Dunedin High School addresses long-time traffic issues on neighborhood roads

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Neighbors in Dunedin are frustrated over traffic from Dunedin High School that they say can block their driveways.

Ann Lockwich lives on Texas Avenue, behind Dunedin High.

She says traffic can be so bad on her residential street that she can’t even leave her home during pickup and drop-off.

“You cannot get out of the driveway. And so we kind of plan when we leave our house. And when we return. Because we can’t get in and out of the house,” Lockwich said.

She says that during afternoon pickup, drivers will park on one side of the street. But as others try to pass, the small one-way street can turn into two lanes.

“They will move if we try to get out. But it’s hard to get out around the corner,” Lockwich said.

Lockwich says there used to be “No Parking” signs on the street. Since they were removed, there has been gridlock on Texas Avenue.

“The issue more than anything is we have to time when we leave our house. And when we come home, we’re blocked. We’re concerned if we ever needed emergency services, they wouldn’t be able to access our home,” Lockwich said.

Lockwich says this has been a concern for years but she has never been able to get the city or the school to address it, despite many emails and phone calls.

She felt there has to be a solution.

“I think it’s a solvable problem. We want to solve it. And we don’t want to cause anybody any heartache,” Lockwich said.

So Lockwich reached out to Real Time Traffic Expert Tim Wronka for help.

He found out that the city of Dunedin removed “No Parking” signs on Texas Avenue last year as they addressed the traffic flow on surrounding roads. In addition, city officials told him that it was school leaders who told parents to use Texas Avenue for drop-off and pickup.

When Spectrum News contacted Pinellas County Schools about it, officials told him a letter would be sent out to parents asking them to no longer use Texas Avenue.

In the letter to parents, Principal James Kiblinger said:

“I am sorry to say that we will not be able to use the Texas road for student drop-offs or pick-ups each day. The gate will be left open for the use by our students that walk or ride their bike to school. 

New signs will be posted stating that there will be no stopping or parking on Texas Ave., and this includes the dropping-off or picking-up of students.”

The letter goes on to say that drop-off and pickup will be done in the school’s south and north parking lots.

Lockwich said she is grateful for the change and hopes it helps with traffic on the road.