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Letter to the editor

Speeders to blame for circle

Dr. Delay Navigating South Pinellas

By LORRIE LYKINS, Times Correspondent
Published January 20, 2008

Judging by reader comment, the new traffic circle on Park Street west of Pasadena Avenue has pretty much come as an unpleasant surprise to many of you.

Not that you weren't warned. The Doc mentioned the circle a few weeks ago while discussing the much-maligned new speed hump east of the roundabout.

And it's important to remember that the circle and the speed hump were approved by members of the neighborhood association in that part of town.

So what's the problem with the circle? It's not very attractive, first of all. It is outlined by white plastic pylons that resemble giant bowling pins. And it's tiny, forcing vehicles to maneuver in a jerky way to get around it.

So how effective can it be, really, and why was it installed in the first place? Its purpose is to slow traffic, but its proximity to the hated speed hump makes for traffic calming overkill in the minds of some.

Reader Michael Whitcraft wrote: "Roundabouts are designed all over the world to keep traffic moving; this one has yield signs in all directions - a recipe for accidents - and clearly not enough room for a roundabout. What genius designed this and allowed it to be installed?"

Bob Armbruster wrote to ask: "Is it temporary I hope? Seems mighty crazy to me."

In most cases, traffic-calming devices are installed in residential areas after a request by residents. Studies are conducted by traffic folks, who work with residents to come up with a traffic management plan. All this is in response to drivers who ignore posted speed limits and careen through neighborhoods at high speeds. If you loathe the humps and the circles, blame the speeders.

62nd avenue NE

School zone complaint leads to time change

Reader Linwood Gilbert inquired recently about the school zone outside the Canterbury School off 62nd Avenue NE in St. Petersburg. Since several other readers have asked, too, we inquired with Bill Foster, the city's traffic signal coordinator.

Here's Gilbert's question: "Canterbury recently opened a beautiful new school across from the Mangrove Bay golf course. It's down a long driveway, not visible from the street. There is no crosswalk on 62nd Avenue ...I drive past there at various times between 8 and 9 every morning and only see a car either coming or going about once a week.

"So it is a needless inconvenience to the few thousand folks in Tanglewood and Shore Acres who must idle along at 15 mph for a city block or two for no apparent reason."

Foster said that several factors are taken into consideration when a request for a school zone is made. The city is guided by the state Department of Transportation."A few years ago when they rerouted their main entrance to a new driveway on 62 Avenue N, the (head) of Canterbury asked us to install a reduced-speed zone at the new entrance. We did a study and found that 161 vehicles entered and exited this driveway between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., and the average speed of the vehicles traveling on 62 Avenue N was 50 mph in a 35 mph zone. In addition, there was one accident at the new driveway immediately after it opened."

Foster checked the zone last week and talked to school officials. Based on observations, he shortened the time the zone is in place to reduce the inconvenience to motorists.

* * *

Delays to look out for this week:

LEALMAN

- 4660 79th Way N - asphalt patching.

- Between 54th Avenue N and 62nd Avenue N - tree trimming.

- Joe's Creek Dredging (stockpile sites at 46th Avenue N, east and west of 71st Street N) - trucks entering or leaving the road.

PINELLAS PARK

- Belcher Road bridge, south of Park Boulevard - lane closures, delays and bridge maintenance.

SEMINOLE

- 113th Street N -temporary delays for sidewalk and storm drainage improvements.

E-mail docdelay@yahoo.com to share traffic concerns, comments or questions.

[Last modified January 19, 2008, 22:02:17]