The City is voting on June 4 to spend $4.28M on a "plaza" project by the Southernmost Point.  South Street will be narrowed - from approximately 25 feet to 20 feet in order to widen sidewalks for tourists.
 
The risks of narrowing the roadway include, but are not limited to:

increased traffic congestion and potential delays in emergency response situations.
 
We, the undersigned Key West residents, respectfully urge the City of Key West to vote NO on the proposed $4,287,335 Southernmost Point Plaza/Roadway Project.  Instead, focus on fixing the streets in Key West, not just where tourists go.
 
This project is not fully funded by the Tourist Development Council (TDC).  The City would still be responsible for approximately $3.3 million in local taxpayer money while permanently narrowing critical roadway access, mainly on South St, increasing congestion and bottlenecking in one of the busiest mixed residential and tourist corridors in Key West.
 
There is no other street in Key West like this which includes:

landmark - buoy

6 residential homes

2 food trucks

3 bars

the iconic  Southernmost House

guest house

food & residential delivery vehicles

Ubers

 tour trains & Miami tour buses

and daily residential traffic.

This street needs its current width to safely accommodate all of these competing demands.
 
Ironically, the stated purpose of the TDC grant application was “improvements to traffic flow.” 
 
In order to receive approximately $1 million in TDC reimbursement, the City must spend substantial additional funds on plaza-style elements such as:

widened sidewalks,

decorative lighting,

landscaping,

and related demolition and reconstruction costs that many Key West residents neither requested nor support.
 
This project also creates long-term financial obligations, including:
--maintenance of 17 new light poles and landscaping in a harsh oceanfront environment;
--potential loss of approximately five paid parking spaces; and
--possible future reconstruction expenses if the roadway must later be restored due to safety or traffic flow concerns.

The flooding and drainage issues in this area are among the worst in Key West and must be addressed.  We sympathize with  the residents in the area who support this because the drainage will be improved if this project goes through and they are willing to live with the narrowing.  However, the City shouldn't be saying, support this expensive plaza project  - or else we will not alleviate your drainage issue, ever.

That's wrong. The street floods a certain amount of days of the year. The narrowing will affect drivers and cyclists 365 days/year.

Once constructed, these roadway changes may become effectively irreversible, as reversing them could require repayment of approximately $1 million in TDC funds in addition to major reconstruction costs.

We respectfully ask the Mayor and City Commission to reject the current bid and pursue a more balanced plan focused on drainage, roadway function, neighborhood character, and responsible use of taxpayer funds.
 
Please sign this petition to urge the City of Key West to vote NO on the current Southernmost Point PLAZA Project and YES to fixing what truly needs to be fixed and nothing more.