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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 10 08 Consent 205 Pedestrian Overpass in Town Center CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS April 23, 2007 Regular Commission Meeting 010807_ COMM_ConsenC205 _ Town_ Center_ Overpass_Directive COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM 205 Consent Informational Public Hearin Re ular x October 8, 2007 Regular Meetmg Mgr..~... Authorization Dept. REQUEST: The Mayor and City Manager requesting the City Commission to rescind its directive to request the County to fund a pedestrian overpass in the Town Center. PURPOSE: This agenda item is needed to have the Commission to rescind its previous directive to request Seminole County to construct a pedestrian overpass in the Town Center. CONSIDERATIONS: At the August 27,2007 City Commission meeting the Mayor requested the Commission to direct the City Manager to request Seminole County to fund a pedestrian overpass in the Town Center. Consistent with Commission policy providing that all building projects are to be submitted to our Town Center Consultants for review prior to approval, staff submitted the Commission directive to our Consultant for review and comments. Dover Kohl and Partners strongly object to this concept for the following reasons. 1. Lake Mary Boulevard is a traditional strip development suburban corridor that is vehicle friendly and supportive of high speed, thus requiring the protective benefits of a pedestrian overpass at a limited number of strategic locations. The Town Center is designed to be pedestrian friendly, and to promote low speeds and multiple crossing points for pedestrian traffic. 2. The amount of land area consumed is detrimental to Town Center street edge design principles. 3. The mass and configuration of pedestrian overpasses detract from the visual assets of good town center design. 4. Pedestrian overpasses are not heavily used in this type environment; people will still tend to cross at intersections rather than climbing the stairs or approach ways to the overpasses. 5. The better option is to slow traffic down on S.R. 434 and have pedestrian activated signal crossings. FUNDING: A pedestrian overpass would be very expensive. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that the Commission formally rescind its previous directive to pursue funding for a pedestrian overpass in the Town Center. ATTACHMENTS: Dover Kohl Memorandum of September 4, 2007 COMMISSION ACTION: Page 2 of2