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Tag: Gerry Traverso

Planning begins for expanded Pine Avenue project

Pine Avenue project expanded to Spring, Magnolia

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Additional planning is underway for the expanded Reimagining Pine Avenue project which now also includes Spring and Magnolia avenues.

The long-discussed project includes the installation of permeable brick paver sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue, new and improved crosswalks and new streetlights along the commercial corridor. The sidewalks will meander in areas where the unpaved paths currently curve inward toward the businesses. The permeable pavers are expected to improve drainage along Pine Avenue.

Planning begins for expanded Pine Avenue project
The project is expected to improve drainage along Pine Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The expanded project will also include safety improvements along Spring and Magnolia avenues, both of which run parallel to Pine Avenue. Portions of Spring and Magnolia currently lack sidewalks and crosswalks.

Planning begins for expanded Pine Avenue project
The Pine Avenue corridor includes Spring and Magnolia avenues. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

The purpose of the expanded project is to increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and others who use the three streets that comprise the Pine Avenue corridor. Commissioners discussed eliminating the parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue, but did not vote to do so.

Planning begins for expanded Pine Avenue project
Pine Avenue runs through the middle of Anna Maria’s primary commercial district. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The city’s 2023-24 fiscal year budget includes $3.34 million in projected Reimagining Pine Avenue-related expenditures. The funding sources are $2.69 million in state appropriations, $283,412 in federal American Rescue Plan funds and $367,781 in impact fees, property tax revenues and funds carried over from the previous fiscal year budget.

On Sept. 21, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy provided the city commission with a project status update. He said in the coming weeks he’d be meeting with project engineer Gerry Traverso, of the George F. Young engineering firm, regarding the proposed safety improvements to be made along Spring and Magnolia avenues. The city commission-approved plans that Traverso created for the initial Pine Avenue safety improvements were completed more than a year ago.

Murphy said the engineering firm will provide a comprehensive view of the improvements that could be made along Spring and Magnolia and incorporate those improvements with the existing Pine Avenue plans.

Planning begins for expanded Pine Avenue project
Many forms of transportation travel down Pine Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

He said he will bring the commission a list of recommendations as to what can be done in the entire Pine Avenue corridor using the state, federal and city funds already earmarked for the project.

Planning begins for expanded Pine Avenue project
The intent is to make Pine Avenue safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and other users. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“By the end of October, you will have a list of plans and ideas of what we can do with Magnolia, Spring and how it ties into Pine,” he told the commission.

“This won’t be as complicated as Pine because you’re looking at two similar residential streets,” Murphy added, noting the Pine Avenue plans were more complex because Pine Avenue serves as Anna Maria’s primary commercial district.

Planning begins for expanded Pine Avenue project
In some areas, the unpaved paths meander toward the Pine Avenue businesses. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

As was the case with the original Pine Avenue planning process that began in 2021, the planning and decision-making process for the proposed Spring and Magnolia improvements will include public input being provided by residents and business owners before any final decisions are made.

“It’s the start of the finalized plan. Similar to how we did Pine Avenue,” Murphy said of the pending planning process.

Commissioner Charlie Salem asked if it’s possible to ask the engineering firm to look at the alleyway that runs parallel to Pine Avenue, behind the businesses on the west side of the street.

Regarding the city-owned alley that already contains stormwater and drainage elements, Murphy said, “That’s one of the things I asked him to look at, that swale behind the stores there. What are the possibilities of using that for some mode of transportation?”

After the expanded project plans are completed, the city will issue a new request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids from construction firms interested in installing the safety improvements.

In the past year or so, the city issued three RFPs for the Reimagining Pine Avenue project. Each of those RFPs generated one bid proposal from the same construction firm. Because only one firm bid on those RFPs, and because the quoted prices were higher than the city hoped for, all three of those bids were rejected. The mayor and commission hope expanding the project to include Spring and Magnolia avenues will make the project more attractive and lucrative to more construction firms, which could generate more bid proposals for the expanded project.

