CAPE CORAL, Fla. — The City of Cape Coral is taking steps to create a safer place for bus stops. It’s only been a few months since the hit and run that tragically killed 8-year-old Layla Aiken.
After her death, there was a debate in the community about whether bus stops were too dark. Since 2015, the city added 424 streetlights at bus stops through phase one of the Streetlight Program. The city recently proposed their budget for the fiscal year 2020 to spend $100,000 a year on streetlights at significant road intersections for phase two.
Louis Navarra who lives in Cape Coral, says the money should go toward improvements on existing streetlights or more at bus stops.
“They need them with the bus stops; street lights are insufficient. Why do you think I go around and call in about burned out lights?” Navarra said.
Bill Corbett, the city’s traffic engineer, says all current bus stops have a streetlight.
“We will install a streetlight at those locations if the Lee County School District identifies a new semi-permanent bus stop,” Corbett said.
The city plans to add 150 to 200 streetlights a year.
