Sarasota talks traffic snarls, solutions
Will traffic jams at at the confluence of the Ringling Bridge and U.S. 41 be fixed by roundabouts?
STEVE REID
Editor & Publisher
The Sarasota City Commission voted two weeks ago to move forward with the connectivity project, which designates six roundabouts along U.S. 41.
Here are the most recent letters by City officials written this week:
Traffic has silver lining
To: Captain Lucius Bonner and Police Chief Peter Abbott
The seasonal traffic flow observed during the months of February thru May historically created traffic congestion at the Gulfstream and U.S. 41 intersection. The control of the timing of the traffic signals is periodically adjusted to account for this increase in traffic. This is coordinated I believe between Dave Hagel, our traffic signal manager at the City, and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
The placing of a police officer(s) to attempt to alleviate the congestion at this intersection and the adjoining intersection of Fruitville Road and U.S. 41 during “peak” traffic hours would create a domino effect that would ripple up and down U.S. 41 and surface roads that feed unto this major roadway and create further problems that presently don’t exist.
For those of us who have lived in the area long enough, the picture attached to this email, doesn’t come close to the previous traffic congestion that stretched from this intersection to St. Armand’s Circle and beyond for drivers trying to get on and off the island each time the draw bridge was up do to boat traffic. The average wait time to travel this short route was a minimum of 20-30 minutes.
This city has made great strides in the battle of traffic congestion, but in the reality of the situation at present, there is a silver lining in the down economy — at least we have tourists willing to travel here and spend their money and time in our beautiful city. A traffic jam on a weekend should be considered an inconvenience, but not a reason for panic.
Mr. Warner’s observations are valid points for roundabouts for those who are proponents of this traffic system, but until that becomes a reality, we are going to experience drivers having to wait at this intersection during season. I am sure once the roundabouts become a reality there will be times due to the closeness of Gulfstream to Fruitville Road intersections on U.S. 41 there will be congestion problems within the traffic circles themselves at peak tourist season.
Lt. Jeffrey Karr
District Commander, Sarasota Police Department
Drawbridge situation was far worse
To: Assistant City Manager Marlon Brown
In addition to his comments, the five officers in Traffic Unit typically work during the week to deal with school zones, speeding, and neighborhood concerns. When the Marine Officer is off, one Traffic Officer will fill in on the water. If I move them to work weekends, it leaves other high liability issues uncovered. As Lt. Karr indicates, covering the Gulfstream intersection will cause backups at Fruitville Road and U.S. 41. The situation at Gulfstream now pales in comparison to when the drawbridge was in place.
Peter Abbott
Police Chief, City of Sarasota
MPO: solve traffic holistically
To: Sarasota Parking Manager Susan Dodd
This item came up at the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting today and it was discussed that a few years ago there was a multi-jurisdiction group put together to review problems and possible solutions but they haven’t meet for a couple of years. As David mentioned, at peak season the area is maxed out and if we redirect time to a different leg, we will cause another set of problems. The idea from the MPO is to look at the area a bit more holistically and work with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the City to develop some ideas to help during this peak time. Mike Howe was going to lead this process. I think but I’ll check and I’ll ask Mike how he would like to formalize this. I’ll let you know.
Alexandrea Davis-Shaw
General Manager, Capital Projects, City of Sarasota
Gulfstream traffic favored 80/20
To: Sarasota Mayor Richard Clapp
In response to your question regarding adjusting the timing of ‘side road wait times’ in order to allow greater through traffic from John Ringling Bridge we spoke with the Traffic Control Systems Analyst and he has responded, “The percentage of green time allocated to the through movement of traffic at the intersection of Gulfstream Avenue (SR 780) and Sunset Drive/ Golden Gate Point is proportionately favorable to the Gulfstream Avenue movement on the order of 80/20. There is also a lengthy pedestrian movement at this location as well due to the number of elderly and handicapped citizens crossing the street.”
Mr. Hegel also indicated that in addition to the existing significant wait time – if it were to be increased, the queuing in road segments south of Fruitville would limit the amount of allowable traffic that could feasibly move through, independent of the traffic that was ‘allowed off the bridge.’