Pine Avenue sidewalk and crosswalk concepts approved

Pine Avenue sidewalk, crosswalk concepts approved

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have approved the conceptual plans for the new sidewalks and crosswalks to be installed or modified as part of the Reimagining Pine Avenue project.

Mayor Dan Murphy and contracted traffic engineer Gerry Traverso presented the conceptual plans to the commission on Feb. 10.

Brick paver sidewalks will be installed along the entire length of both sides of Pine Avenue. Where applicable, the paver sidewalks will follow the existing footprint of the meandering paths located in front of some of the businesses on both sides of the street.

Made of permeable pavers that allow water to drain through them, the new sidewalks will be constructed over underground infiltration trenches and other drainage elements.

Pine Avenue sidewalk and crosswalk concepts approved
The sidewalk plans highlighted in black were presented during the Feb. 10 city commission meeting. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

During Thursday’s meeting, there was some debate as to whether the new sidewalks should all be 5 feet wide or be 6 feet wide in areas where the extra width can be accommodated.

Commissioner Deanie Sebring lobbied for 6-foot sidewalks. For the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists, she also again expressed her support for eliminating more than 50 existing parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue. No final decisions regarding the potential elimination of those spaces and/or the addition of buffered bike paths will be made until the other improvements are made.

Commissioners Jon Crane, Carol Carter and Robert Kingan were also in favor of installing 6-foot sidewalks where possible.

Commissioner Mark Short opposed the wider sidewalks and noted that the extra foot needed on both sides of Pine Avenue to accommodate the wider sidewalks would reduce the 50-foot-wide project area to 48 feet. He said he would hate to lose those extra 2 feet that might be needed later.

Pine Avenue sidewalk and crosswalk concepts approved
Contracted traffic engineer Gerry Traverso presented his sidewalk and crosswalk recommendations. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Traverso said 6-foot-wide sidewalks would be challenging in some areas already constricted by fire hydrants, drainage components and other obstructions. He said approximately 30% of the project area could accommodate 6-foot sidewalks, and that the meandering path areas would be the best places to include them. The commission ultimately reached a 4-1 consensus to install 6-foot-wide sidewalks wherever possible, with Short remaining in opposition.

Crosswalk improvements

The commission supported Traverso’s recommendation to install a new raised crosswalk with embedded flashing beacons across Pine Avenue near The Donut Experiment and Poppo’s Taqueria. That location was chosen because there is currently no mid-block crosswalk in that vicinity, which has a high volume of uncontrolled pedestrian crossings.

The existing crosswalk near the Roser Memorial Community Church will be replaced with a raised crosswalk that also features embedded flashing beacons. A third raised crosswalk with flashing beacons will also be installed at some point between North Shore and North Bay Boulevard across Pine Avenue and the existing crosswalks will also be improved without being raised. Traverso said raised crosswalks are not needed at the existing four-way intersections and Murphy said there are currently no plans to create any additional four-way stops.

As a result of Thursday’s discussions, a request for proposals will be issued seeking responses from construction firms interested in installing the new sidewalks and crosswalks.

Traverso also briefly presented some additional streetlighting recommendations but the commission agreed to postpone the street lighting discussion for a future meeting.

Related coverage

 

Mayor presents Reimagining Pine Avenue timeline

Proposed Reimagining Pine Avenue solutions presented

Commissioners hear proposed Pine Avenue solutions

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Traffic engineer Gerry Traverso has presented his findings and five proposed solutions associated with his Reimagining Pine Avenue study.

The study encompasses the Pine Avenue corridor that includes Magnolia Avenue, Spring Avenue and those connected portions of Gulf Drive and South Bay Boulevard.

Traverso addressed the Anna Maria City Commission and the public on Thursday, Aug. 19. Lasting nearly two hours, Thursday’s meeting did not result in the commission narrowing its choices down to it top two or three options as originally anticipated. The discussion will continue at future meetings and Traverso expects to provide the mayor and commission with his final report within a week or so.

