes.” They can.”We are still busy right now,” she said, acknowledging that traffic is down a little in recent days, “but we haven’t had a big drop- off. That will probably happen by the last week of July.”
She reported that bridge openings have been “pretty consistent” with the increases seen in vehicle traffic. “We’re up about 10 percent from last year,” she said. “We are averaging about four openings a day.”
The GIBA board elected Emerson Wickwire, a resident of Boca Grande Isles, as its newest member. Wickwire immediately was seated as the fourth advisory, or nonvoting, member of the board and participated in the board’s discussions. Because the position was an advisory one, it could be filled by a vote of the board rather than through the public election process.
All three applicants for the advisory position were at the meeting and gave brief statements of why they were interested in serving on the board. The other applicants were Ken Burnette from North Boca Grande and Gaspar Kovach, Jr., a condo owner in Boca Grande Club.
Board Chair Ginger Watkins was pleased to have all three candidates at the meeting and invited them to remain active in the work of the board. She noted that any interested member of the public is always welcome to attend and become active with the issues dealt with by the board.
Banson-Verrico also announced that GIBA’s boat dock is completed, at a cost of $17,500. The Authority also added flashing beacons to the crosswalks in Boca Grande North. Additional flashing beacons and signage are anticipated in the near future.
“We want to make sure people are seeing pedestrians there and stopping. It may take a little time for people to start paying attention, though,” Banson-Verrico said. “We also have to make sure people are using the lighted crossing areas, which will also take time, as the people remember to do that.” She said she will speak with the Sheriff’s office and ask them to patrol the area more often and enforce it.
Banson-Verrico also reported that the Authority will be changing the tide charts in the next few weeks. The new charts will have a float on them so the levels will change as the tide moves. There will also be some updating of the toll booth interiors, with new cabinets and countertops installed. This will begin as the traffic lessens.
Board Counsel Robert Berntsson reported that there had been questions about the right-of-way along the causeway as it passes through Cole Island. The easement for this section was granted by the Cole family many years ago. There is a new title search under way to determine if any revisions in the easement are in order. Berntsson said the easement is wider than most people today realize, with 60 feet on either side of the center line. He said this is likely larger than the Authority needs, so revisions may be suggested to the board in the future.
The board also voted to hire Dana Investments as GIBA’s registered investment advisor. Three firms were being considered. Each presented a proposal encompassing creation of an investment policy for the Authority, provision of a list of recommended investment instruments, and an estimation of its associated fees. Dana Investments’ proposal will be considered at the board’s summer meeting.
The next meeting will be August 10.
