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Islands added for safety

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published November 26, 2006

Landscaped islands are popping up around town, and readers have been writing in with questions.

Reader Jen Colvin wrote: "Dr. Delay, what are the islands on First Avenue N at 61st Street for? I cannot understand why islands with lovely foliage in them would be placed in the lane for parking or bikes. It has been fun to watch the many variations to the island between Publix and Kash n' Karry on Gulfport Boulevard. I think they finally got that one right, but these latest ones on First Avenue really have me scratching my head."

The Doc checked in with Mike Frederick, St. Petersburg's manager of transportation. He said that the islands are being installed for increased safety, and more will crop up soon throughout the city at pedestrian crosswalks.

"These crosswalks will be further enhanced with rectangular LED 'stutter' lights, that when activated by pedestrians, will warn motorists of their intent to cross."

Although motorists are legally required to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, Frederick said they often don't.

There have been 95 pedestrian/vehicle accidents and five pedestrian fatalities in the past five years, he said.

TREASURE ISLAND CAUSEWAY

Pedestrians, bikers have to avoid bridge for now

Why can't foot traffic cross the Treasure Island Causeway yet? Some walkers and cyclists are feeling frustrated and wondering what the holdup might be.

Reader Tom Cummings wrote: "As a South Pasadena resident who regularly biked and walked over the Treasure Island Bridge until the closure in 2006 for rebuilding, I am writing to ask that you request a reason why the bridge is open to auto traffic but not pedestrian or bike traffic.

"The railings and sidewalks are in place; everything appears as if pedestrian and bike traffic could begin right now. In sum, if it is safe for autos, why not people? I hope we will not hear the old saw "liability issues" when in fact the issue is simply "convenience" for the construction folks."

Treasure Island officials say that bridge contractor Johnson Brothers Corp. did intend to have the pedestrian railings ready for the opening of the bridge's first half.

They attribute the delay to the shortage of steel in the United States, related to the Iraq war.

"The only contractual requirement for opening the first half of the bridge was to open for vehicular traffic, because the early opening was to facilitate evacuation of Treasure Island in the event of a hurricane," Treasure Island public works Director Don Hambidge wrote in an e-mail last week.

The pedestrian guardrail isn't completely installed, he said.

The missing pieces are expected to arrive soon and will be installed immediately.

"No one wants that multimodal path opened more than I do," he said.

In the meantime, people who disregard the signs and walk, run or ride their bicycles across the bridge in traffic are breaking the law, he said.

"The T.I. Causeway is a limited-access roadway, which means that it is illegal for pedestrians and bicyclists to use the roadway at any time, but especially during construction."

Update license with emergency information

Motorists should take advantage of the option offered by the state of Florida to add emergency contact information to your driver's license.

The service allows holders of Florida driver's licenses and identification cards to provide emergency contact information to law enforcement in the event of an emergency.

The information will not appear on the card, but law officers can access it electronically.

To add emergency contact information to your driver's license online, go to www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ and click on "emergency contact information."

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 November 25, 2006, 22:38:57]