Rawson Lane Part III: What Does the Traffic Study Show?

The entire Rawson Lane study can be read and analyzed by anyone who choses to look.  It is located here.

Some take aways from the document:

 

Question--"Will travel times for diverted trips be greatly increased for emergency services

(fire and medical)?"

 

Answer--"Because the first responder station (assigned to Rawson Lane – Fire Station 3

Brent) is located north of Airport Boulevard (SR 750) on W Street travel times for

emergency services should not be impacted."


Question-- Will travel times for diverted trips be greatly increased for former cut through

traffic?

 

Answer--"According to the results of the travel time study of diverted trips for former cut-through

traffic should increase for the most popular NE-SW route at PM Peak hour.

This increase is largely due to the length of the alternative route and signal delays

that could be expected at PM peak hour. However, during the AM peak hour for

the NE-SW route and AM and PM peak hours for the NW-SE route travel times

slightly decrease when using the alternative routes [EMPHASIS ADDED]."

Question--Will overall residential neighborhood traffic levels and traffic on Rawson Lane,

increase or decrease post-closure?

 

Answer--"Because of the closure, cut-through traffic will no longer be able to use Rawson

Lane as a north/south route, and traffic levels should improve the level of service[EMPHASIS ADDED].

Intersection analysis indicated that the southbound approach at the Airport

Boulevard (SR 750)/Rawson Lane intersection is expected to improve from a LOS F

to LOS E under future traffic conditions. The northbound left-and-through

movement at the Airport Boulevard (SR 750)/Rawson Lane intersection is expected

to operate at LOS E during the PM peak hour. This movement is currently operating

at LOS F."     

What if PCC Wasn't Located in Pensacola?

What if PCC wasn't located in Pensacola?  What if they decided to leave?

So because we didn't have the full complement of Commissioners on the dais this past Thursday-the vote to vacate Rawson Lane was put off again.  I stated that we should vote, we had a quorum, and there are lots of items on the agenda that we did vote on---so why the delay?  The rationale, which may have some merit, was that the issue is one of great importance and therefore some commissioners wished to wait until all commissioners are present--this way we can all be on the record.  

But this is inconvenient for those who made arrangements to come and speak at the meeting only to have the rug once again pulled out from under them.

So we are scheduled to vote AGAIN on this matter Monday, May 22nd at 5:30.  We'll see what happens, hopefully the can doesn't get kicked down the road again...every time we postpone, it is just prolonging the anxiety for folks on both sides of the issue; it's like purposely ripping a scab off a wound over and over-- wondering why the cut never heals.  Things don't heal, things don't get back to normal if one continues to pick at the scab.

So PCC once again was pummeled at the meeting by the angry speakers who did come to the meeting.  Several were dignified in their opposition, but several were rude, obnoxious, and frankly out of line.  Some made personal attacks on the commissioners individually--which should not be tolerated.  Several speakers said we would be voted out if we agree with this vacation.  Nothing is more low-class, aggressive, and offensive than listening to people that disagree on one (1) issue

Rawson Lane, Part II: The Economic Value PCC brings to Escambia County

The vote on vacating Rawson Lane to Pensacola Christian College was put off earlier this month.  It will be voted upon this Thursday, it is on the agenda.

Over the last several months, I have been contacted by many constituents that are in strong support of vacating Rawson Lane.  Several citizens that are strongly opposed to this action spoke at our meeting earlier this month.

Arguments could be made to support either position, and there are some consequences to consider if we do vacate this road to the college.  But there are numerous positive benefits that the community as a whole gains from closing the road--most notably a massive construction project that will allow the college to continue its growth and that will grow the jobs base here locally.  Recently, a presentation was sent to commissioners detailing the latest economic impact PCC has on our economy locally.  It is significant.

This vote is about more than a road, in my estimation.  Over the last several months I have been contacted by folks that simply demonstrate a disdain for this organization--which is sad.  At a public meeting on this subject held a few months back at Brentwood Elementary School, one man approached me and said "They don't do anything for the community, they don't deserve the road, all PCC cares about is PCC!"  I recently received a long letter from a close neighbor, a retired attorney, detailing all the reasons this vacation should not be approved by the BCC.  Again, an almost jealous disdain for this school oozed from the pages of that letter.  That gentleman claimed PCC pays "NO" taxes--but that simply is not true.

For my part:  I support the mission of PCC, what they do for youth and their positive impact on the lives of so many.  I am happy to see them grow and succeed and being a Christian man myself--I love that they lead many to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  This matters, this is important.  In fact, if we boil the whole thing down to the essentials of existance on this planet--nothing is more important than this, nothing.  It really bothers me that Christians beat up on this school--it is perplexing and I don't get this.

So to the haters that hate PCC, I say this:  PCC does do impactful things in the community, they offer very reasonable tuition for many that would otherwise be unable to afford private school.  They offer summer programs for area youth that could not otherwise afford such programs, and Camp of the Pines is a first-rate summer camp program that offers area youth an amazing week-long summer camp experience for a dirt-cheap price. Two of my three children attended this camp and my youngest went to PCA for pre-school--which was inexpensive and first-rate in quality.

Some people do some things that appear to be beneficial to a community, and these folks beat their chests about this and self-promote the apparently generous and selfless actions they take and donations they make (while not spotlighting the concomitant personal, ancillary, and tax beneficial consequences such gestures inure to such persons or entities)  This is 0ff-putting.  This is disingenuous.

PCC doesn't do this-- they quietly do things that benefit our community, our country, and the world--they do this in so many ways.  This subtle and subdued approach to philanthropy and good deeds is refreshing, uncommon and admirable.

So this vote is important for many reasons and will generate passionate discourse and emotional testimony from those on both sides of the equation.  I can't wait, I can't wait to vote this issue and move on.

Closing Rawson Lane

Many constituents have emailed and called expressing support for the closure of Rawson Lane in Pensacola...

Rawson Lane is a small street that cuts through the campus of Pensacola Christian College in Central Pensacola.  It begins at Brent Lane and ends at Airport Boulevard.  It’s a small street but it’s also a hot potato.

I’ve toured the area, met with the PCC staff, looked at the traffic analyses, and heard from constituents and residents on this issue.

Many have expressed the opinion that this road should be vacated by the county, then subsequently signed over to PCC.  “After all, PCC owns the property on BOTH sides of Rawson Lane; PCC should get this road so that their campus could be safer and so the school could build another large dormitory facility that they desperately need to sustain their growth”—some have communicated to me.

On the other side of the equation-a few have told me they feel the county should keep Rawson Lane.

“Taxpayers paid for the road and I want to have the ability to use that road to get to the hospital quickly if I need to” one elderly resident wrote.

Another  nearby resident stated “I use that road when the train stops on the tracks—and I don’t want to lose that ability!”

Another  resident called my office to relate the following message to me: “I voted for you, I live in your district and I use Rawson Lane all the time.  If you vote to vacate Rawson Lane, I won’t vote for you again!”**

One call I received was especially troubling:   “Jeff, the school is pressuring faculty and students to