City Commission to discuss U.S. 41 median project

At Monday’s City Commission meeting, the board will weigh in on a proposal to add a median to the segment of U.S. 41 between Fruitville Road and Gulfstream Avenue.

That median would be part of a larger Florida Department of Transportation resurfacing project attempting to improve traffic and safety conditions on the state road. In March, FDOT temporarily added a right-turn lane at Fruitville and U.S. 41, designed to cut down on congestion issues.

After the trial period, the state agency was satisfied the new lane produced better results. Now, FDOT is working on more permanent changes — and on improving the safety of the road.

As designed, the project would add a longer northbound to eastbound right-turn lane on U.S. 41. The right-turn lane at U.S. 41 would become a slip lane, with a pedestrian island and pedestrian-activated signals. A median of varying width would be added, as well: 7 feet from Gulfstream to Palm Avenue, and 4 feet from Palm to Fruitville.

"During season, their travel time measurements found there were times when the trip from St. Armands to U.S. 41 and Fruitville Road took two hours." — Alex DavisShaw

On Monday, the commission will consider two alternate options. One would make the median a consistent width of 7 feet, a change that would necessitate the relocation of the western curb and some palm trees at the Ritz Carlton. The second would make the right turn lane shorter to allow for a wider median north of Palm Avenue — a change that would create a larger pedestrian area, but weaken the improved traffic conditions.

The city plans to eventually install roundabouts along U.S. 41 at Gulfstream and Fruitville, but those projects are at least five years away, City Engineer Alex DavisShaw wrote in a memo to the commission.

FDOT hopes to begin work on the project in summer 2016. Commissioners have yet to weigh in, but FDOT is recommending either the current design or the first alternative to best address the traffic congestion issues.

“FOOT looked into the concerns and during season, their travel time measurements found there were times when the trip from St. Armands to U.S. 41 and Fruitville Road took two hours,” DavisShaw wrote in the memo.

The full agenda for Monday's meeting, which also includes the finalization of the fiscal year 2015-16 budget, can be found on the city website.