To the Editor:
The proposed “solutions” for Morse North are not only over-engineered, they are fiscally irresponsible. To truly “fix” this corridor, I believe a massive undertaking involving at least three tunnels, land acquisitions, and wetland disruption is required. We simply cannot afford—nor do we need—such an extravagant overhaul for a problem that requires common sense, not a multimillion-dollar construction project.
Currently, we have a roadway that is fundamentally broken, stretching from a failing, confusing traffic circle in the north to a chaotic golf cart crossing in the south. We are being told by engineers that “standards” prevent us from restricting truck traffic or reducing speeds. But if these standards are so ironclad, why do they fail to address the reality of a roadway where cars and golf carts share the same roadway?
Instead of shifting roadways and creating even more dangerous intersection points, why not implement a low-cost, reversible pilot program? For an estimated $30,000—a fraction of the proposed multimillion-dollar plans—we could post “No Thru Trucks” signs and implement a 20 mph speed limit, consistent with many of our other residential roads. If the accident rate doesn’t drop after one year, we can revert to the old signage at almost no cost. Let’s stop chasing expensive engineering fantasies and start using practical, budget-friendly solutions. This can be accomplished by the county with no approval from the developer and no committee votes.
Daniel O’Brien
Village of Hacienda East