- November 6, 2024
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A group of Matanzas High School students is pushing the Palm Coast City Council to take action to help make city streets safer and prevent crashes like the one that killed their schoolmate, Michelle Taylor, in March.
“We wish to emphasize the urgency of the insufficient lighting on streets, sidewalks for pedestrians and traffic safety,” Michael Delgado, a member of the student-led Matanzas School Safety Committee, said in a presentation at a Palm Coast City Council meeting April 4. “These issues should be a concern for all the citizens of Palm Coast, and they should be prioritized.”
The crash that killed Taylor took place at night along Lakeview Boulevard, a dark road that lacks street lights and is bordered by woods. The 16-year-old’s death led community members to press the council for more lights through a change.org petition.
The Matanzas student group said the city needs more lights and more pathways, as well as a public street safety education campaign.
The students had circulated a petition through the school district website, asking respondents to point out dangerous streets that need lighting. Many replied to say they thought all streets should be lighted, while others identified Lakeview and Old Kings Road as priorities. The survey got about 100 responses.
The students formed their safety committee in March, and have been meeting every two weeks since.
In their presentation, the students asked the council for more lighting on Lakeview; a city review of other locations where there is heavy pedestrian traffic, such as around bus stops; and the continuation of a walking and bicycling path on Old Kings Road.
Mayor Milissa Holland said the city has already been planning to resume its continuous street lighting program, which was cut during the recession.
City Manager Jim Landon said the city is in the process of hiring an engineer for design for the lighting program.
“That’s where the students can really come in, because at that point we’ll do a master plan, and start prioritizing ... what streets are needed,” he said.
As to extending a multi-use path along Old Kings Road, Landon said, the city had designed one and started construction, but stopped it because of community concerns. Maybe the students, he said, could help change residents’ minds.
“We are going need support from the community, and that’s where the city can work with the students,” he said.
City Councilman Steve Nobile suggested the city fast-track the lighting program.
“I would like to see if we can investigate if we can put more dollars into it, and accelerate it to get back on track,” he said.
Students Michael Delgado and Kobi Kane read the committee’s presentation before the council, while Christian Norris and Thomas Jones helped them with the PowerPoint presentation. Other students who worked on the project were Elijah Whitt, Alex Bazzell, Collin Sloan and Rafael Soto.