The study’s two primary purposes are to improve safety and traffic flow for all those who share the streets and sidewalks within the study area. Traverso’s findings were based on traffic counts, accident reports, personal observations, public input and conversations with business owners. American Rescue Plan funds will be used to pay for the $50,274 study provided by Traverso and the George F. Young civil engineering firm.

Alternative 1

Traverso presented several alternatives for the commission to consider and each included pros, cons and estimated costs.

Alternative 1 proposes additional pavement markings, bike lane sharrow markings and the installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons at new and existing pedestrian crosswalks on Pine Avenue for an estimated cost of $85,000. Four new crosswalks and upgrading an existing crosswalk on Spring Avenue would cost an estimated $45,000. Four new crosswalks and upgrading an existing crosswalk on Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $45,000.

Proposed Reimagining Pine Avenue solutions presented
Alternative 1 is the simplest and least expensive proposed solution. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

The Alternative 1 pros include less initial cost and less disruption to the Pine Avenue businesses and the simplest and fastest implementation.

However, this alterative would not solve streetside parking and delivery truck issues, does not address gaps in the existing sidewalk systems, does not address safety concerns for bicyclists and does not resolve sight distance issues at driveway entrances.

Alternative 2

Alternative 2 includes the Alternative 1 improvements in addition to buffered bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of Pine Avenue.

Pros include buffered bike lanes, which would provide separation between motorists and bicyclists. The continuous sidewalks would increase pedestrian safety and the use of permeable concrete or pavers for those sidewalks and bike paths would increase water quality treatment and drainage. This alternative also addresses sight distance concerns by eliminating parking spaces located near driveway entrances.

Proposed Reimagining Pine Avenue solutions presented
Alternative 2 proposes sidewalks and buffered bike lanes. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

The cons include the elimination of existing parking spaces and a potential 40-60% increase in construction costs due to the use of permeable concrete or permeable pavers.

Installing bike lanes on both sides of Pine Avenue and new sidewalks would cost an estimated $524,630. Sharrow markings and sidewalks along Spring Avenue would cost an estimated $152,353. Bike lanes and sidewalks along both sides of Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $832,646. Sharrow markings and sidewalks Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $391,424.

Alternative 3

Alternative 3 proposes installing a multi-use/bike path along one side of Pine Avenue, continuous sidewalks along both sides of the street, adding more crosswalks and improving existing crosswalks.

Proposed Reimagining Pine Avenue solutions presented
Alternative 3 proposes a multi-use trail/bike path along one side of Pine Avenue. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

Pros include the multi-use trail, which would separate bicyclists and motorists. The permeable sidewalks would improve pedestrian safety and drainage and placing the bike path on one side of the street only would reduce driveway sight distance conflicts.

Cons include eliminating some parking spaces along Pine Avenue and the use of permeable materials, which would increase costs by 40-60%.

Installing a multi-use trail and sidewalks along Pine Avenue would cost an estimated $433,895. Sharrow markings and sidewalks along Spring Avenue would cost an estimated $152,353. A multi-use trail and sidewalks along Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $741,911. Sharrow markings and sidewalks along Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $391,424.

Alternative 4

Proposed Reimagining Pine Avenue solutions presented
Alternative 4 does not include a dedicated bike path. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

The pros include additional parking spaces, designated parking space for delivery trucks, improved safety for pedestrians, improved drainage and improved sight distances.

However, this alternative would not provide a separate travel area for bicyclists.

Installing a multi-use trail and sidewalks along Pine Avenue would cost an estimated $645,610. Sharrow markings and sidewalks along Spring Avenue would cost an estimated $152,353. A multi-use trail and sidewalks along Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $829,240. Sharrow markings and sidewalks along Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $391,424.

Alternatives 5A/5B

Alternatives 5A and 5B propose converting Pine Avenue and Magnolia Avenue into one-way streets, creating streetside parking spaces and delivery areas, creating a multi-use path/bike path and continuous sidewalks, adding new crosswalks and improving existing crosswalks. Alternatives 5A and 5B differ in the direction the one-way traffic would travel and Traverso said these alternatives might require a traffic signal at the Magnolia Avenue/Gulf Drive intersection.

