Workshop: Public prefers pedestrian improvements

In a workshop that heard more from the podium than the dais, Historic City News reporters listened for over an hour as citizens spoke their mind about the ongoing plans to reconnect the Castillo and bayfront.

The workshop began yesterday at 3:30 p.m. but ran long — pushing back the start of the regular 5:00 p.m. City Commission meeting.

The mayor opened the meeting with some comments intended to dispel concerns that have been voiced throughout this process, including some that were voiced again in the workshop.

“How do we stir the large number of paid visitors from the fort into the downtown area?” Mayor Boles asked, rhetorically, as he restated the purpose of the planning and project. “We’re not spending any money at this time; the planning is being paid for by a grant from the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program.”

Having already heard from residents and business owners from Anastasia Island to North City who live, work and travel along SR-A1A, the mayor committed, “We’re not touching it, if you don’t want us to.” Boles also explained to the audience that the City has no control over the plans or schedule of the National Park Service — who have already approved a Visitor Orientation Center to be constructed across Avenida Menendez from the fort.

“We’ve held four public meetings,” Boles said. “We’ve put the information on the City website and have held informal presentations for other interested groups.” Designer Fred Halback said that they have processed about 500 responses to their survey, presented plan alternatives to the City’s Historic Architectural Review Board, Parking Committee, and others.

Halback and Project Manager Jeremy Marquis each spoke to the commission and participants about the progress of the planning and deadlines for future grant applications. Halback found the obscure Sarbanes grant and approached the City about undertaking the “Reconnecting the Castillo and Bayfront” study. The focus of the grant is to improve mobility around national parks.

Marquis explained that Halback Group will return April 25th for a final review because the grant application period closes May 9th. “We can recover up to 100% of our costs,” Marquis said, referring to the initial grant application. “And, we can come back and request more money if additional planning is required.”

In order to receive the greatest benefit from available grant funds, Marquis says the focus needs to be “alternative modes of transportation”; such as bicycle, carriage or pedestrian. Halback’s contract with the city was initially for 270 days and he has requested that contract be extended, since so much time has been spent on alternatives and presentations. According to comments by Halback and Boles, extending the contract date is ministerial — and involves no additional expense to the City.

Boles as Marquis, “What did you here as you conducted these public meetings?”

Marquis replied that comments regarding the horse-drawn carriage routes and the impact of lane changes on the smooth flow of traffic were among those most common. Accommodations have to be made for pedestrians, deliveries to businesses, trailer trains and trolleys as well as carriages.

“650 people a day are crossing Avenida Menendez,” Marquis said. “Without a traffic light.” Halback Group is recommending a plan to minimize decision points and minimize conflict points, however, Fred Halback explained to commissioners that if you make any changes to the existing road design, FDOT is going to require you to meet certain current mandates that were not in place when the current design was built in the 1950’s — “providing bike lanes, for example.”

Vice Mayor Leanna Freeman indicated that the National Park Service would not be agreeable to surrender property from the fort greens to accommodate wider roads and additional pathways for bicycles or a dedicated carriage lane as indicated in the proposal. “We have 11 1/2′ to 12 1/2′ wide lanes now, except than in the curves, they narrow to about 10′,” Halback reported. “The National Park Service and Joe Gordy have been good to work with.” There was a discussion about “shared use paths”, which, in reality, are nothing more than wide sidewalks; however, Halback seemed to think they can come up with a plan that will meet minimum requirements from the City and FDOT.

Commissioner Bill Leary suggested that the commissioners hear from the police and fire departments for their “expert opinion” on lane reductions and the ability to perform their duties, however, it was determined to be more important to give what time was remaining to those who were in the audience to comment.

Marquis distributed a handout with the most recent modifications and clarified that there are three “phases” to the proposed project — coinciding with the three $3 million segments of the $9 million grant. The first phase addresses changes to traffic and pedestrian routing on Orange Street and connecting St. George Street. The second involves lot restoration with the National Park Service and will be timed to coincide with their new Visitor Orientation Center. Finally, lane changes along the SR-A1A corridor which would not begin before 2015 – 2016.

Speaking from the Chamber of Commerce Historic Area Council, Leslee F. Keys, was concerned about possible planning conflicts with 450th commemorations, where funding would come from to meet matching requirements, conflicts with south bayfront projects next year and the importance of preserving delivery access.

