South Roosevelt next in line for possible FDOT redesign

South Roosevelt next in line for possible FDOT redesign

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Four lanes? Three? Possibly two?

Those were some potential changes to South Roosevelt Boulevard discussed recently by the Key West City Commission and the state Department of Transportation (FDOT). FDOT embarked on a “lane repurposing corridor study” of the southernmost boulevard last week, the idea being to explore the pluses and minuses of redesigning South Roosevelt to be more pedestrian and bike friendly. At the top of the list of options to explore is reducing the four-lane roadway to potentially two or three lanes for cars, according to Ken Jeffries, FDOT’s District 6 transportation planner, with the remaining lanes for bikers, vendors and walkers.

The specific stretch of South Roosevelt Blvd. to be studied begins at Bertha Street and stretches past the Key West International Airport and Flagler Avenue to end at US1/Overseas Highway. Any changes made to the busy roadway would be done in three segments: Bertha St. to the airport, the airport to Flagler Ave. and then Flagler to US1.

State transportation planners, working with the Key West Engineering Dept., will issue their recommendations at the end of January. Local residents will have at least two opportunities to comment on any redesign, including a public workshop in mid-December and a public hearing in mid-January. Dates for these two public meetings will be announced at a later date.

“We want to develop a scenic boulevard for all users; for the pedestrians, for the on-street parking, vendors, tourists and for bicyclists and the cars,” Jeffries said.

FDOT would retain the old bridle path currently opposite the ocean side of the street. Possible improvements also include landscaped medians to help pedestrians cross the street. Any changes to the roadway would take place between the existing curb and gutter and not involve widening South Roosevelt.

But reducing the number of lanes for cars was worrisome to Commissioner Billy Wardlow, who was concerned about access for emergency vehicles down a thinner boulevard.

“That’s the main thing, especially with the airport being right there” said the former Key West Fire Department chief. “One lane in each direction? I don’t think it’s going to work like that.”

But Jeffries said the objective would be to create more space for on-street parking, bike lanes and possibly wider sidewalks.

“[FDOT], like everyone else, has evolved in their views on other modes of transportation besides cars,” he said.

The study will analyze near and long term traffic operations, crash and safety information, impacts to all modes of travel and how much or little the community supports any changes.

Commissioner Margaret Romero said she “hated” the idea of reducing South Roosevelt to two or three car lanes. She also strongly urged FDOT not to install the same pedestrian crosswalks that it did in its redesign of North Roosevelt Blvd., which have drawn numerous complaints about the use of a flashing yellow light to warn drivers that a pedestrian is about to walk across the street. She also said she did not support a dedicated bike lane since the sidewalk on the ocean side of the street is wide enough to accommodate both bikers and walkers.

But Mayor Craig Cates and Commissioner Sam Kaufman disagreed, saying a large number of walkers use the sidewalk because of the beautiful ocean view.

“At times it gets a little tricky with the bikes and the walkers on the sidewalk at the same time,” Kaufman said. “It sometimes does get a little more congested on the Smathers Beach side.”

Even if the final report at the end of January recommends some car lane eliminations, there is currently no money in the state budget for any changes or other improvements, except for an already-approved road repaving from Bertha Street to the airport. And any decision to eliminate one or more lanes from South Roosevelt would have to be approved by the FDOT Central Office, Jeffries said.

“It’s quite a lengthy process,” he explained.

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