County Requests Safety Evaluation of FDOT's Beulah Road/9-Mile Road Intersection: FDOT is Studying the Issue

There have been a number of wrecks at the intersection of the state's roads Beulah Road and 9-Mile Road.

The latest one resulted in a fatality.  Numerous Citizens have expressed concern.  And the county is listening.

Last week, we requested FDOT look into this situation for safety's sake via this email, below:

"Escambia County requests the Department conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the signalized intersection of Nine Mile Road (State Road 10 / U.S. 90-A) at Beulah Road (State Road 99).  The Design-Build improvements were complete in February 2022 and drivers routinely request changes to the geometry, pavement markings and traffic signal operations.  The evaluation may need multiple staff with multiple backgrounds; Design, Safety Office, and Traffic Operations. 

 One specific concern that routinely comes up is the obscured view of oncoming thru traffic for the driver turning left on the green permissive phase.  (It appears to be more obscure for the eastbound left turning vehicle.)  Has the Department reviewed the possibility of shifting the EB left turn lane to the north to provide additional sight distance?  If it is not feasible, please examine changing the traffic signal’s left turn treatment from protected/permissive mode to protected only mode.  There have been two major crashes with eastbound left turning drivers failing to yield the right of way and turning in front of a westbound driver in the past few months.  (November 16, 2022 and April 28, 2023).  The latest crash resulted in a fatality.

 FDOT Design Office is currently managing Project 433113-5-52-01, Beulah Road resurfacing from Mobile Highway (SR 10A/U.S. 90) to Issacs Lane.  There may already be an evaluation complete.  If so, can you forward the document?  There may be some short-term recommendations Escambia County maintenance staff can implement.  The Google Earth KMZ file representing 30% plans is attached.

 FDOT provided signalization upgrades during the Design-Build project that can provide valuable data for the evaluation.  The detection camera provides a variety of data including turning movement counts and 24-hour counts. I am also available to meet to go over some of the citizen suggestions, verify measurements in the field and obtain photos.    

 County Commissioner Bergosh has requested to stay informed on the progress of this request.  I am copying him on this email.  As a courtesy, I am also copying the District Traffic Operations Engineer.

 Appreciate your support."

Wednesday of last week, FDOT acknowledged the issue and confirmed they are having the matter looked into.

Good afternoon Jim,

 

"We have tasked Phillip Kurth, with FTE to study this location.

 Phillip

 Please see Jim’s email below regarding the Task Assignment for this location that I sent you earlier. Please work with Jim Hagon on this assignment.

 Respectfully,

 Tammy Melchi

Traffic Specialist IV

FDOT Traffic Operations Office"

more to come.

The Area Behind The New Publix Site Has NOT Been Recently Rezoned to Commercial

There were some unfounded speculations and accusations about the land just south of the location of the new Publix Shopping Center in Beulah at 9-Mile Road and Beulah Road.  On the Beulah Scoop Facebook site some posters stated that the property had recently been "re-zoned" to commercial.  And then several subsequent posters piled on, dragging me as the current commissioner into the conversation and bashing me--blaming me for "this."  

I knew it was all bogus.  

And a quick check with staff verified what I already knew to be true.  

There has been no such rezoning of any of that property since I have been the D1 Commissioner!  

(BTW:  Anyone at anytime that is confused or has questions about zoning--particularly in Beulah where I have lived for going on 2 decades-can call me for the facts.  850-293-1459.  Or email me at District1@myescambia.com.  I'll give you the facts, the truth.  I'm working on a citizen-driven master plan for the entire area to control the out of control growth in Beulah-and we will be awarding that $300,000.00 contract within 30 days.  I ran for this job because I wanted more intelligent management of growth--and we are going to do it!) 

As a matter of fact, before the county did a massive up-zoning of properties all over the county in 2015 (Before I was Commissioner) for the purpose of streamlining zoning designations (which was a MASSIVE up-zoning of many properties) this property was already zoned for commercial uses.

From staff:

"below are the two OLD ZONING AND NEW ZONING for the Properties behind Publix as well the “Rezoning case map” of the area. There has not been a rezoning in the area since 2006. The only change is the NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 15’ x 605’ Ingress and Egress section was changed from RR to HC/LI in 2015 zoning update because it was less than 10% of the property and was the NFCU connection off of Beulah Road. It did not affect any other properties. The ID-1 or HC/LI is NFCU Property. There has been no new Commercial rezoning behind Publix. All other Properties have not changed nor any rezoning cases have happened without the BCC approval"

OLD ZONING--PRIOR TO 2015

CURRENT ZONING-(SINCE 2015)

See staff's before and after zoning maps of this entire  area (prior to 2015 and current)