A Community Development District supervisor has reached out to the company that center striped the multi-modal path in CDD 4 and wants to have that company test stripe another section of path.
CDD 2 Supervisor Marty Rothbard shared his idea via email this week with fellow supervisors from throughout The Villages.
Striping on the paths for safety reasons, has been a hot topic for well over a year in The Villages.
The Multi-Modal Path Discussion Group earlier this summer was poised to move ahead with $300,000 Thermoplastic striping on all 42 miles of path in The Villages. However, residents revolted when they learned of the pricetag, the group soon reconvened and temporarily tabled side striping.
Rothbard, who also previously served on the Amenity Authority Committee, believes he has found a cheaper option.
“I have been in touch with the company that did the reflective center line painting in CDD 4. It has been effective (put down six months ago) and has held up thus far despite being in the center of the path and, therefore, is ridden on,” Rothbard wrote in his email.
“The company indicated they can use a latex paint and then reflective beads to enhance visibility, and can do it on the concrete curbing, at a cost of $1,056 a linear mile. That is one-third the cost of Thermoplastic paint and is likely to be more than sufficient to provide the visibility that so many residents believe is important.”
Rothbard is recommending that someone speak with the company to determine whether they can paint a sample and see whether this proposal “is the best and most cost effective.”
CDD 4 was famously labeled “rogue” after it moved ahead with center line striping of its section of multi-modal path. The District’s engineer strongly recommended against center line striping and no other CDD has authorized. The engineer has said side line striping is “not warranted” but also said it would not decrease safety on the paths.
The next opportunity for discussion of striping comes at 9 a.m. Monday when the Project Wide Advisory Committee meets at the District Office in downtown Lake Sumter Landing.
The Multi-Modal Path Discussion Group, which includes PWAC, will meet at 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at Savannah Center.