SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve the Ft. Harrison Avenue Complete Streets Study Final Report, a Complete Streets concept plan for Ft. Harrison Avenue, from Belleair Road to N. Myrtle Avenue, authorize transmittal to Forward Pinellas and other jurisdictions for the completion of the Forward Pinellas Complete Streets Grant Program agreement (approved via Resolution 19-09) and adopt Resolution 20-37.
Body
SUMMARY:
In March 2019. the City was awarded a Complete Street concept planning grant from Forward Pinellas to evaluate a portion of Ft. Harrison Avenue Belleair Road to N. Myrtle Avenue. The objective of the Ft. Harrison Avenue Complete Streets Study is to evaluate how Ft. Harrison Avenue could be reconfigured to improve safety for all modes, serve residents without vehicle access, support local businesses and the community, improve personal and environmental health.
HDR Engineering, Inc. was selected as the consultant for the project. The development of the Ft. Harrison Avenue concepts involved public input through an online survey and guidance from a Project Visioning Team comprised of business owners, residents, local agencies, and city staff who have an interest in the corridor.
The project was divided into three main segments based on the land use characteristics, existing typical sections and available right-of-way. However, segment 1 was further subdivided due to the difference in existing cross sections, with one sub-segment having four undivided lanes and the other sub-segment having three lanes, including a continuous two-way turn lane. The limits of the segments and a brief summary of the recommended improvements for each are as follows:
• Segment 1A City Gateway (Belleair Road to Belleview Boulevard): Road diet, reducing the number of lanes from four to three with a turn lane; landscaped islands along the eastern side; pedestrian crosswalk refuge islands near Belleair Road and Wildwood Way; improved connections to the Pinellas Trail at Woodlawn Street; and painted intersection at Belleview Boulevard.
• Segment 1B Downtown Transition (Belleview Boulevard to Chestnut Street): Eliminated on-street bike lanes; landscaped islands along the eastern side; pedestrian crosswalk refuge islands on Lakeview Road at Pinellas Trail crossing and near Pine Street on Ft. Harrison Avenue; painted intersection at Lakeview Road.
• Segment 2 Downtown Core (Chestnut Street to Drew Street): Eliminated left turn lanes at Pierce Street and Cleveland Street, creating space for designated loading area, on-street parking, parklets and wider sidewalk; pedestrian crosswalk refuge islands at existing Park and Franklin Streets crossings; rectangular rapid flashing beacon at existing Hendricks Street crossing; painted intersection at Drew Street.
• Segment 3 Old Bay/North Marina (Drew Street to N. Myrtle Avenue): Midblock bulb-outs to create chicanes; on-street parking; landscaped islands; painted intersection at Seminole Street.
Additionally, intersection bulb-outs and marked crosswalks are recommended to be implemented throughout the corridor, along with intermittent landscape islands in the center turn lane where turning movements are not needed.
On November 17, 2020, city staff presented the draft report to the Community Development Board and received positive feedback on the proposed concepts. By adopting Resolution No. 20-37, City Council is approving the Final Report, including the concepts. Staff will be transmitting the Final Report to Forward Pinellas.
Exhibit A of Resolution 20-37 is the Final Report which includes the concepts for the Ft. Harrison Avenue corridor as well as typical sections for each segment. The report appendix includes meeting summaries and materials from each Project Visioning Team meeting, the traffic analysis memorandum and supporting data completed for the southern segment of Ft. Harrison Avenue and the associated intersections of Belleair Road and Belleview Boulevard, and a detailed concept plan for the portion of the corridor where a road diet is proposed (from Belleair Road to Lakeview Road).
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A