By Leonard Enriquez
Friends and Neighbors,
The FDOT meeting presentation this last Tuesday 7/11 at the LaBelle City Civic Center, at which NO PUBLIC COMMENT was allowed, still revealed some of the deep problems with the current FDOT Dogleg plan. This was the first time the county commissioners were exposed to many of the details. Here below are just some of the DEEP PROBLEMS that came to light:
a) NO ONE LIKES THE TALL CONCRETE RETAINING WALL that would sweep down off the second (FDOT Dogleg) Library) bridge right up against the northeast corner of the Barron Library. Commissioner Wills proposes that instead of a built-up embankment to hold up the big off ramp onto Main Street, that columns and beams be used to create an empty space under the off ramp. These empty underspaces have not, in other locations, proven to be popular for even temporary vendors. No one likes being under the tall, sometimes dripping concrete structures. Here, we would be repeating the unfortunate Moore Haven overpass situation:
B) NO ONE WANTS MAIN STREET TO TURN INTO A BUSY HIGHWAY. Commissioner Vargas, thankfully, reported the signficant community feedback he has received against the big ramp down off the second (Library) bridge and the conversion of Main Street into a busy highway. We at SBG suggest that IF MAIN STREET IS GOING TO STAY SLOW AND LOCAL, THE SECOND (LIBRARY) BRIDGE WILL NOT BE FULLY USED) SO WHY BUILD IT IN THAT LOCATION?
C) FOLKS ARE STILL DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE DOGLEG PLAN WILL ERASE THE "HEART AND SOUL" OF DOWNTOWN. Commissioner Spratt courageously pointed this out and reminded the FDOT engineers when they "pushed back", that they work for US, not the other way around. Everyone seemed to realize, finally, that Main Street (as a mini-expressway) will become a serious barrier to pedestrians trying to cross Main Street into Downtown (or Ft Thompson Avenue to the Library or the City Wharf.
D) FDOT AGREED TO DO THE BYPASS FEASIBILITY STUDY, BUT SAID THEY WILL NOT IMPLEMENT IT, EVEN IF THE STUDY COMES BACK AS "FEASIBLE". You have to wonder why the Bypass Study would be done if they plan to ignore the results? PS: GIVEN FDOT'S POSTURE SO FAR, CITY AND COUNTY SHOULD BOTH MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE BOTH REPRESENTED IN SELECTING THE CONSULTANT AND DIRECTING THE CONSULTANT DURING THE STUDY.
E) FDOT PLANS TO KEEP ALL (100%, forever) OF THE HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC ON BRIDGE STREET. The massive tractor-trailer and dump truck traffic already there (and growing) can barely get through the space from the existing bridge down to SR 80 (even now). While we, SBG, agree that narrowing Bridge Street will help direct pedestrians onto Fort Thompson Avenue and other downtown businesses, we don't see how this is compatible with FDOT'S goal of traffic flowing faster north-south on SR 29.
F) NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHERE THE BIG RAMPS COMING DOWN OFF THE FDOT-PROPOSED BRIDGES WILL "LAND" ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. For example, the big roundabout planned for the southern foot of the bridge on Bridge Street may blot out older buildings or corners of Barron Park, depending on how far South it is.
On the positive side, under questioning from Commissioner Spratt, FDOT finally admitted that they WILL MAINTAIN AND REPLACE OUR OLD BRIDGE EVEN IF we do not allow implementation of the drastic "Dogleg" plan.
The Dogleg plan is falling apart as shown above, but we shall see what develops at the next meeting. Next meeting date is to be announced, but so far it may be another NO PUBLIC COMMENT meeting...
My request: for those with much better Facebook skills than I, please cut and past the above and "share" as widely as possible.
Many Thanks,
Leonard Enriquez
