Bonita Springs City Council continues to prioritize an initiative to increase the pedestrian-friendliness of the Old 41 corridor. Council voted unanimously Wednesday to establish a no-through truck traffic ordinance that could decrease the amount of unnecessary traffic along the Old 41 roadway.  

Since 2017, traffic at Old 41’s main roundabout increased by 13% to an average of 12,500 visits per day, with 25% of the visits being a mix of trucks, trailers and three-axel trucks, according to a study completed by transportation, engineering and planning firm McMahon Associates.  

Through the ordinance, Council can establish no-through zones on streets that meet one of four criteria, including those with traffic lanes less than 12 feet wide, roads surrounded by predominately residential areas, streets where rights of way are pedestrian-focused or roadways where truck traffic is causing damage to their surfaces.  

When first discussed by Council in March, City Attorney Derek Rooney recommended establishing an ordinance allowing the city to establish no-through zones before making resolutions for specific roads. For Old 41 to officially become a no-through zone, Council will have to vote on a resolution at a date yet to be determined.

Trucks are an exception to the ordinance when making a delivery or providing services to a location off the roadway, if the road is necessary to reach the driver’s personal residence and for government-owned and emergency vehicles. 

“I am hopeful that the ordinance will help us progress downtown, and have it be a more pedestrian-friendly and inviting place,” council member Jesse Purdon said. “I understand fully that this isn’t going to change everything overnight, and this isn’t going to eliminate large trucks on Old 41. People need to understand that this isn’t going to be a situation where [trucks] are going to be gone in totality, but this is a good start to getting a more peaceful, serene, bikeable, walkable, pedestrian downtown without the noise pollution caused by some of those vehicles.”  

Local resident Kyle Moran largely supports the city’s continuous effort in making downtown Bonita Springs pedestrian-friendly and said the ordinance is a step in the right direction.  

“Every day we let thousands of workers drive trucks from up north, from Cape Coral and Lehigh, through our downtown, that damaged our downtown. We should keep it better,” Moran said. “We need to build that stronger commerce and community here, and, thankfully, [council is] on the verge of designating downtown pedestrian-friendly, and that basic improvement is absolutely necessary. It’s absolutely necessary because hundreds of other cities do it, and it’s absolutely necessary because it is plainly spelled out in the comprehensive plan of the city.”