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Dr. Delay

Requirements for signals often don't match concerns

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published January 23, 2005

St. Petersburg residents living in the northern tip of the city are concerned about traffic volume in the area of Fourth Street and 112th Avenue N.

The intersection provides the only way in and out for more than 845 homes in the cluster of residential complexes that includes West Port Colony, Bridgewater Place and Wyngate Apartments.

Vehicles have to use 112th to exit on to Fourth Street N. There is no traffic light at the intersection, but traffic studies conducted by the FDOT as recently as this past October do not support the need for a signal, said Mike Frederick, manager of neighborhood transportation for the city.

Residents are undeterred in their quest.

A form letter addressed to St. Petersburg City Council member John Bryan is circulating through the complexes requesting his assistance in getting a traffic signal. Frederick's office has received several signed copies, and Bryan said he has received several letters and responded to all of them.

Bryan said he appreciates the concerns of the residents, who point out in the letter that several school buses stop at the intersection at the height of rush hour. Bryan agrees that the intersection needs a traffic signal, but because Fourth Street is a state road from Fifth Avenue S to north of State Road 687, the city has no control over a signal going in.

"It's a frustrating situation, but the decision is in the hands of government two levels above us," said Bryan, adding that he'd like to see a traffic signal installed in front of the Wal-Mart on Gandy Boulevard too, but that request has also been denied by the FDOT. Bryan said he has encouraged city staffers to continue to work cooperatively with the FDOT to address the issue, but admits that residents may have to contact their senators to get something done.

FDOT representative Kris Carson said that the most recent traffic study conducted at the intersection of Fourth and 112th counted 226 vehicles making left turns between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., not enough to warrant a signal. The study also measures volume, delay and the number of avoidable accidents. Carson said that because all of the 2004 crash statistics are not yet available, the FDOT will continue to monitor the intersection.

Carson added that the FDOT is concerned about children crossing Fourth Street to get to and from their bus stop. "We have contacted the School Board's transportation committee and let them know our concerns about the situation," Carson said.

The request for a traffic signal in front of the Gandy Boulevard Wal-Mart was denied because the existing Derby Lane traffic signal is just 1,700 feet away. The FDOT standard is 2,640 feet. One alternative is to put the signal near the entrance to the Brighton Bay complex, but residents might not be thrilled by the prospect of Wal-Mart traffic zipping through the residential area, Carson said.

Ron Mason wrote to inquire about the traffic signal at 22nd Avenue N and First Street.

Mason wrote: "This is a three-way light as First Street is one-way southbound. The red light signal seems inordinately long on the First Street side. Granted, there is much more traffic on 22nd east and west and it should be a longer green light, but the wait seems interminable when you sit at the light southbound to either continue south, or turn left going east on 22nd to Old Northeast or Snell Isle."

St. Pete's traffic chief, Mike Connors, replied that the signals at 22nd Avenue N at First and Fourth streets were synchronized for east/west traffic several months ago, "resulting in an increase in the maximum delay for southbound motorists on First Street from 40 seconds to 124 seconds. Two weeks ago, we made an additional modification to timing plans based on motorists backup on Fourth Street N northbound, which further increased the maximum wait time from 124 seconds to 139 seconds for the southbound motorist on First Street."

Connors said that in order to address the long wait on First Street, a final revision was made to the timing plan a few days ago that "continues to allow synchronization of the east and westbound movements but reduces the maximum wait time for First Street motorists from the current time of 139 seconds to 78 seconds (a 44 percent reduction)."

Those of us who have been in the position of asking a loved one to relinquish their car keys know how painful the moment is for everyone involved. Giving up the freedom of mobility and independence that driving represents signifies the end of a phase of one's life, the giving up of control, and often, one's sense of individuality.

So discussions about the status of personal driving skills can be difficult and for some, the idea of submitting to driving skill testing in a public venue is anxiety-producing to the point of being unthinkable. Why is there so much resistance to giving up driving or even considering it? Let's be honest, the pervasive attitude in our society is that folks who have lost their driving edge are somehow incompetent. The conscientious drivers who gracefully park the car one last time and walk away of their own accord are far outnumbered by the stubborn hangers-on, who do not believe their driving skills are in any way diminished even though they just drove their car through the garage wall.

Asking someone to submit to driving skill testing may be a little less stressful if self-testing at home is an option, especially considering that this means no trip to the DMV. Avoiding the inpatient sighs and eye-rolling of the 15-year-olds in line waiting to apply for learner's permits is incentive enough.

So here's a new testing option: Drivers who own computers can assess their driving skills in the privacy of their homes with a CD-ROM developed by AAA.

AAA Auto Club South says its "Roadwise Review" assessment program is a "scientifically validated tool designed to help seniors screen for driving health." The program has measures built into it that test functions such as vision acuity and memory and can predict accident risk for seniors.

The program is available to AAA members for $10 and to nonmembers for $15. Call AAA to locate the office nearest you or visit the Web site at www.aaasouth.com to obtain the CD.

Beachgoers and dwellers, just a reminder that the weight restrictions on the Treasure Island Causeway Drawbridge remain in effect until the bridge construction project is complete in March 2006.

Vehicles not permitted on the causeway include any two- or three-axle vehicles such as dump trucks, school buses, PSTA buses, delivery trucks such as beer and soda delivery panel trucks, or any pickup trucks more than one ton.

The city of Treasure Island awarded the construction contract for the Treasure Island Causeway Bascule Bridge to the Johnson Brothers-Obayashi company last month. The winning bid for the project was $42,755,658.

Until next week, happy and safe motoring!

Please share your traffic concerns, comments and questions with Dr. Delay via e-mail at docdelay@yahoo.com

[Last modified January 23, 2005, 00:14:21]