Meeting Notes Date: December 20, 2018 Project #: 20166 To: David Agacinski FDOT District One Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator 10041 Daniels Parkway Ft. Myers, Florida 33913 From: Project: Subject: Patty Hurd, Jennifer Musselman US 41 Complete Streets/Multimodal Corridor Study Steering Committee Meeting #3 (December 11, 2018 1:00pm-3:00pm) Attendees: Jesten Abraham, FDOT David Agacinski, FDOT Bessie Reina, FDOT Ryan Brown, Sarasota/Manatee MPO Alvimarie Corales, Sarasota/Manatee MPO Alan Burr, New College of Florida Susan Dodd, City of Sarasota Colleen McGue, City of Sarasota Jennifer Price, FSU/Ringling Museum Stephen High, FSU/Ringling Museum John P. Carvalho, Florida Highway Patrol Kent Bontrager, Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Nelson Galeano, Manatee County Norm Luppino, Resident David Potenza, Resident Patty Hurd, Jennifer Musselman, FILENAME: H:\20\20166 - FDOT D1 COMPLETE STREETS\US 41\MEETINGS\STEERING COMMITTEE #3\STEERING COMMITTEE #3 NOTES_V2.DOCX
December 20, 2018 Page 2 Topics: 1. Project Background The Study Team provided an overview of work efforts to date. Key issues and opportunities include: College connections New College and University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM) are sharing more resources, including classes and campus police. New College students in particular rely on non-auto modes to get around as many do not have a car on campus. USFSM access The campus entrance is unsignalized and not likely to meet signal warrants in the near future. The campus requested a roundabout, which partly influenced the need for this study. Speeding Speed is an issue along the corridor, particularly in the northbound direction along the airport. University Parkway Intersection the intersection is currently failing during the PM peak period and is expected to get worse in the future. It also has a high crash rate when compared to similar intersections. The goals of the Study are to: Improve safety and comfort; Improve access to destinations along the Corridor; Maintain vehicular mobility; and Beautify the Corridor. 2. Intersection Concepts The Study Team reviewed potential improvements to the US 41 and University Parkway intersection. A full ICE evaluation was done at the intersection because a roundabout review was requested. The roundabout did not move forward. Additional westbound turn lanes can provide LOS E in 2040 and could be done with within the existing right-of-way with a B/C ratio of 132. This could be done in conjunction with additional pedestrian improvements at the intersection. An exclusive northbound right would further reduce delay but would require right-ofway. The B/C for the westbound and northbound turn lanes is 119. The right-of-way in the southeast corner is owned by Florida State University, through a state trust. Stephen High offered to coordinate with FSU to explore right-ofdonation if FDOT provides the information. The Ringling Museum requested adding a through arrow on one the eastbound lanes to help with traffic exiting the museum.
December 20, 2018 Page 3 The Study Team reviewed potential improvements to the US 41 and Tallevast Road intersection. The Study Team tested many interactions of turns lanes, some suggested by the traffic consultant (VHB) and some requested by the Steering Committee members. The preferred alternative is to add a westbound right-turn lane and southbound leftturn lane and remove a southbound through lane. o This alternative would require additional right-of-way, currently owned by the airport. The airport has a strong desire to close Ponce de Leon Avenue to preserve their runway zone. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibits roads and parking in the runway protection zone. Because Ponce de Leon is existing, it does not need to be removed, but if there s an opportunity to, the FAA would encourage it. They may be amendable to donating the needed right-of-way in exchange for the closing of Ponce de Leon Avenue, a Manatee County road. This land cannot be built on either way. A resident commented that is usually easy to make a left-turn onto Tallevast and adding dual left-turn lanes with protected only phasing would make it more difficult. There is a concern this would lead to more traffic on neighborhood streets. 3. Corridor Improvements The Study Team reviewed the travel time analysis for a four-lane cross-section and a six-lane cross-section. With the intersection improvements at Tallevast and University, a four-lane section would operate better than the no-build alternative in 2040. If roundabouts are added to USFSM entrance and Braden Avenue, the end to end travel time would be slightly longer, but still less than the no-build alternative in 2040. The Study Team reviewed the alternative typical sections, provided in the attached slides. Three of the four alternatives south of Edwards Drive would require additional rightof-way, owned by New College and the Ringling Museum. The College and Museum may be willing to donate. These three alternatives would likely require a retaining
December 20, 2018 Page 4 wall, since the land adjacent to the roadway is higher than the road. There is also a pinch point at the pedestrian bridge. The following questions and discussion took place: o Does FDOT allows trees in the buffer space? Yes, as long as it is four feet from the travel lane. o Businesses along this corridor have removed trees in the past that block their businesses. FDOT may want to consider investing in landscaping in the median instead of the outside buffer. o Will a four-lane section create more traffic? The four-lane section is expected to handle all the traffic the Tallevast and University Parkway signals are able to process. If those two intersections are improved in conjunction with the lane elimination, the travel time will be faster compared to the no-build alternative o What are the minimum sidewalk widths per FDOT and ADA standards? The FDOT minimum is 6. The ADA minimum is 5 and allows for occasional pinch points down to 4. The proposed cross sections meet both standards. For shared use paths, FDOT prefers 12 and will go to 10 if needed. 4. Public Involvement The Study Team shared key highlights from the survey: 772 responses from across the two-county area The survey ran from September through December 3 rd 94% of respondents drive alone on US 41 and 22% ride their bikes on US 41 o A resident noted there are two recreational bicycling groups that use the corridor 5 times a week to get from the Ballentine neighborhood up to the museum district and Indian Beach/Sapphire Shores neighborhood Respondents rated safety, speeding, and quality of bicycle facilities as top concerns Respondents rated improved bicycle facilities, medians, design to lower speed, landscaping, intersection capacity, and wider sidewalks as top improvements. 61% of respondents support the lane reduction if done in conjunction with intersection improvements The alternatives with dedicated bike facilities were generally favored over wide sidewalk/multi-use path alternatives 5. Implementation and Next Steps
December 20, 2018 Page 5 A resurfacing project is programmed in 2023 for the Manatee County section of the Study. There is time to scope additional elements, but there is not currently money available. A PD&E Study is funded in 2021/22. This study would need to be moved up, or the resurfacing moved out, to incorporate recommendations into resurfacing. The MPO may have additional funding in 2020/21 or 2022/23 to advance the PD&E o The Steering Committee was supportive of advancing the PD&E to an earlier year The MPO could also use these funds to construct the University Pkwy changes, since they do not require PD&E. o The Steering Committee was supportive of advancing the improvements at the University Parkway intersection as a standalone project. They requested FDOT coordinate with FSU to see if the needed ROW could be donated. The Committee would still support the project if only the westbound lanes can be added. The Study Team requested letters of support from local governments and will provide briefing materials.