Concerns over Perdido Key Roundabout Discussed

The Perdido Key Roundabout is built.  It works as designed. I was at Perdido Key yesterday and it was functioning smoothly.  Some folks are happy with it, others want additional measures implemented, still others want it scrapped.

One thing I can say with certainty:  This traffic feature has been divisive--which is unfortunate.  As an example-- I offer this email exchange from this morning....I've had several like it from both supporters of the roundabout and detractors as well.

"Dear Mr. Jeff Bergosh

 I am a Canadian snow bird and been coming to Perdido Key for over 15 years, watching it grow every year along with downtown Pensacola and for the most part very pleased.

But my main peace now is the round about at Johnson Beach rd. It s way too small I do not even think it complies with US Government recommendations https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/00067/000676.pdf

In my opinion it is about 40-60 ft shy in diameter there is not deterrent for south bound travelers to slow done at all they can enter round about at 50 + per hour and not even have to slow down it needs to be enlarged to be safer and I am surprised you have not gotten any law suites from accidents there but I’m sure you will just saying.. because if I get clobbered there I will bring my dash can video to court and will be suing Pensacola and the driver who hit me.. Been 3 close call just this winter alone from people who fail to yield ….

XXXXXXXXXXXX    XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Canada"

To Which I replied: 

 

Hello XXXXXXXX,

 Thanks for the email of concern.  I have received several just like this one.  By contrast, I have also received several of late that appreciate the county building the traffic circle.  FULL DISCLOSURE:  I am not a traffic engineer, but I am told by the traffic engineers that the roundabout’s size is sufficient.  I have driven it from every angle and have found it to work adequately.  We have applied a number of additional measures to the roundabout to make it even more effective, safe, and efficient—however no amount of engineering can account for unsafe driving behavior of some who speed through the roundabout, drive over it, and are reckless.  This is why we all must drive defensively.

 A little history for you XXXXXXX…..Upon this area reverting to District 1 in early 2022 after a decennial census dictated we had to rebalance our 5 county voting districts---this project had already been designed and funded and was “shovel-ready.”  In addition to this---the citizens of Perdido Key had been consulted with numerous town hall meetings where they were asked which of three options they preferred on this county owned road.  1.  No build of anything—status quo  2.  A traffic signal  or 3.  A roundabout.  Overwhelmingly—the citizens chose option 3, a roundabout.   I agree with you in that it (roundabout) seems to be off-centered and undersized, but as I stated previously, above, the professional engineers who went to school for this and have studied these sorts of things academically have told me, eye to eye and in my face, that the roundabout was built as designed and is working as it was designed to work; slowing down traffic to prevent high speed wrecks while also allowing for a safer left turn solution from Johnson’s Beach Road going West back toward Alabama. Furthermore—do to a number of environmental constraints we face on Perdido Key and a lack of available right of way to expand the size of the roundabout---I am told by the professionals from the county’s environmental and traffic divisions (copied on this email) that enlarging the circle is impossible.  If I am wrong in this, again—they are copied and I’m asking for them to correct my understanding of this.  

 So let me make this perfectly plain.  If we can enlarge the circle, if this would improve safety, I am committed to doing it.  Enough have requested it of me and I have a budget for it.  Chris Phillips and Tim Day—can we do this?  We are still watching the operation of the roundabout and considering a bypass solution which could de-conflict some of the traffic going into the circle.  When I receive a final determination on whether or not we can do that—I will take decisive action and act on the recommendation.

 In closing, XXXXXXXX, I offer this:  What I have learned in nearly 18 years in local public office is that no solution will please all people.  To quote the famous trope from Goldilocks and the Three Bears—The porridge will never be just right—it is always too hot or cold.   With this said, I am always willing to re-assess a decision in light of new input and data from knowledgeable sources so your comments and considerations below are duly noted.  Thanks for your email, and I hope you enjoy your winter down here in America.

 Sincerely,

 Jeff Bergosh

District 1 Commissioner

Escambia Board of County Commissioners

Perdido Key Roundabout: Answers from an Engineer to Questions, Concerns, and Opinions from Constituents

I've received a handful of complaints via email from some citizens who utilize the newly-constructed Perdido Key roundabout at Johnson's Beach Road and have expressed the following concerns:

"I work in Perdido Key and feel the new round a bout is unsafe.  Please look into it."

"That has got to be the worst constructed road improvement that I have seen done in Escambia County. I’d like to think that you and others in your position took the time to drive through this to see for yourselves how many lives may be effected by this. We have our snow bird that come down every year and some may have never seen or know how to maneuver a roundabout. It’s too tight for trucks with trailers, RV’s, tractor trailers. The lighting at night, or lack there of is just asking for accidents at night let alone those that will come during the day and we aren’t even in season. What happens then when thousands are using it this summer." 