Susan Dodd
Sarasota Parking Manager, City of Sarasota
Roundabout Plan details
The current connectivity plan to implement six roundabouts, including a roundabout placed at Gulfstream Avenue and U.S. 41, instead of the current traffic lights were a part of New Urbanism consultant Andres Duany’s solution to render Sarasota more pedestrian-friendly and remedy the charge that its downtown was cut off from its main asset, the waterfront. He encouraged re-routing traffic away from U.S. 41. The idea is to slow down traffic by using traffic circles in an effort to make downtown and the bay front more accessible to pedestrians.
Phase A of the plan includes two roundabouts at10th St. and14th St. along U.S. 41. Phase A also includes more shading for pedestrians, a multi-use trail, bike lanes, a textured roadway, and a more secure place for pedestrians to stand when they are on either side of the road. One obstacle will be a land acquisition purchase of the right-of-way at the 14th St. intersection.
Phase A of the project has been secured at $1.1 million with state funding, although it still has to be reviewed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), according to the city commission.
Officials said it could be six years until Phase A of the project is started, but could be moved up as early as three years. Sarasota City Commissioner Terry Turner said he would like the project to begin sooner, closer to three years, and the remaining commissioners agreed.
Phase B of the connectivity plan is long-term view of the project, including the remaining U.S. 41 corridor and all six roundabouts. The six roundabouts will be placed at 14th Street, 10th Street, Fruitville Road, Gulf Stream Avenue, Main Street and Orange Avenue. The total cost for entire reconstruction of the U.S. 41 corridor is $34 million, and is phased over a 20-year period.
The planned Bayfront series of modern roundabouts (they are NOT traffic circles) can address this westward backup from Gulfstrream to St. Armands …as modern multi-lane roundabouts have proven elsewhere in the USA. An aerial video before & after of how that actually happens can be viewed in video#4 in the video stack at http://www.SarasotaConnectivity.com*… or at http://vodpod.com/watch/1445385-signalized-intersection-replaced-by-roundabout-aerial?pod=thecityalliance. *The 1st video in that stack at our web site also has a video of the backup onto the Ringling Bridge a 4:30 p.m on a recent Friday. Looking at that video reveals the heaviest weight is on the Fruitville/I-75-bound lane which indicates a key contributor to the problem is the Fruitvlle signalized intersection which lacks a right turn “slip” lane onto Fruitville (similar to the southbound right turn slip lane at Gulfstream). Should a car northbound US 41 be stopped at the Fruitville light “right on red” is dead on to Fruitville until the light turns green ….interrupting the Fruitville-bound flow and backing cars into the Gulfstream intersection and westward. The modern roundabouts in the plan for Gulfstream and Fruitville have right turn slip lane designs that smooth traffic flow and resolve the angst now experienced. There are other contributing factors noticed in the video, such the Bird Key and Sunset Drive STOP lights create platoons of frustration that never unwind… roundabouts dissolve platoons.intersection.
I have lived year-round on Longboat Key since 1991. I am not surprised to see traffic going south backed up almost to the light at the Publix, or backed up from St Arman’s Circle to the light at Mote Marine going north.
This past week was the first time I saw traffic going south on 41 backed up from 10th street waiting in the right lane to make the turn onto the bridge, while the rest of the southbound traffic moved freely. If only the pedestrians crossing on St. Arman.s Circle could be controlled so that they do not cross “at will” but are held in clusters, that would help the flow of traffic. going west or east.
Another problem is that the traffic merges at Washington Street when going toward LBK and drivers from the Circle do not line up, but sneak into line causing the drivers who did line up to wait and allow them in, or play “chicken”. Also, drivers wishing to avoid the Circle use Washington Street and delay the flow of traffic where they merge at that point with the cars coming from the Circle. A policeman not allowing the “cheaters” to merge as they approach Washington Street would help the flow and cause the wiseguys to be delayed, a just punishment for inconveniencing those who follow the rules of the road. Merging from Washington Strett can flow freely if alternate feed is observed, and for the most part it is.
Likewise, on Cortez Road, traffic heading west was backed up almost to75th St.these past two weeks. I have no idea how that situation can be improved.
Of course, Spring Break, Easter and Passover holidays brought hundreds, maybe thousands more people and cars to these places of congestion. My conclusion is that, except for the attempt at St. Arman’s Circle to control pedestrian crossing, we have to bite the bullet, suck it up, and get on with our lives. It is the price we pay to live here!
Beverly Pottern Shapiro
4700 Gulf of Mexico Drive #303
Longboat Key