Surprise residents want the golf cart lane gone

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Residents affected by new changes to Bullard Avenue in Surprise sounded off to city officials with a mostly united message: they don’t like the changes to their street.

Approximately 200 residents who live near the four-mile stretch of Bullard Avenue between Peoria Avenue and Bell Road expressed their concerns over recent changes that include a new golf cart lane. They filled the cafeteria at Marley Park Elementary School Monday night and told city staff they are not happy.

More than one hundred people signed up to speak at the meeting, with most sharing their dislike to the new Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) lane, being referred to as the golf cart lane.  Speaker after speaker explained the golf cart lane was a mistake and asked the city to consider going away with it.

“The major reason for doing that is to restoring our credibility because everyone in this city has assured me you will never see a golf cart in the golf cart lane,” resident Bob Fitzgerald said, getting a cheerful response from the crowd.

“Why build a golf-cart lane, if this is predominately younger families, which is why we moved here?” asked Melissa Larkin, another resident.

City staff explained the reasoning behind the changes to Bullard Avenue goes beyond adding a golf cart lane. Their main concern is safety for an increased number of children crossing the road on their way to and from school.

“By reducing the lanes pedestrians have to cross over, we’ve also significantly improved the chance of keeping them safe,” explained Mike Gent, Surprise Public Works Director.

The strategy is known as a “road diet.” It involves reducing the number of lanes with the intention of better traffic control and reducing the number of accidents.

However, along with having a lane designated for electric vehicles such as golf carts, resident after resident at Monday night’s meeting disagreed with the idea the road diet is working in their communities along Bullard Avenue. Most said from experience, they have to sit in traffic for much longer, especially during drop off and pick up hours from school.

“Reducing to one lane is not going to work,” said David Avila, and added he has witnessed drivers use the golf cart lane to pass him, making it more dangerous to kids crossing the road.

Before the more than 90-minute community meeting ended, residents pressed to hear what steps the City Council will be taking to remedy their concerns.

“What we’re going to start with is what we need to do to come up with a short term solution,” said Bob Wingenroth, City Manager. The City promised to take the feedback from the meeting and look at possible changes.

City leaders plan to discuss possible changes during the next city council meeting on Sept. 1 and offer an updated report to residents after that.

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