Public Meeting with FDOT - 150th Ave Pedestrian & Vehicle Traffic

PUBLIC MEETING WITH FDOT - 150TH AVE PEDESTRIAN & VEHICLE TRAFFIC Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 4:00 PM Commission Chambers, 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708 MEETING SUMMARY Executive Summary The meeting was primarily a discussion between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), city officials, and residents regarding growing traffic congestion and safety concerns on 150th Avenue. Residents described increasing difficulty entering and exiting neighborhoods and businesses due to heavier traffic volumes, frequent U-turns, and changes to roadway circulation patterns. FDOT presented traffic data, maps, and potential options for improving safety and traffic flow. Main Issues Discussed 1. Traffic Congestion on 150th Avenue Residents reported that traffic has increased significantly following nearby development projects and roadway circulation changes. Particular concern was raised about congestion near the entrance to Madeira Cove and surrounding condominium developments. 2. Safety of Neighborhood Access A major topic was the difficulty of making left turns into and out of residential communities along 150th Avenue. Residents stated that heavy traffic, limited visibility, and turning vehicles create hazardous conditions and lengthy delays. Several speakers characterized the area as an accident risk if conditions remain unchanged. 3. U-Turn Activity Many residents identified U-turns near the Madeira Cove entrance as a significant safety concern. Numerous public comments advocated for restrictions on U-turns or redesigning traffic movements to reduce conflicts between vehicles entering and exiting adjacent properties. 4. Pedestrian Safety The corridor serves pedestrians accessing nearby businesses, residences, and beach-related destinations. Discussion included pedestrian crossings, driver visibility, and balancing pedestrian access with vehicle movement. Safety improvements for both walkers and motorists were a recurring theme. Potential Solutions Discussed Based on the meeting materials and resident comments, the following concepts were considered: • Additional traffic control measures. • Possible restrictions on U-turn movements. • Evaluation of turning movements at key intersections. • Potential signalization or modifications to existing traffic controls. • Changes to right-turn-on-red operations. • Improvements aimed at safer ingress and egress for adjacent properties. • Continued traffic analysis by FDOT before selecting preferred alternatives. Resident Feedback Public comments were overwhelmingly focused on: • Personal experiences with near misses and dangerous turning situations. • Difficulty leaving residential communities. • Concerns that development-related traffic growth has outpaced roadway capacity. • Requests for quicker action before a serious crash occurs. • Desire for solutions that improve safety without simply shifting problems elsewhere. Overall Outcome The meeting appears to have been an information-gathering and public-input session rather than a decision-making meeting. FDOT presented information, collected community feedback, and discussed possible improvements, but no final traffic solution was adopted during the meeting. The purpose was to evaluate concerns and inform future transportation planning for the corridor