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Letter to the editor

$12-million shortfall stalls beach road's rehabilitation

Do it right or don't do it at all, officials say about refurbishing a section of Gulf Boulevard.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA, Times Staff Writer
Published August 17, 2007

When, how or even if a 2.8-mile section of Gulf Boulevard in Indian Shores and Indian Rocks Beach will be rehabilitated remained an open question Tuesday.

"It's a state road. I see it as a state issue," County Commissioner Bob Stewart said.

The problem is a $12-million shortfall between the money available and the cost of the originally designed road.

The Florida Department of Transportation has proposed downgrading the project - a prospect that upsets officials and residents in the two beach communities.

Indian Shores Mayor Jim Lawrence and Indian Rocks Beach Mayor Bill Ockunzzi told county commissioners Tuesday that they would rather delay the project if the money is not available to build it as originally proposed by the FDOT.

Of most concern to the commissioners and the mayors is whether or not the new design would be safe for pedestrians.

"I don't want to kill anybody in my town," Lawrence said.

The original road plan called for full sidewalks on each side of the two-lane road. The new plan eliminates those sidewalks and instead includes two marked asphalt paths - one for bikes and the other for pedestrians - on each side.

"Is this going to be a safe haven for people, kids and tourists to walk? I sort of doubt it," Stewart said.

Nonetheless, he and most other county commissioners balked at coming up with the additional money to pay for the original road design.

Scott Collister, director of transportation development for the FDOT's District Seven in Tampa, said he is considering rebidding the project to see if additional savings could help fund the sidewalks.

Another concern is the pervious asphalt planned for the bike and pedestrian lanes, which town officials say would become a maintenance nightmare. Both Collister and Assistant County Administrator Peter Yauch admitted that using asphalt is "experimental."

DOT proposed the pervious surface as a less expensive way to drain stormwater off the roadway.

Commissioners briefly considered and then rejected using Penny for Pinellas money now earmarked for beautification of the entire 26-mile length of Gulf Boulevard.

The mayors said their towns had no additional money that could be used for the project.

When the commissioners recommended the mayors contact their state legislators and the governor, Lawrence said they already had.

In fact, Lawrence has talked with DOT officials, the governor, state legislators, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and the Metropolitan Planning Organiztion - so far with no result.

"We were told they are trying to find money for the project," Lawrence said.

Collister said the DOT is tentatively planning to begin the road project by Oct. 1 and will hold public meetings in the affected beach communities before construction begins.

[Last modified August 16, 2007, 20:33:47]