CLEARWATER, Fla. — The city council was set to vote on a proposed FDOT plan that would bring major changes to Drew Street on Thursday but postponed it so they could get more information from the Florida Department of Transportation.
A road in Clearwater has been the point of heated debate as council members decide how to use millions in funding to make the area safer.
There were dozens of people in the meeting, split on what would make the street safer. Folks who supported the current proposal, which features lane elimination and pedestrian and cyclist safety features, wore yellow. Those who wanted a “no” vote on the plan, wore red.
As far as a decision, neighbors didn’t get one.
“All of this council wants safety,” said Mayor Bruce Rector during the meeting. He reassured the crowd that there is a common goal despite differing opinions.
The council voted to take more time to get info from FDOT as they decide how to move forward. Rector said one of the biggest issues they’ve heard from citizens, is a concern that lane elimination would put funding for the project in jeopardy.
“That should not affect our funding for this project,” he said.
At the meeting, an FDOP spokesperson said the council is under a bit of a time crunch to make a decision.
“If I can’t get that money allocated to another project that’s ready to go in FY’26, and we have some other candidates around the county, then that money is going leave Pinellas County,” he said.