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Dr. Delay

Blinking light would ease angst while bridge is out

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published February 19, 2006

Beyond the grumbling and grousing, questions and suggestions related to rerouted beach traffic because of the simultaneous bridge closings continue to dominate mail to Dr. Delay.

Tim Robinson of Causeway Isles has a suggestion about traffic signals near the temporarily closed Treasure Island Causeway. Robinson wrote:

"Now that the Treasure Island Causeway bridge is closed for six months, the traffic light at 79th Street isn't entirely necessary.

"It would be great if they could change it to a blinking red for 79th Street and a blinking yellow for Central Avenue. This would allow people leaving the Causeway Isles/Yacht Club Estates areas to do so without unnecessary delay.

"Also, having a line of cars waiting on Central for the light to turn green when there's no cross traffic at all is a bit ridiculous. A change for six months doesn't seem to present a problem."

Robinson's suggestion makes sense to me. Maybe the signal gods will agree. We'll see.

Another Treasure Island resident, Dolores Ritzie, is wondering how to handle the pedestrian crosswalk on Blind Pass Road near St. Alban's Church. Ritzie wrote:

"Since we Treasure Island residents have to use Blind Pass Road as an alternate route during the bridge closure, there is a question about the crossing at St. Alban's Church. There are posted crosswalk signs (which we understand) and a "school' imprint in the pavement. There are no signs posted for a school zone or speed limit (15 mph) signifying a school zone.

"What is the traffic rule? The St. Pete Police Department said it is a 15 mph zone, and usually a police vehicle is parked there during school hours. There is usually one traffic cone with no lettering placed in the crosswalk during school hours. This scenario places us in a quandary as to what the traffic rules are.

"We have not observed any pullovers for traffic exceeding the normal 15 mph rule. Also, there are no signs signifying the beginning and end of the school zone - if indeed this is a school zone."

I contacted St. Pete Beach police Chief David Romine and asked him to respond to Ritzie's question. Romine responded in an e-mail:

"Blind Pass Road is a State of Florida controlled roadway. When the recent construction was completed, we requested that a 15 mph school zone be posted, marked and lighted at this location. The zone would have serviced both St. Alban's school zone and the Gulf Beaches Elementary school zone.

"The DOT (Florida Department of Transportation) denied our request. They felt that the marked crosswalk and the demand light button at the pedestrian crosswalk was sufficient for children's street crossing safety despite a 35 mph speed zone.

"We appealed this decision through the DOT's process. At our last stage of appeal, the mayor, city manager and I went to DOT's regional office in Tampa for a meeting. The answer was still "no.'

"There is no official 15 mph school speed zone at this location. The St. Pete Beach Police Department assigns personnel during school times to augment the students' crossing safety in conjunction with the regulations related to the marked crosswalk and the demand light.

"Motorists are required to yield to all pedestrians within marked crosswalks. Radar enforcement of the speed limit is frequently conducted at this general location during the school times, and the radar "Smart Cart' is frequently set up in this location.

"Even though the official speed limit is 35 mph, we hope that motorists recognize reduced speeds in this location during school times."

While we're on the topic of pedestrian traffic, Gayle Juedes wrote in a recent e-mail:

"I am sure you have addressed this in the past but I continue to see dangerous situations with the new Gulf Boulevard crosswalks. It appears as I drive up the beach that every small town has them marked differently, some with signs in advance and others marking right at the crosswalk.

"Some have Florida state law signs in the middle of nowhere when they should probably be attached to the crosswalk sign itself.

"Some have signs by stop and go lights, which confuses: Do we need to stop if the light is green and pedestrians are present? Still, cars continue to ignore pedestrians as they try to cross Gulf. I fear I will be rear-ended when I stop for pedestrians as others zoom around me because I stopped. Someone is going to be run down unless something changes!"

I asked the DOT's Kris Carson to comment on Juedes' concern.

"All crosswalks along the state road section of Gulf Boulevard are signed and marked in the most consistent manner possible.

"The new "Yield Here to Pedestrian' signs were placed in strategic locations with local municipality input. These signs are not placed at every crosswalk due to a variety of constraints including right of way, utilities, and sign proliferation. However, state law applies to every marked crosswalk. Drivers MUST yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

"If it is a multilane section of Gulf, both lanes of travel are required to yield to the pedestrian. Many of the local municipalities have hired special duty officers to enforce the pedestrian laws.

"There are no stop/go lights at any of the Gulf crosswalks. At the beginning (St. Pete) and end (Indian Rocks) of the state road section there are flashing yellow beacons on the crosswalk signs. These indicate to the drivers that they are entering the beach communities with pedestrian crossings."

Until next week, happy and safe motoring!

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

[Last modified February 19, 2006, 01:08:19]