Tradition Crosswalk Signs Removed After Installation Issues

Improperly installed in-street pedestrian markers at Tradition roundabouts have been taken down.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:34am

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Months after a Tradition resident reported damage to his truck from a fallen crosswalk sign, the City of Port St. Lucie has removed all in-street pedestrian markers at roundabouts in the community. The city determined the signs were not installed according to federal standards and were not properly anchored to the pavement.

Why it matters

The removal of the crosswalk signs aims to improve traffic flow and safety in the Tradition community, which has seen issues with the improperly installed markers. This highlights the importance of following regulations when installing infrastructure meant to protect pedestrians.

The details

Several of the in-street crosswalk markers at Tradition roundabouts were found to be non-compliant with federal standards and not properly secured to the pavement. The Tradition Community Development District decided to remove all of the signs after continually monitoring their effectiveness and finding they were creating impediments to traffic flow rather than serving as effective pedestrian advisories.

  • In August, a Tradition resident reported damage to his truck after hitting a fallen crosswalk sign.
  • On November 26, the City received a letter from the Tradition CDD stating they would be removing the signage at all roundabout locations.

The players

David Cates

A Tradition resident who reported damage to his truck after hitting a fallen crosswalk sign.

City of Port St. Lucie

The local government that determined the crosswalk signs were not installed properly and worked with the Tradition CDD to have them removed.

Tradition Community Development District (CDD)

The entity responsible for the Tradition community that decided to remove the improperly installed crosswalk signs after monitoring their effectiveness.

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What they’re saying

“I started smiling because by the time I got to the third roundabout last month, I saw that they were all gone, and I knew they had made some changes.”

— David Cates

“The City noted multiple markers were not installed in accordance with federal standards and were not anchored to the pavement satisfactorily. It was also noted that there was additional pedestrian crossing signage in and around the crosswalk, exceeding federal standards.”

— Scott Samples, City Spokesperson

“The determination to remove the signs did not come from the City's Public Works department. On Nov. 26, the City received a letter from Stefan Matthes, the Tradition CDD Assistant District Engineer, noting that they would be removing the signage at all roundabout locations. This decision, the letter stated, came 'after continually monitoring their effectiveness…' and noted that 'we have found that the devices are creating impediments to traffic flow rather than serving as effective pedestrian advisories.'”

— Scott Samples, City Spokesperson

What’s next

The Tradition CDD is still working to resolve the cost of the repairs to David Cates' truck that was damaged by the fallen crosswalk sign.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of properly installing and maintaining infrastructure meant to protect pedestrians. The removal of the Tradition crosswalk signs shows the need for communities to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of safety measures and ensure they comply with federal regulations.