OPINION: EMERSON WICKWIRE

Better communication needed among island entities

BY EMERSON WICKWIRE
Editor’s Note: Boca Grande resident Emerson Wickwire presented this letter to the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority board this week. Wickwire sent it to the Beacon as a letter to the community.

I ran unsuccessfully for a voting board seat in last November’s election in hopes of expanding board focus back onto community issues on which its influence is significant. I still remain extremely supportive of Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority’s ongoing well-being and in efforts to facilitate it proactively contributing to resolution of many island issues.

When, years ago, Mr. Bayard Sharp and his group so generously facilitated creation of the Gasparilla Island Conservation Act, it was envisioned that the subsequent related authorities (Community Plan, GIBA, GICIA, Historic Preservation Board, etc.) would work collaboratively to manage, maintain and preserve the island. Island growth and expanding responsibilities have unfortunately interfered with ongoing smooth collaboration. Can GIBA act to reintegrate some of its efforts into the island community?

My focus on impactful areas of authority includes communications with other island authorities, automobile traffic congestion planning/parking control, and bicycling safety and control.

REPOSITORY OF INFORMATION: GIBA is a repository of information regarding all historic and projected future traffic flows onto the Island. As such, it holds information key to planning for and resolution of parking/congestion issues. No successful plans can be made absent ongoing access to this historic as well as projected future information.

COMMUNICATIONS: When even temporary communications failures occur, as happened in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Milton, damages can result. Communication confusion at that time resulted in the bridge opening without any sentry controls, which contributed to entry problems involving looting, theft and unwelcome “bad actors.”

BICYCLING: Boca Grande offers a wonderfully unique bicycle path which is (rightfully) lauded and promoted by its authority, GICIA. It has always been a well acknowledged fact that bicycling across the bridge can be extremely dangerous. There is no designated bicycle lane, and only recently have signs even been added indicating where bicycles “may use both traffic lanes.” But there are still no “Caution” or “Danger/Risk” signs clearly warning cars and trucks of difficult-to-see bicycling traffic. As GICIA’s bike path attracts even more off-island users the potential for accidents will only increase.

The past chair of the GIBA Board has said that islanders’ sole focus on GIBA is “that the bridge opens and closes safely and reliably.” If that narrow focus accurately reflects bridge and community thinking, are we all missing an opportunity? Clearly, there are several areas where the well-being of GIBA and the community intersect.

Island congestion is a huge issue for all residents and businesses. Traffic flows onto the island have seen exponential growth since the Act and the Community Plan were effected, and that growth has accelerated in recent years. When considering traffic growth over that time span, it’s clear that about 500 vehicles per day of that growth occurred just in the most recent few years. If such growth rates continue, can GIBA assist in anticipation/contingency preparations?

While GIBA operates under Sunshine Law prohibitions, which restrict inter-board member community discussions, could GIBA follow the examples of other Florida authorities and establish (or welcome) a non-board “community committee?” Could a community committee be formed to meld GIBA information flows into the island’s congestion-planning process? Could such a committee additionally serve as a forum to bring related community ideas directly to GIBA?

In sending this letter, I respectfully urge the board to consider my suggestions.