"I drove through the roundabout and hit curbs, had bad anxiety, ect. It is definitely hazardous to all driving through it. Please do something about it and fast!"

"Round about REALLY!"

"Too narrow and too small. Dangerous! Unsafe. Redesign this, please."

"I am a citizen of Escambia county near Gulf Beach Hwy. I have family who lives on Inerarity Point, and I travel to Johnson’s Beach regularly. Getting straight to the point, I believe it would be in the county’s best interest to install lights IMMEDIATELY! I traveled the round about and I almost missed it because it was so dark!"

So I have asked our county's traffic engineer to provide an assessment of the roundabout (Like me, he inherited this and was not involved in design) to address the citizens' concerns--which he has now provided, below:

Concerning the points brought forward by citizens regarding the newly constructed roundabout at Perdido Key Drive and Johnson Beach Road, we offer the following:

1. "New street lighting is included in the project and is in process for installation to supplement the existing streetlight at the intersection.  Lighting will be installed in advance on Perdido Key Drive and at the circle to supplement what is already in place.  We have executed lighting agreements with Florida Power and Light (FPL) and are awaiting installation by their contractors.  Unfortunately, the timing of the storms in South Florida earlier this year has exacerbated delays in their scheduling.  We have new street light requests throughout the county this calendar year that are also delayed.  During construction, extra temporary lighting funded by the District One Commissioner was put in place due to the darkness around the Johnson Beach Road detour area.  That temporary lighting was removed upon completion of the circle and its opening to traffic.
2. Additional signage is in store for the roundabout.  There will be signs at each entrance to the circle notating the direction of travel and the exit locations with the full street name included.  These signs are quite large, generally 6ft tall by 10ft wide.  Because of the sign’s size and needed breakaway capabilities due to where they are installed, they require a robust support system that has a delayed delivery schedule.  The full street names on the signs are optional by standard, but we felt it important to be very specific with directions due to the number of tourists that visit the area during season.  Here are the proposed signs:

3. The channelizing islands and center truck apron will be a terra cotta colored herringbone stamped asphalt pattern.  This will help those areas to stand out to the motorist.
4. Three additional signs are on order for the interior of the circle that convey the requirement to go to the right within the circle.  These will be 30”x24” and will face incoming traffic to the circle.

5. The roundabout was designed by a licensed professional engineer in the State of Florida.  During the design process, a simulation program known as AutoTurn was used to test the ability of a truck/trailer to be able to navigate the circle.  These simulations showed the design vehicle could successfully navigate the circle.  It is important to note the center of the circle has a paved truck ramp to facilitate the runoff of trailer wheels.  This is very common practice in design and construction of roundabouts worldwide.  We have surveyed the constructed circle to find it is built according to the dimensions on the approved plans.
6. Roundabouts are not designed for high-speed maneuvers.  They are designed to a tighter, narrower size than the traffic circles of last century to keep traffic moving consistently, albeit slowly through an intersection.  The physical dimensions of the entrance/exit flares and the circle pavement width and diameter are such to require a slow speed movement.  The speed through a roundabout should never exceed 25 mph as indicated by the signage and pavement markings.  There is signage present 300 feet in advance that indicates the roundabout is ahead, signage indicating the speed approaching and within the circle is limited to 25 mph, signage indicating the direction of circulation within the circle, signage directing motorists to yield to traffic in the circle, and signage indicating the street names at the entrance/exit points of the circle.
7. Annually the County assists the National Park Service (NPS) by providing variable message boards at the intersection.  Park Rangers have the ability to turn the signs to face the motoring public to indicate with the park is full.  A more permanent solution is on the horizon as the NPS ordered message boards last year that will be installed in a more permanent fashion that they will be able to control regarding message and timing.  The County will be assisting the NPS this year with the installation and implementation.

          Chris Phillips, PE, CPM, County Transportation Engineer"

Fixing the Sarasota Ditch begins NOW!

Great news on a project in District 1 that has been a long time coming!!

Sarasota Street in the Floridian Subdivision off of Blue Angel Parkway has had a big problem brewing for over a decade.   The backyards of 7 houses were being eroded and were falling into a massive gully on the adjacent property.

For years, residents tried and tried to get action on this problem--with no luck.

About two years ago, I met with residents and said I would commit staff and resources to the issue.  We looked at MSBU's, which were not a workable option.  I ponied up $400K of D1 discretionary LOST money to make the project go.  Between the staff, enginerring, and legal---we developed a plan and put the project in motion.  Recently--staff was successful at having the project funded through a grant--which is a tremendous win because it puts my discretionary allocation back in the county coffers where it can be used for other worthwhile drainage and infrastructure construction.

Kudos to neighbors who pushed (especially Zoey DiChristopher) and for staff that were steadfast in brining this project to fruition.  I look forward to getting this solved and completed by early next year.

It took too long---but perseverance pays!  See County's Notice of Commencement, below.