A new traffic signal at the intersection of Thomasville Road and Velda Dairy Road was activated on Tuesday, Feb. 24, marking a major change for drivers in northeast Tallahassee as development continues to expand in the area. 

The project, backed by the Florida Department of Transportation, is intended to improve safety and manage increasing traffic along one of the city’s busiest corridors. Officials say the signal will help regulate vehicle flow and reduce dangerous driving behaviors that have become common in the area. 

For many residents and nearby community members, the change cannot come soon enough. 

“Traffic jams … every morning you come here, we have either the Tallahassee Police Department or the sheriff’s department in our parking lot monitoring the traffic,” said Rose Carney, a local community member. “They don’t follow the regular speed limit and take the road as a speedway.”   

Carney described Thomasville Road as increasingly dangerous, especially during peak commute hours when drivers travel between Tallahassee and Georgia. 

“It’s a constant flow with people coming in from Georgia and going out to Georgia to work,” Carney said. “Trying to get out to go to work is a nightmare because they don’t slow down or let you out.” 

Ann Caulfield, another community member, said the high traffic volume has made routine activities unsafe, particularly for older residents. 

“We cannot turn into the church entrance here because traffic is so heavy,” Caulfield said. “If we slow down, that means they’re going to hit us.” 

Carney added that the lack of stopping points along the corridor has contributed to speeding. 

“They’re coming from Maclay, and there’s not another stop sign until you get to Walmart,” Carney said. “So hopefully it will impact this road, and they won’t be able to speed like they used to.” 

The installation of the new signal is expected to introduce a controlled stopping point and improve conditions for drivers entering and exiting nearby properties. 

However, not all residents are convinced the new traffic light will solve the problem. 

One nearby resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said she and her neighbors are frustrated with how the project was handled. 

“We’re not happy about it,” an anonymous Tallahassee resident said. “We feel like our concerns weren’t really listened to before construction started. The developers should have worked with the people who live here.” 

Transportation officials say they will continue monitoring traffic patterns after the signal is activated and adjust if necessary. 

In the meantime, drivers are encouraged to use caution as they adjust to the new traffic pattern.