Proposed Reimagining Pine Avenue solutions presented
Alternatives 5 propose transforming Pine Avenue and Magnolia into one-way streets. City of Anna Maria | Submitted

The pros include a separate travel area for bicyclists, improved safety for pedestrians, improved drainage and additional parking spaces.

The cons include the higher cost of permeable materials, a potential increase of traffic in the residential areas along Magnolia Avenue and Spring Avenue and motorists potentially driving faster on one-way streets.

A multi-use trail, sidewalks, crosswalks and parking spaces along Pine Avenue would cost an estimated $978,305. A multi-use trail, sidewalks and crosswalks along Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $1.28 million.

Traverso said the costs associated with the permeable surface materials could be reduced in areas where stormwater infiltration trenches exist because the subsurface fill materials are already in place. Traverso also said grants might provide additional funding sources.

The commission was in general agreement that the Pine Avenue improvements should be the first priority, with the Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue to be addressed later. Commissioner Doug Copeland said installing continuous sidewalks along Pine Avenue that drain well and have a consistent appearance should be the top priority.

Reimagining Pine Avenue discussions continue

Reimagining Pine Avenue discussions continue

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – The second Reimagining Pine Avenue meeting took place at city hall on Monday, July 12.

A third public information meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20. The final study report and recommendations are tentatively scheduled to be presented to the city commission on Thursday, July 29, but according to Mayor Dan Murphy that date could change.

Once that final presentation is made, the city commission, with Murphy’s input, will decide which recommended safety and traffic solutions to pursue and include in the 2021-22 fiscal year budget that begins Oct. 1.

Contracted traffic engineer Gerry Traverso is conducting the $50,000 study of the expanded Pine Avenue corridor that also includes Spring Avenue, Magnolia Avenue and the connecting portions of Gulf Drive and South Bay Boulevard.

Unlike the first public meeting on July 1, the July 12 meeting featured no discussion about transforming Pine and Magnolia Avenues into one-way streets – an idea that raised concerns from many who attended the previous meeting.

“The purpose of this meeting is to gather data from you guys. You live here. You work here. You are the ones dealing with traffic, going to the businesses and driving around. I want to hear from you the things we might have missed,” Traverso said as Monday’s meeting began.

He then provided a quick recap of some of the observations and concerns previously discussed. These included intersection sightlines obscured by vegetation, parked cars and other obstacles; the lack of parking and people parking “anywhere and everywhere;” the lack of sidewalk continuity and delivery trucks stopping and blocking the Pine Avenue travel lanes.

Reimagining Pine Avenue discussions continue
This Spring Avenue sidewalk comes to an abrupt end. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Traverso again noted the study area is shared by a wide variety of users that includes automobiles, delivery trucks, construction vehicles, golf carts, scoot coupes, scooters, bicycles, pedestrians and more. And he again noted there’s a limited amount of space to implement improvements.

Public discussion

During the public discussion that ensued, Rick Lewis produced photos of a main street in Indianapolis that features two-way travel lanes and a wide sidewalk next to a protected bike lane.

“I think it could be modified to fit our needs. You have to have a bike lane that’s protected. Fix Pine and maybe that will fix the other roads,” Lewis said.

Reimagining Pine Avenue discussions continue
Several Anna Maria residents participated in the July 12 Reimagining Pine Avenue meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Robert Kinghan believes the area near The Center is the most dangerous in the study area. He noted the Magnolia Avenue sidewalk ends at The Center and there’s heavy vegetation at the corner of South Bay and Magnolia.

“When you get to the corner there at South Bay you cannot see. Something needs to be done about that corner,” he said.

Stacie Bulley said the presence of garbage cans, garbage trucks and landscaping vehicles make Magnolia Avenue more difficult to navigate.

“I’m not going to use Magnolia anymore. I’m just going to go up Pine,” she said.

Reimagining Pine Avenue discussions continue
Landscaping vehicles blocking city streets has been a frequently mentioned concern during the Reimagining Pine Avenue meetings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In contrast, Shari Dowling said she tries to avoid Pine Avenue at all costs, but she’s now encountering more traffic on other nearby streets.

Janet Riley lives along Magnolia Avenue and she said, “That is exactly what’s happened. Traffic has increased immeasurably.”

Riley said the four-way stop signs installed at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Gulf Drive in the past were a “godsend,” but they also created more traffic on Magnolia. She, too, mentioned the congestion caused by parked landscaping vehicles.

Former City Commissioner Chuck Webb said, “Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue are thoroughfares. Magnolia and Spring were never designed to be thoroughfares and that impacts the residents in that area.”

Webb said about one-third of the vehicles that pass through the Magnolia Avenue/Tarpon Street intersection run those stop signs. He said a speed bump was installed in front of his home on Magnolia about 15 years ago and it worked well until it was removed due to complaints made by other residents.

Traverso said speed bumps are one of the few things that slow vehicles down. He said gradually sloped speed tables also accomplish the same objective.

Frannie Kaluza said she sees more people parking along Magnolia Avenue and walking to the beach.

“You have a good problem: you live in paradise,” Traverso said. “Everybody wants to come here to the beach.”

Kaluza implied that living in paradise is becoming less appealing and Kinghan said, “Milton had a poem called ‘Paradise Lost.’ ”

Jean Murray said she sees more parking taking place in the easements along Pine Avenue and she wondered whether the vacant lot at the corner of North Shore and Pine could be used for overflow parking.

When asked about parking in general, Traverso said the existing off-street parking can be maintained, but that may prevent the installation of additional bike lanes and sidewalks. He also said the business owners he spoke with don’t want their existing parking capacity reduced.

“There’s a 50-foot right of way and there’s a number of alternatives you can do. There are always tradeoffs,” he said.

Participating by phone, resident Bob Carter asked Traverso about the study priorities.

Traverso said safety is the number one priority, followed by traffic and operational efficiency.

Joe Richmond asked if the Sheriff’s Office is going to enforce pedestrian and bicyclist violations associated with any study-related safety improvements.

“No doubt enforcement has got to be a part of the solution. We’ve got some issues with enforcement. We’ve got a lot of room to improve,” Murphy responded.

Kinghan asked Traverso what impact paid parking has on traffic and congestion.

“If you have parking, you will have more cars coming,” Traverso said.

Nancy Gravely asked about the installation of mid-block pedestrian crossings to address pedestrians who randomly cross the street without paying attention to oncoming traffic. Traverso said managed mid-block crossings are part of the study.

Joan Voyles asked about shifting the Pine Avenue travel lanes. Traverso said shifting travel lanes slows traffic down, but speed is not the primary concern on Pine Avenue. The goal there is to make the traffic flow more efficiently.

Reimagining Pine Avenue discussions continue
Several different modes of transportation share Pine Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Pat Olesen said the solutions need to be convenient for residents. Barbara Zdravecky said the study results are not going to make everyone happy and the solutions will require a community effort.

Citizens weigh in on Reimagining Pine Avenue

Citizens weigh in on “Reimagining Pine Avenue”

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – The ongoing efforts to “Reimagine Pine Avenue” may or may not include transforming Pine Avenue into a one-way street.

That possibility was among the many alternatives discussed at the town-hall style public information meeting held at Anna Maria City Hall on Thursday, July 1. Gerry Traverso, the city’s contracted traffic engineer, served as the main presenter and discussion moderator.

The Pine Avenue corridor study area includes Spring Avenue, Magnolia Avenue and those connected portions of Gulf Drive and Bay Drive South.

Citizens weigh in on Reimagining Pine Avenue
The Reimagining Pine Avenue study area includes Pine Avenue, Spring Avenue, Magnolia Avenue and portions of Gulf Drive and South Bay Boulevard. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

In mid-May, the City Commission authorized the $50,274 “Reimagining Pine Avenue” study conducted by Traverso and the George F. Young civil engineering firm.

About 20 citizens and business owners attended the Thursday morning meeting that lasted an hour and 20 minutes. Several attendees posed questions and expressed their opinions about the study and the potential actions it may produce.

Traverso said a main goal of the study is to increase safety within the Pine Avenue corridor. He shared several observations he and others have made regarding the study area including traffic flow and vehicular interactions with pedestrians, bicycles, golf carts, scoot coupes, skateboards and scooters. Traverso said these alternative modes of transportation result in fewer cars being on the roads, but also create problems of their own.

Traverso said he observed a Fed Ex driver park his truck in a travel lane and unload boxes while parked in the road, which forced other motorists to drive around the truck and into the other lane. Traverso said this creates both safety and operational issues. Traverso said he received positive feedback from the business owners he spoke to about potentially limiting business deliveries to a specific time period such as 5 a.m. to 8 a.m.

He said he also witnessed a large pickup truck nearly run over a low riding, three-wheeled scoot coupe.

Traverso has safety concerns regarding uncontrolled and mid-block street crossings. He said hedges placed between the sidewalks and the road could be used to funnel pedestrians to the crosswalks and to the designated mid-block crossing areas that could feature beacons that flash while pedestrians are crossing.

In response to a question posed by Anna Maria resident Janet Kinghan, Traverso said The Donut Experiment and the Anna Maria General Store might be possible locations for mid-block crossings that feature lighted beacons when pedestrians are crossing.

Citizens weigh in on Reimagining Pine Avenue
Mid-block street crossings could be addressed by designated crossing areas that feature flashing beacons. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Traverso also has safety concerns created by the lack of sidewalks in some areas. Traverso noted the south side of Spring Avenue has sidewalks but the north side has “sidewalk gaps” that often force people out into the road.

“Once they hit the pavement they do not go back to the sidewalk. We have to keep them on the sidewalk and provide this connectivity,” Traverso said, noting sidewalk gaps also exist elsewhere in the study area.

“We have a set amount of right of way. We have competing interests. Who do we give the priority – vehicles or pedestrians or bicyclists? Can we do a mix of all?” he said.

In regard to potentially transforming Pine Avenue into a one-way street, Traverso said, “If you do that, you can repurpose the lane you’re not using now and convert it to on-street parallel parking, a bike track and sidewalks. There’s a lot of different alternatives you can do.”

Citizens weigh in on Reimagining Pine Avenue
Thursday’s public information meeting was well attended. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Meeting attendee Janet Riley lives on Magnolia Avenue and she said she has seen an “insane” increase in traffic on that street in recent years.

Riley asked Traverso what he has in mind for Spring and Magnolia avenues. She noted many of those who purchased residential property along those streets did not do so with the intent of their streets serving as an access point to the restaurants, stores, shops and other businesses along Pine Avenue. She also expressed concerns about rerouting additional traffic onto those streets if transforming Pine Avenue into a one-way street.

Traverso said the pavement is wider on Magnolia than it is on Spring and the potential alternative being discussed would entail Pine Avenue and Magnolia Avenue becoming one-way streets, with Spring Avenue located between them and remaining a two-way street.

34-year Anna Maria resident Sherry Oehler said she too is concerned about routing more traffic into those residential areas.

Traverso said making Pine Avenue a one-way street is one potential alternative, but it is not the only potential alternative. He said each proposed alternative will have pros and cons and the mayor and commission will ultimately decide which solutions to carry out.

North Shore Café owner Collen Geller said her café installed more bike racks than the city originally requested and she may install more. She suggested encouraging businesses to install or increase the number of bike racks they currently have. She also suggested bike racks be placed at vacation rental homes to further encourage bikes as an alternative mode of transportation.

Thursday’s meeting will be followed by a second public information meeting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7.  Traverso will present his final report and proposed solutions on July 29.

During Thursday’s meeting, Traverso noted the project website, www.ReimaginingPineAvenue.com, was launched that morning.

After the meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy said, “I was very pleased with the public input we had. We’ve got a lot of different ideas and some very specific concerns were brought up for us to consider.”

Public input sought on “Reimagining Pine Avenue”

Public input sought on ‘Reimagining Pine Avenue’

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria will host the first of three “Reimagining Pine Avenue” town hall-style public information meetings on Thursday, July 1.

Taking place at city hall and open to the public, Thursday’s meeting will begin at 10 a.m. The meeting can also be attended by telephone; dial 1-301-715-8592 and enter meeting ID 89254786113. Public input will be sought during the meeting.

Gerry Traverso, of the George F. Young civil engineering and surveying firm, will be the featured speaker. Traverso, a Bradenton resident, has more than 25 years of traffic engineering experience. He’s also a certified project manager.

In May, the city commission authorized Traverso to conduct a comprehensive study of the Pine Avenue corridor that also includes Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue. The $50,274 project fee includes proposed solutions to resolve the identified issues.

Public input sought on “Reimagining Pine Avenue”
This map illustrates the Pine Avenue corridor study area. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

Thursday’s meeting will begin with a five-minute introduction. Traverso will then explain the scope of work for the study that addresses congestion reduction and safety improvements along the Pine Avenue corridor. The meeting agenda notes drainage will not be part of Thursday’s discussion – although drainage and flooding were included in the scope of services approved by the city commission in May.

Traverso will then spend 15-20 minutes presenting the issues he’s observed and identified within the study limits. These issues include:

  • Sight distance issues at various intersections and driveways,
  • Loading and unloading at businesses,
  • Parking,
  • The lack of sidewalks and/or sidewalk connectivity,
  • Multi-modal transportation, including bikes, scooters, golf carts and more,
  • Congestion and pedestrian interaction at various commercial establishments.
Public input sought on “Reimagining Pine Avenue”
Traffic engineer and project manager Gerry Traverso will lead Thursday’s discussion. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Traverso will then lead a 30- to 60-minute open discussion that will allow meeting attendees, including those on the phone, to comment on the issues presented and voice their opinions and ideas about the study project thus far.

Preliminary discussion

City commissioners discussed the upcoming “Reimagining Pine Avenue” meeting during their regular commission meeting on Thursday, June 24.

Mayor Dan Murphy said Traverso has been “working feverishly” on the study and the recommended solutions that will each include multiple options of varied complexity and cost. Murphy said the traffic studies and traffic counts have been completed and drone footage of the corridor has also been collected.

According to the mayor, Traverso has already met with several key stakeholders, property owners and business owners along Pine Avenue. Crash study data has also been compiled.

As part of its efforts to reach out to community members, the city will email those registered to receive the email notices regularly distributed by the city.

Murphy said each commissioner will also have a one-on-one session with Traverso during the ongoing process that is to be completed with a final public presentation on July 22.

Public input sought on “Reimagining Pine Avenue”
Golf carts and other alternative modes of transportation are included in the Pine Avenue study. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

City Clerk LeAnne Addy said a study-specific website would be activated on or around Monday, June 28. A link to the study website will be posted at the city website.

Commission Chair Carol Carter said she’s heard positive feedback about Traverso’s interactions with stakeholders.

“I heard a positive review of Gerry. I heard he was very well received by one major local merchant,” Carter said.

“I’ve gotten three, all positive, from stakeholders,” Mayor Dan Murphy added.

Related coverage

 

Reimagining Pine Avenue study approved

‘Reimagining Pine Avenue’ study approved

‘Reimagining Pine Avenue’ study approved

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Pine Avenue may soon be in for a traffic and safety-related makeover.

The city of Anna Maria is contracting an engineering firm to conduct a detailed traffic and safety study of the Pine Avenue corridor that also includes Spring and Magnolia avenues.

On Thursday, May 13, the city commission authorized the $50,274 project fee associated with an agenda item referred to as “Reimagining Pine Avenue.”

The study results and recommendations will be presented to the commission and the public on July 22.

“We’ve been talking about this for some time, and this is a great way to use some of the money we get from the American Rescue Plan,” Mayor Dan Murphy said.

He then introduced Gerry Traverso from the George F. Young civil engineering and surveying firm. Traverso serves as vice president of transportation engineering for the firm that’s headquartered in St. Petersburg and has offices in Tampa, Lakewood Ranch and elsewhere in the state. Traverso has more than 25 years of traffic engineering experience and is also a certified project manager who lives in Bradenton and is familiar with the area.

“We know the city of Anna Maria is not the same as the city of North Port. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We tailor each approach to the specific characteristics of the community,” he said.

Traverso said the Pine Avenue corridor is an interconnected network of roads that includes Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue. The study will help develop solutions to mitigate and alleviate congestion, while also looking at how to more safely accommodate pedestrians, bikes, scooters, golf carts and other alternative modes of transportation.

‘Reimagining Pine Avenue’ study approved
The map illustrates where the Pine Avenue corridor study will take place. – George F. Young Engineering | Submitted

The study will also include recommendations for delivery trucks and other business‐related traffic along the Pine Avenue corridor.

“We know that we have a lot of commercial activity on Pine Avenue. We don’t want to hurt them in any way,” Traverso said.

Stormwater and drainage conditions will be observed and analyzed. That information will be used to help alleviate rainwater ponding that forces pedestrians and bicyclists further out into the streets.

The scope of services includes data collection, traffic counts and the analysis of vehicular turning movements in the study area intersections. The study will also produce a topographic survey for Spring and Magnolia avenues from Gulf Drive to South Bay Boulevard.

Data and input will be gathered from residents, business owners, visitors and elected officials through public meetings and the creation of a project website.

“The more you involve the community, the more buy-in you get,” Traverso said.

Results and recommendations

The study will produce up to four alternatives for each recommended solution, with cost estimates and implementation timeframes included.

“One alternative might be cheap and fast, but what is the return investment? Or do we do a different alternative that will take more time and money but provides a longer-lasting solution? We’ll do a public presentation, and we’ll show you all the alternatives and the pros and cons of each one,” Traverso said.

“We can go from simple to complex,” he said, mentioning striped parking lines or lowering the speed limit as simple solutions.

He said making Pine Avenue a one-way street going south and Magnolia Avenue a one-way street going north would be a more extreme solution.

Each recommendation will include a no-action option that analyzes what happens if nothing is done to address a particular problem: “They stay the same or they get even worse,” Traverso said.

‘Reimagining Pine Avenue’ study approved
Traffic Engineer Gerry Traverso enthusiastically explained the study’s scope and scale. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Murphy said the July presentation date allows the commission time to include any desired actions in the 2021-22 fiscal year budget.

Commissioner Joe Muscatello said he doesn’t want this to be another case of a $50,000 study sitting on the shelf with no action taken.

“We’ve seen that too often,” he said.

Muscatello said if American Rescue Plan funds can’t be used, the commission needs to find the money elsewhere.

“We need to take this seriously and move as quickly as we can,” he said.

Commissioner Jon Crane asked Traverso if the study will take into account the unpredictable behavior of visitors when engineering potential solutions.

“We have tourists who come here and they drive crazy, and they ride bikes crazy and they cross streets without crosswalks – people who act normal at home but don’t act safely here,” Crane said.

Traverso referenced a tourist-heavy area in Treasure Island where visitors drink in the bars on one side of the street and then try to cross a four-lane road to get back to their beachfront accommodations.

He said several technical solutions were explored, but the best solution came from a landscape architect who suggested planting shrubs to create a natural barrier that forces pedestrians to cross in designated areas. Public Works Manager Dean Jones said hedges used in that manner are an effective low-cost solution that he would support in some locations.

Former commissioner Doug Copeland attended Thursday’s meeting. While in office, he often expressed concerns about the current configuration of Pine Avenue, which results in vehicles backing out into the street and includes areas with no sidewalks.

During public input, Copeland said, “ I want to applaud you for taking this on. It’s become a major issue. Our infrastructure was designed back in the early 1900s by the Anna Maria Development Company. It served the city well but it’s a hundred years old. We do need something dramatic and I hope you’ll move forward with this.”