With high density buildings and traffic, this is not the Carmel I moved to 21 years ago.

You are correct, Carmel is not the same as it was 21 years ago. Based on real estate demands and the City’s record of excellence in public safety, quality education, public art and traffic safety, we believe most people think Carmel is better than it was 21 years ago.

Back in those days, we witnessed regular crashes, many of them deadly T-bone crashes, due to the former system of traffic lights and stop signs at busy intersections. The most recent data put forth by the Federal Highway Administration shows that roundabouts have a record of 82 percent reduction in accidents with injury … which is an accurate number for Carmel as well. (Our total fatality rate is just 2 percent … compared to the national average of 14 percent per 100,000 residents).

We understand there is more traffic in Carmel than there once was. But the construction of residential homes – whether that be the many single-family homes still being built today, townhomes, condos and apartment complexes – is not the only reason. Carmel is also a destination place for jobs, whether they are high-paid corporate workers or others in the service industries. Did you know more than 55,000 people commute daily into Carmel in order to work? This adds vehicles to our transportation network.