Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
A county plan to improve 46th Avenue N raises questions about urban vs. rural roadway designs.
By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 8, 2002
LEALMAN -- A skeptical public got its first look Thursday at a $4.3-million county plan to improve and upgrade a 1.7-mile stretch of 46th Avenue N.
Most of the neighbors who attended the meeting at Dixie Hollins High School liked that the road project would fix drainage problems that now result in flooded intersections during heavy rainstorms.
But they didn't like that an "urban" road -- with wider traffic lanes, bicycle paths, curbs and sidewalks -- would replace their narrow, country-style road.
They fear the improvements will bring more traffic to a largely residential area.
The project will upgrade 46th Avenue from 62nd Street, at the southeast corner of Dixie Hollins, west to 80th Street N. Except for the section just east and west of 66th Street, the passage is residential.
The county plans to install underground drainage pipes, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, 4-foot bike lanes on both sides, and 12-foot traffic lanes. Turn lanes will be added at congested intersections, including 62nd, 66th and 71st (Belcher) streets.
"We are trying to do two things: improve the traffic flow and fix the drainage. This is an old system that was built when 46th Avenue was a dirt road," said Jim Myer, an environmental specialist for the county.
Neighbor Chris Wolfe liked the plan, particularly when she learned the road would remain two lanes: "The letter was confusing. I thought it was going to be four-laned."
The Kenneth City resident was one of more than 500 residents and business owners who were sent notification of the planned road project and invited to come to the meeting. Of that number, perhaps 10 percent attended.
Wolfe was in the minority. Most who looked at the plan and talked with county officials didn't like it.
"We could really use some land in our area for parks," said Marilyn Layman, who left work early to attend the meeting. "That's what would really help us."
Jerry Thomas said it's fine to fix the drainage, but he wants the road left alone. "It will bring more traffic onto 46th Avenue," he said. "We like our quiet neighborhood and don't want it to change. Let them fix the drainage and maybe a couple of potholes, but don't do anything else."
Tom Whaley has lived on 46th Avenue since 1948 and remembers when most of the area was horse pasture and dairy farms. "It's not necessary to anything but the drainage," he said.
Residents will have two more chances to tell county officials what they think about the project, but it doesn't appear they will be able to stop it. The funds are budgeted and a time line is in place. Only the details of how the new road will be designed are in question.
"We will come back with final plans," said project manager Robert Meador, who estimated the entire design could take as much as a year.
Meador says very little additional right of way will be needed, if any: "We plan to stay in the same footprint that is there now."
Public works officials will take the reactions and suggestions gathered Wednesday to the County Commission and get authorization to begin engineering and traffic studies.
A draft report that will include up to three options for each section of the road project will be presented to the public in November for additional comment.
Those comments then will be used in preparing the final design, which Meador expects to present at a final public meeting tentatively scheduled for mid summer.
Construction is slated to begin in January 2006 and be completed by January 2007.