2018-2019 Polk Vision Annual Report PV AR 2019_web | Page 32

SARAH CASE
Co-Chair
Next Level Planning &
Permitting
Polk County will have a Quality
of Life that encourages diverse
backgrounds to live in harmony while
developing physically, spiritually,
mentally, and culturally, within a
healthy and safe environment.
NELSON VEGA
City of Haines City
KIMBERLY WARREN
Atkins
RYAN KORDEK
Co-Chair
Polk TPO
CHUCK BARMBY
City of Lakeland
MARISA BARMBY
Central Florida Regional
Planning Council
DID YOU KNOW?
Polk has one of the largest
highway networks in the State
of Florida. There are over
1,000 miles of major roads
traversing all of Polk County’s
jurisdictions which include
State, County and City roads
and is one of the largest in the
State of Florida.
JOHN BOHDE
Polk County BoCC
JULIA DAVIS
Polk TPO
TOM DEARDORFF
Polk County BoCC
GORDON GREENE
Patel, Greene, & Associates
LAUREN HINTON
Florida Department of Health
in Polk County
ERIC LABBE
City of Winter Haven
PAM LUCE
Polk County Public Schools
LARRY MADRID
Madrid Engineering Group
XIOMARA MEEKS
Polk TPO
NICK NICHOLAS
DSM
JEFF SCHMUCKER
Central Florida Regional
Planning Council
STEVEN SHEALEY
Pennoni
SCOTT SJOBLOM
City of Bartow
ANGELA USHER
Polk County Public Schools
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ABOVE: During a tour of Lakeland’s
Traffic Management Center, the Team
learned about recently completed street
and traffic safety projects.
CANDIDATE SIDEWALK PROJECTS
Phase I (2017) – 10 Public Schools
59 Candidate Sidewalk Projects (23
miles) with an estimated cost of $8.7
Million
Phase II (2018) – 20 Public Schools
84 Candidate Sidewalk Projects (35
miles) with an estimated cost
of $13.1 Million
Phase III (2019) – 63 Corridors
63 Candidate Sidewalk Projects
(46 miles) and 137 street light
improvements. The estimated cost
has not been determined at this time.
PEDESTRIAN &
BICYCLE SAFETY
Drivers in Polk County hit and kill pedestrians and bicyclists more frequently than
drivers in larger and more densely populated counties in Florida. The Pedestrian
and Bicycle Safety Team’s goal is to decrease the number of pedestrian and
bicyclists injured and killed in crashes. Recognizing changing the culture takes
time and commitment, the 35-member Team is comprised of individuals from a
wide variety of local governmental agencies, hospitals, K-12, higher education,
and private businesses. The Team has devised a multi-pronged approach to
making Polk County a safer place for pedestrians and bicyclists based on
Education, Enforcement and Engineering. In 2019 the Team’s tactical plan was
finalized and includes: 1) safety messaging, 2) engineering (including conducting
road audits), 3) public outreach, and 4) in-school education.
Approximately 60 percent
of the major roads in Polk
County currently do not have
sidewalks on at least one side
of the road.
To address this need, Polk
County BoCC has increased
funding for sidewalk expansion
by 100% - $1 million in 2016 to
$2 million today.
In addition, Polk County
Public Schools have allocated
$250,000 each year to
sidewalk projects since 2017.
(Source: Polk TPO)
Visit: polk-county.net/boards-and-
committees/sidewalk-advisory-
committee for more information.
ABOVE: Students from Inwood
Elementary School participate in
National Walk & Bike to School Day in
October of 2018.
The work of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Team has resulted in a deeper
collaboration between the Polk County TPO and Polk County Public Schools
to increase educational efforts on the issue of pedestrian and bicycle safety. In
addition, the Team has aligned efforts with the Infrastructure Team to prioritize
sidewalk coverage around Polk County Public Schools. This year a partnership
with the School Health Team resulted in a 50% increase in the number of
schools participating in the Walk to School events that took place in October
of 2018. Goals for the upcoming year include the launching of a Be Seen Be
Safe educational effort, to implement additional Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
educational training in Polk County Public Schools and to work with our law
enforcement to engage in the High Visibility Enforcement campaign.
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