JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Pine Lakes is a neighborhood with more than 300 homes on Jacksonville’s Northside. The community has one way in and out from Northside Drive, forcing drivers to turn left or right onto North Main Street.
The intersection is just about 30 feet long and over the past six years, there have been 21 crashes there.
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The most recent happened this month and involved a motorcyclist who nearly died.
A Pine Lakes resident named Ashley reached out to News4JAX asking for help after she said she contacted the Florida Department of Transportation to request a traffic light because she believes the intersection is dangerous and she’s worried a fatal crash could happen.
She said FDOT responded and indicated their study does recommend installing a traffic signal to improve safety, but funding is not yet available.
Residents who live nearby say drivers frequently exceed the posted speed limit.
“They say it’s 50 miles an hour,” said Wendy Triviets. “I can guarantee you on any given day or time they are going by here 60 plus.”
Another resident said visibility is limited when trying to turn out of the neighborhood.
“There’s a blind spot right there because of the turning lane into the neighborhood,” said Alethea Preston. “You can’t see around the car so you don’t know when you can turn out. That I think has caused most of the accidents.”
The resident said the situation creates constant stress.
“I don’t like the anxiety of just pulling out of my own neighborhood, for all these years has been just horrible,” Preston said. “I’ve thought about moving just simply because of this; we want our kids to be safe.”
When asked about the lack of funding for a traffic light, Triviets reacted with frustration.
“Really?” the resident said. “You mean it’s all about a political bullcrap?”
The resident said the community needs action.
“You could put a light up here or do something. Do something with that 50 miles an hour. Because if you look, do you think that guy’s really doing 50? No.”
Another resident said a signal would provide peace of mind for families.
“Having that safety to drive in and out without having to worry about an accident every other day,” Preston said.
Community members also said growth in the area is likely to add more traffic.
“We have a charter school coming up. Now we got more apartments up there,” said Triviets. “How many more drivers are coming out of that complex?”
News4JAX received a statement from FDOT about the intersection.
The agency said its study recommends installing a traffic signal, but funding depends on the city of Jacksonville prioritizing the potential project through the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization, also known as the TPO.
News4JAX contacted TPO.
A representative said the agency cannot select potential projects for funding on its own and needs the city of Jacksonville to identify that intersection as a priority.
That means the City Council member representing the district would need to show interest to the TPO.
The council member for the area is Reggie Gaffney Jr.
Gaffney has confirmed he will do an interview with News4JAX about the issue, but we are still finalizing the date and time.