Bikes & Pedestrians On The Fuller Warren Bridge?

[thelakelander]

For the Turnpike, I think that is a better example.  It is clearly not in an area where the limited access right-of-way might end like in Miami.  This is a guess, but there may be a parallel right-of-way dedicate to the path, directly adjacent to the roadway limited access right-of-way.  That might actually be a workaround for the statute and may be worth public comment to FDOT.  The limited access right-of-way ends at the back of the bridge way barrier wall and there is a normal right-of-way for the width of the path.

The ROW is the same. The Suncoast Trail is just physically separated. This is the suggestion for the FWB. Due to there being ramps on both sides of the bridge, what was done with the Suncoast Trail is applicable with the FWB. Here's some more info on the Suncoast Trail.

As part of the Suncoast Parkway project, a multi-use paved recreational trail called the Suncoast Trail was constructed parallel to the western side of the highway, and opened along with the Parkway itself in 2001.[9] The trail begins at Lutz-Lake Fern Road (Exit 16), and continues north for 41 miles to the highway's terminus at US 98. Four miles north of State Road 54, an additional 6.5-mile paved bicycle trail connects the Suncoast Trail to the J. B. Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey. Use of the Suncoast Trail is free, but in late 2010, a $2.00 parking fee was implemented at the Lutz-Lake Fern (Hillsborough County) and State Route 54 (Pasco County) trailheads. Both counties offer annual passes, which are valid only within the county of issue. Motor vehicles are prohibited along the entire trail.

For most of its length, the Suncoast Trail stays close to the parkway, separated by fences, grass, and in some places concrete barriers. Bridges that cross rivers and streams were built with enough width to accommodate trail users. Where roads cross above the parkway, particularly north of State Road 52, the trail briefly strays from the parkway, allowing users to cross the intersecting road at-grade.

Pedestrian and cyclist crossing of minor cross streets is regulated by posted signs. At busier intersections, pedestrian crossing signals are part of the traffic signal systems already in place. The notable exception is at the State Road 50 interchange near Brooksville, where a dedicated overpass has been constructed to cross State Road 50, approximately 500 feet west of the main parkway.

full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Road_589

[NIMBY]

Lakelander,
See the typical section at the link below for the Suncoast Parkway extension.  It was generated for the extension project, so I can't be sure if the right-of-way is the same for the current roadway but I would suspect it is.  There is a parallel 50' standard right-of-way dedicated to the multi-use path.  I'm really not trying to be argumentative, but I think it is important to your discussions and future interactions with the FDOT and TPO and may be a way to move forward.

http://suncoast2online.com/pdf/Suncoast3dTypical.pdf

I can definitely see your point and may be misinterpreting the statute as disallowing bike/ped access.

If the link above didn't post, just google "suncoast3dtypical" and it should be the first and only result.  I'll try to read a tutorial on using forums in the meantime!

Love the site, Merry Christmas all!

[thelakelander]

I checked the Suncoast Parkway's ROW last night on the Hernando County property appraiser's site. The trail and toll road are a part of the same ROW. I'll try and post a graphic of it later tonight.

[tufsu1]

Btw....the new trail that is being buikt in Tampa along with the I-275 widening is part of the highway ROW

[thelakelander]

Here's two GIS screenshots showing the Suncoast Parkway's ROW in Hernando County. Officially, the trail and the limited access roadway share the same FDOT ROW.

Lakelander,
See the typical section at the link below for the Suncoast Parkway extension.  It was generated for the extension project, so I can't be sure if the right-of-way is the same for the current roadway but I would suspect it is.  There is a parallel 50' standard right-of-way dedicated to the multi-use path.  I'm really not trying to be argumentative, but I think it is important to your discussions and future interactions with the FDOT and TPO and may be a way to move forward.

http://suncoast2online.com/pdf/Suncoast3dTypical.pdf

My guess is this linked typical cross section just shows a portion of FDOT's ROW being dedicated to the trail.  However, in reality, they are both a part of the same official FDOT owned ROW.

[JayBird]

The meeting I was able to attend that discussed this project, the FDOT rep wasn't against a pedestrian walkway as this thread suggests. When the question was posed, he said that due to its proximity to the Acosta Bridge they couldn't justify the added expense. He said it would be much easier approving additional funds if it were the Matthews or Buckman. He did say if funding could be found, they'd be amenable to including it.

Edit: the mtg this was discussed was a public mtg on the 19th in the st James bldg so there should be a public record transcript somewhere of his statements

[tufsu1]

sorry but I have a hard time with the Acosta argument.

The fact is they have "found" $135 million...I think they could find some savings in the project that would allow the bike trail to be added.

Its a simple matter of caring!

[fieldafm]

If they 'cared', then they wouldn't be ripping up private property, parks and open air markets. 

[thelakelander]

Yeah, sounds like an excuse instead of a valid reason.  My BS meter rises when I hear something like a 12' path being a major "extra" expense when a $136 million project was just created out of thin air ($15 million of which will go to take private property).  The proposed Fuller Warren Bridge would have 11 lanes. Cut it down to 10 (five in each direction), traffic still flows and you have your bike/ped component for the same cost.

[thelakelander]

Speaking of FDOT and road widening projects, the pork is being fed statewide.  I took US 27 from Central Florida to Miami earlier today.  In little Clewiston, FDOT D1 is wrapping up construction on a massive full blown interchange on US 27 at SR 80, in the middle of sugar cane fields.



Total overkill.....

[tufsu1]

its all about moving freight...inland ports my friend!

[thelakelander]

LOL, that thing won't move anymore freight than the stop light it replaced.

[urbanlibertarian]

Funding a multi-use path is easy.  Just issue bonds to pay for the construction and charge the users a toll to pay off the bonds.

[fieldafm]

Funding a multi-use path is easy.  Just issue bonds to pay for the construction and charge the users a toll to pay off the bonds.

No problem, we'll also toll the auto lanes as well.  That was really, really well received before on the Fuller Warren.

[Tacachale]

Very useful info, thanks. The bike/ped connection needs to be the first idea out of the gate if we're even going to consider this project.