What Infrastructure Projects are Being Worked Currently in District 1?

Here is a list of projects currently being worked in District 1 by the County's Engineering Department.

We will be discussing this in depth at my 87th Coffee with the Commissioner event.

Check out the list, below:

Is the Perdido Key Roundabout Helping or HAMPERING the Flow of Traffic there?

Traffic was backed up from the Wal Mart at Sorrento and Blue Angel all the way to the "Roundabout" at Johnson's Beach Road and Perdido Key Drive on Perdido Key Saturday....

Extra signage.  Extra rumble strips.  Additional lighting.  And still even more signage.

Yet the complaints about the Perdido Key roundabout (which was supposed to improve safety and movement in, out, and through Perdido Key) appears to be a problem.  Now I am wondering---Is this roundabout helping or HAMPERING the flow of traffic into and out of Perdido Key?

I've spoken to our traffic engineer this weekend and we are going to get to the bottom of the issue and answer that question---scientifically---over the next several weeks.  Then, we will decide a potentially new course to take.

Because once this portion of the district reverted back to D1 in January of 2022 after redistricting in 2021--the roundabout was already engineered, designed and funded by the previous commissioner from this area.  On top of that--I was assured that the roundabout was the preferred option that was voted upon by the citizens by a large margin after multiple open house meetings out there prior to 2022.

So upon assumption of this area I moved forward with construction which is now completed.  And I have been out there multiple times and driven through the roundabout from every direction with no problem. But others are having problems..... 

And now that it is constructed---I am having a hard time finding anyone, literally anybody who will publicly claim they "like" the roundabout or "support" the county's construction of it.  And I can't even find anyone from this supposed "majority" who supported it initially.  They've pulled a D.B. Cooper on me.

I am finding complaints though.  Lots.  "It's not big enough" is one common one I am hearing.

"It's backing things up" is another.  "There are a lot more wrecks now!" is yet another.

Yes---there have been a number of wrecks, and also multiple persons have blown through the roundabout, straight through it, damaging signage and plantings which had to be replaced at county expense.  According to one angry citizen: "I  hope they [the county] figure it out.  I got a feeling until the turnabout is gone and some alternative turn lanes is put in the problem will continue.  The 35' ACE Hardware delivery truck that's route takes it through there twice a week had to stop and back up and eventually just crossed striaight over the mediun in order to get through.  Impossible for any emergency vehicle or delivery truck of any size getting through without resorting to doing the same.  The ACE driver has reported it to the owner of ACE hardware who also told me the same thing."

An official very familiar with the issue summed it up succinctly: "There isn't much we can do when both roads are backed up and headed in the same direction..we can't do anything to make people move quicker across the bridge and not back up through the intersection.  Too many people on too narrow of a road."

So we are going to do an analysis and apply an appropriate  fix.  That's what we are going to do.

stay tuned.

What is the Appropriate Speed Limit to set for Frank Reeder Road in Beulah from Bridlewood to Beulah Road?

A thorough, scientific, best practice and fact-based analysis that comports with state standards  was utilized in looking to answer this question:  What is the Appropriate Speed limit to set for Frank Reeder Road in Beulah from Bridelwood to Beulah Road?

After a number of residents asked about speeders on Frank Reeder Road recently and requested information about the current speed limit there, I said I would have professional engineering staff go out and evaluate that road on the area of concern, from Bridlewood to Beulah Road.  Yesterday afternoon, staff completed the analysis of the data collected, and provided the below analysis, discussion, and recommendation based upon State Law, best practices, and scientific facts gleaned from the associated field study they conducted.  It was a very thorough, yet succinct explanation, which I am posting, below:

"Commissioner,

 As requested, we commissioned a speed study in the 45 mph portion of Frank Reeder from Bridlewood to Beulah Road to see what speed vehicles were going. 

It is important to remember that driver behavior is influenced by road conditions and environment more than speed limit signs.  Drivers tend to pay less attention to speed limit signs, which they consider unreasonable unless there is an inordinate degree of enforcement. On the other hand, unreasonably low posted speed limits are commonly violated by drivers making enforcement difficult and operating speeds higher than what would exist with proper realistic posted speed limits.  This is why appropriate speed zoning methodology is needed (and required in Florida) to set speed limits to realistic, enforceable regulations.

Data was collected on Jan 25^th and 26^th over the course of 24 hours in both the east bound and west bound directions near 6626 Frank Reeder Road which is 1,000 feet east of Bridlewood.

We found the following:

               85^th% Speed       Avg Speed          15^th % Speed   10 mph pace      # over 50mph    Total Vehicles

Day 1

EB           45.6 mph             39 mph                31.6 mph       35-44 mph          8 vehicles            437 vehicles

WB         47.8 mph             41 mph                35.7 mph       35-44 mph          33 vehicles          417 vehicles

 

Day 2

EB           44 mph                38.9 mph             31.8 mph       35-44 mph          10 vehicles          423 vehicles

WB         48 mph                41.8 mph             35.4 mph       35-44 mph          38 vehicles          402 vehicles

 

Rationale for a speed zoning determination from the FDOT Speed Zoning Manual indicates the following:  The 85th percentile speed is defined as the speed at or below which 85 percent of the

76th Coffee with the Commissioner Live from the Animal Shelter Postponed Until October

 

Our 76th Coffee with the Commissioner event which was planned for tomorrow morning at the Escambia County Animal Shelter from 6:30-7:30 AM has been postponed due to an unexpected staff emergency which will prevent the event from happening tomorrow morning.

We will move this coffee event, live on YouTube from the Animal Shelter, to October.

My apologies for the last minute change.

Saturday in Perdido Key.....

 I had the opportunity to spend a good part of Saturday morning/afternoon in one of  the newest portions of District 1 post-redistricting, Perdido Key.

I was invited for a neighborhood Garden Clean up at the visitor's center in Perdido Key, which I was eager to do.  After that, I had the opportunity to drive around the area and spend some time looking around and exploring, including spending time walking and looking over what will be our area's newest free public acess, Gulf Front facility on the island.  Public Beach Access #4  is nearing completion and a ribbon-cutting is scheduled for mid-to late February.

Here are some pictures, below, from the day: