Letter: San Marco intersection is already dangerous

Deborah Testa
St Augustine

Dear Editor:

I live at Vilano Beach and continuously have to deal with the traffic getting into St. Augustine, mainly because the intersection at May Street and San Marco Avenue is so poorly designed.

This intersection isn’t even fit for horse and carriage traffic!

In fact, over the past few years I have worked hard to consolidate my trips into St. Augustine just so I don’t have to sit for 4 or 5 lights to get through this intersection (it often takes 15-20 minutes).

I cannot think of one positive attribute for the City of St. Augustine by inserting a store and 12 gas pumps at this intersection that cannot currently handle the traffic. It’s dangerous from a traffic and accident standpoint as well as an evacuation standpoint.

It’s dangerous for the students of the Florida Deaf and Blind School. It’s dangerous for the children on the carousel. It’s already dangerous for cyclists (I am an avid cyclist). Can you imagine how much more dangerous it will be once a gas station and store is at this corner?

It certainly doesn’t enhance the character of the city, and it will make it far less attractive for those on the barrier island to travel into St. Augustine.

I urge Mayor Shaver and the other commissioners to do everything in their power to deny the building of a 7-Eleven at this intersection in St. Augustine. There are plenty of other places nearby that makes sense for this business.

Putting 7-Eleven aside, I also believe that it’s urgent for those responsible to create and execute a plan for this intersection for the free flow of traffic. I know that the free flow of traffic at this intersection will benefit the people and businesses in the City of St. Augustine.