FDOT in 2010: You’ll Be ‘So Happy’ With One-Way Traffic – You’ll Want To Keep It That Way!

A review of a City Commission meeting that took place over three years ago shed new light on the mysterious 820-day Roosevelt Boulevard reconstruction contract.

Why 820 days?  How did that number come about?  For Key Westers who often drive alongside the idle or deserted Boulevard worksite, the question has been crystal clear for quite awhile:   If the contractor is going to be able to finish this job on time while having no more than 8 – 12 people working 4 days a week, obviously the contractor was given too much time.

As the work drags on, businesses alongside the Boulevard are now in worse shape than ever (McDonalds is reported to have lost approximately $ 1.8 Million since the  reconstruction project commenced in April of 2012).  Anger is growing on the part of the public and they want to know who is to blame for what seems an obvious waste of time and taxpayer money.  Feeling the heat, FDOT spokespersons have not missed an opportunity to remind everyone that the traffic plan was reviewed and approved by the Key West City Commission.

This project, as we reported in previous articles, is being conducted in total contradiction with FDOT’s normal policies and standard road construction contract specifications, which require that two-way traffic be maintained during road reconstruction (which in turn triggers a requirement that the work progress in sections with one section of road being returned to service prior to shutting down a subsequent section.)

So what happened?  Did our City government throw us under the bus, as FDOT appears to be hinting?   Well, not quite.

This is what happened on July 20, 2010, the date of the Commission’s famous “approval” of FDOT’s Maintenance of Traffic Plan:  FDOT Project Design Manager Ali Toghiani presented the Commission with what appears to be a forgone conclusion that maintenance of two-way traffic on the Boulevard was not going to work because we woud soon find ourselves in an untenable grid-lock caused by all the left-hand turns.  No mention was made about of an actual traffic study, the possibility of maintaining a third lane (turning lane) or adding a couple of cross lights.

“You may be so happy [with the one-way traffic] that you may tell us, ‘Just keep those two lanes coming into our town, don’t build the rest of them,’” said Toghiani to a City Commission that couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought. But the main selling point was that somehow this new traffic plan was going to reduce the duration of the project by up to 200 days.  The Commission unanimously warmed up to that concept and went along with the Plan.

What is interesting is that if we go by what was promised at that meeting, the project was going to cost $25.7 Million, and in the best case scenario was going to last 500 days. (700 days initially announced minus the 200-day reduction, thanks to the change to a one-way Maintenance of Traffic Plan.)

At publication time [August 2, 2013], the project which, according to contractor schedules commenced on April 23^rd, has already lasted 466 days with no end in sight and was contracted for $41.5 Million.

What happened to the concept of a 200-day reduction that was used to win commission approval of the traffic plan?  Apparently it was never spoken of again.  The contract was let, bid upon and signed based on the original 820 day timeline [which does not include allowable holidays or weather days].

Roosevelt Boulevard businesses point to one-way traffic as the prime cause of their problems.  According to Boulevard business owners, the one-way traffic scheme has translated into half the traffic and half the business.  People who used to stop in on their way out of town just don’t do it anymore.  FDOT has now stiffened their position against a two-way possibility.  Commissioner Rossi told business owners that FDOT was concerned about ambulances and emergency vehicles becoming trapped in traffic on the Boulevard.  FDOT personnel went before the City Commission and declared that traffic would become very dangerous if two-way were restored – ‘like Big Pine Key before the turning lane was added.’

But Tim Gratz, who works with Domino’s Pizza, called their bluff.  “I made a public records request to see the traffic study backing up those conclusions and you know what their answer was?  There was no traffic study.”   Today, Boulevard business owners argue that it is not too late to conduct such a study and to improve the traffic scheme for the second half of the reconstruction project.

The Coalition of North Roosevelt Boulevard Affected Businesses (CNRAB) will meet on Monday at the VFW on N. Roosevelt at 5:00 p.m.  Obviously, the Coalition has been getting some worthwhile attention.  In response to public pressure, deMoya has applied to the City Commission for the right to work nights – a definite step in the right direction.

On Tuesday afternoon [August 6^th, 2013] there will be a special meeting between representatives of CNRAB and FDOT Secretary Ananth Prasad, State Representative Holly Raschein, as well as representatives of deMoya [the contractor] and Governor Scott’s office.

Also on Tuesday at Old City Hall, from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.  all members of the public will have an opportunity to address State and City officials with thoughts and concerns regarding the Boulevard reconstruction project.

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VIDEO FROM THE JULY 20, 2010 CITY COMMISSION MEETING

FDOT:  The change to one-way only Maintenance of Traffic Plan will reduce the 700-880 day project by up to 200 days

FDOT:  “You may be so happy that you may tell us, ‘Just keep those two lanes coming into our town, don’t build the rest of them,’”:

PART I:  FDOT PRESENTATION:  July 20, 2013 Key West City Commission Meeting, Roosevelt Blvd. Maintenance of Traffic Plan acceptance

PART II:  CITY COMMISSION ASKS QUESTIONS

PART III: FINAL Q & A.  Commissioner Gibson asks about the one-way traffic concept.