LEGISLATIVE ACTION ITEM
SPONSOR: City Council Member Jewel Cannada-Wynn
SUBJECT:
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TWO-WAY CONVERSION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DRIVE-ALCANIZ STREET AND DAVIS HIGHWAY
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RECOMMENDATION:
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That the City Council request the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) return Davis Highway and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive-Alcaniz Street to two-way streets and take all actions necessary to complete the conversion as a priority project.
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HEARING REQUIRED: No Hearing Required
SUMMARY:
A proposal by FDOT to fund a traffic analysis to ensure it is feasible to return Davis Highway and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive-Alcaniz Street to two-way traffic is expected to be presented to the TPO at its October 2019 meeting. Upon TPO approval, the study will be contracted through TPO staff to determine potential impact and cost. Upon completion of the study, the results will be forwarded to the City of Pensacola for a request to move forward. The next step toward two-way conversion will be to have the project added to the TPO Work Plan and the Long Range Transportation Plan as a high priority.
Restoration of Davis Highway and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive-Alcaniz Street from one-way to two-way traffic is an identified project of the Eastside/Urban Infill Area Redevelopment Plan and the 2010 Urban Core Community Redevelopment Plan. On May 1, 2019 and July 10, 2019, the Eastside Redevelopment Board (ERB) expressed its support of the conversion of these roadways to two-way travel.
Originally, two-way streets, these facilities were converted to one-way traffic prior to the construction of the I-110 interstate system in an effort to move traffic quickly through Pensacola. However, high vehicle speeds have resulted in safety concerns associated vehicular crashes and limited multi-modal accessibility. Previous, two-way conversions of Spring Street, Baylen Street and Palafox Street have proven to reduce vehicle speed and improve safety.
Currently, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive-Alcaniz Street provides southbound travel from the terminus of the I-110, Exit 4 ramp to Garden Street, and Davis Highway provides northbound travel from Wright Street to the I-110, Exit 4 ramp terminus. These streets traverse primarily residential neighborhoods, including the Eastside Neighborhood located north of Cervantes Street, and the Old East Hill Neighborhood located south of Cervantes Street, where pedestrian and bicycle access is growing in popularity and demand. Therefore, it is advisable that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) convert these streets back to a two-way traffic pattern, including related multi-modal safety enhancements.
PRIOR ACTION:
May 1, 2019 - The ERB recommended approval of the CRA Work Plan for the Eastside redevelopment area for Fiscal Year 2020, with the addition of the Davis Street two-way conversion as an identified project.
July 10, 2019 - The ERB expressed support for the conversion of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Davis Highway from one-way streets to two-way streets.
August 5, 2019 - The CRA approved the CRA Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2020, with the addition of the Davis Street two-way conversion as an identified project.
FUNDING:
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No financial impact is anticipated as FDOT proposed to fund the two-way impact study.
STAFF CONTACT:
Don Kraher, Council Executive
M. Helen Gibson, AICP, CRA Administrator
Victoria D’Angelo, Asst. CRA Administrator
ATTACHMENTS:
1) None
PRESENTATION: No