Robert “Murphy” McDaniel, owner of Avalon Carriage Company, said that he is against anything that reduces the existing four traffic lanes and remarked that although some people complain about the slow speed of his carriages, they should be considered a “good thing” since people are not supposed to be driving faster than 25 miles per hour in that area. McDaniel also said that he was surprised that no one from the City has discussed this with him. “In the future, I’ll be available anytime to give them my ideas on how to better the situation.”

First America Foundation Chairman, Donald Wallis, recognized that the “core city” is the most significant jewel in the St. Augustine crown. He says that although events for the commemorations through 2015 are being planned across the county, he would not want attendees “to discover a city under construction” when they arrive for the 450th.

Thomas Rochelle, owner of an Anastasia Boulevard clothing store, said businesses on the Island are weary from the road construction. “We’ve all lost money from the lane closures,” Rochelle told commissioners. “Some businesses have had to close because of the construction.” Rochelle thinks “it is a wash”.

Downtown businessman and resident Bruce Maguire asked, “Where is the necessity?” Maguire agreed with earlier comments from Commissioner Freeman, who suggested we “leave it alone”. Agreeing with the pedestrian improvements outlined in the proposal, he was concerned with the potential loss of 105 parking spots downtown, lane reduction and what the City will do if they start down the path with the first $3 million grant and then fail to get the second or third installment.

Former Mayor Len Weeks, who no longer lives in the City but still maintains an office here, now serves on the Parking Committee. He said that moving pedestrians and traffic through downtown St. Augustine has always been a problem and removing parking spaces is not a good idea. He disagreed with a plan to add dedicated horse and carriage lanes and suggested lane closures be tied to specific hours of the day. “Make downtown more pedestrian oriented,” Weeks concluded.

Virginia Whetstone lives on St. George Street and operates several Anastasia Island businesses. She said that six years of construction severely hurt her motels — immediately north and south of the east end of the Bridge of Lions. She does not want anything else done that will affect how smoothly cars get across the bridge or travel SR-A1A; Anastasia Boulevard, Avenida Menendez, Castillo Drive and San Marco Avenue. Whetstone disputed a claim made earlier in the meeting that the reduced lane plan, as proposed, moves exactly the same amount of vehicular traffic through town. “It’s not about how many cars may be moved, it’s about the time it takes to move them,” Whetstone pointed out. “Even if two lanes can move the same number of cars as four lanes, the added congestion has to change the timeframe.” Whetstone is also concerned about the experience visitors will have — the frustration of “more congested traffic and fewer parking spaces.”

Whetstone echoed another concern about removing a traffic lane and dedicating it to horse-drawn carriages. “The carriage operator did not request or want that done; so who’s idea was it?”

Whetstone offered a comparably easy solution to the 600 or more pedestrians crossing outside of designated crosswalks. “Just put up a decorative fence along the bayfront with openings only at the crosswalks.”

Richard Pinto is a downtown merchant who has also served on the Parking Committee. He says that a lot of cars make a “U-turn” on Avenida Menendez at Hypolita Street and is concerned about the availability of street parking and access from daily delivery services like UPS. “The last redesign was 50 years ago,” Pinto said. “I feel like we are under the gun because of a grant deadline and we need more time to work this through.”

Melinda G. Rakoncay lives in North City and said she speaks for others in her neighborhood who do not want to be “cutoff from downtown”. She likes that the plan would be phased in over a period of several years and that pedestrian traffic is the initial focus. Rakoncay does not like narrowing two traffic lanes to one and suggests a time limit for delivery drivers. She supports making Orange Street eastbound from Cordova Street for sightseeing vehicles only.

Michael Pounds, business partner of Richard Pinto, said he wants to see less traffic from vehicles and more accommodations for pedestrians. He agrees that Orange Street should be one-way, eastbound only, from Cordova Street to Avenida Menendez.

Last to speak was Vickie A. Rianda, who says “it’s mindboggling to eliminate traffic lanes and we need all the parking spaces”. Although she agrees with making pedestrian improvements, she says “it’s crazy” to cut off a lane of Avenida Menendez; reducing traffic flow from two to one lane only. Rianda says we need an extra crosswalk and a traffic control device to allow tourists to cross safely. She suggests using traffic cones to simulate the effect of a lane closure.

No vote was taken during the workshop, however, consensus on pedestrian rather than traffic lane changes seemed clear. “You’ve done a good job laying out our options, Mr. Halback,” the mayor said. “At this time I don’t have a dollar in it”.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer