Fort Harrison Avenue Corridor Improvements Pilot Project

Project Background

Fort Harrison Corridor Improvements consist of old infrastructure replacement. Phase I approximate limits extend from Myrtle Avenue to Jones Street. Phase II-IV extends project to Belleair City Limits. 

Phase I is currently at 90% design, and PH II-IV is progressing towards 30% design.

Approximate limits:

Phase I: Fairmount to Jones
Phase II: Jones to Court
Phase III: Court to Lakeview
Phase IV: Lakeview to Belleair city Limits

Project Overview

The 2020 Fort Harrison Avenue Complete Streets Study identified several small-scale roadway and intersection modifications that can be made to enhance pedestrian safety and corridor aesthetics. Potential projects include installing decorative crosswalks, mid-block crossings, median islands, and neighborhood traffic circles.

These projects can be implemented on a temporary basis and then evaluated to determine positive and negative effects. The city’s Engineer-of-Record has collected traffic counts and completed a traffic study, to identify potential intersections for consideration of demonstration projects. 

The following are the proposed demonstration projects.

Project Task Update

•  Atkins resubmitted 90% plans for Ft Harrison PH I, reflecting the cost savings to include below. Design team is currently reviewing and addressing comments made by city staff on the 90% plans resubmittal and will provide comment responses for concurrence prior to proceeding with 100% plans.
  • Reduction in the Lighting Scope
    
    • Existing lighting structures will be re-used. There are 2 areas that are deficient on the project and those areas will still require new lighting 
  • Landscape reduction
    • Update plans incorporate the reduced Landscape and tree selection will be lowcost maintenance. 
    • Update irrigation connections in the plan for the reduced landscaping
  • Hardscape – Eliminated from scope
  • •  Update Plans to reflect Decorative concrete – eliminated from scope
    • Updating Plans to reflect Street Furnishing – eliminated from scope
    • Update plans to reflect the using the existing Seminole intersection – eliminated from scope 
    • Turning radii will remain as existing – eliminating re-construction of signals and property acquisition
    • Update plans and model to reflect sidewalk width reduction to reduce TCE’s for tie downs

Traffic Circle at Fort Harrison and Palm Bluff

A temporary traffic circle will be implemented at the intersection of Palm Bluff Street and Fort Harrison Avenue. Existing signage will be updated on all intersection points to alert drivers of the temporary traffic circle ahead. Temporary tubular markers will provide a slight shift and separation between lanes, as drivers approaches the traffic circle on Fort Harrison Avenue. 

Mid-Block Crossing South of Engman Street

Just south of Engman Street, a temporary mid-block crossing will be constructed to assist with pedestrian flow. Temporary curbing and tubular markers will be used to provide pedestrians a safe refuge area. Temporary signage will be provided to alert drivers of the temporary island ahead. A temporary curb ramp will be constructed to meet ADA requirements for pedestrian crossings.

Temporary Narrowing of Lanes

Temporary narrowing of lanes will be between Cedar and Engman street. A six-inch, solid, white temporary stripe will be placed on the outside lanes to provide a temporary 11-foot lane. The existing width of the center two-way turn lane will be maintained.

Temporary Lane Repurposing Belleair to Belleview

There will be temporary lane repurposing of the existing four-lane roadway to a two-lane roadway, with a center two-way turn lane. From Belleair Road, the road will taper from a four-lane roadway to a two-lane roadway. There will be two 11-foot lanes with an 11-foot two-way center turn lane. The proposed demonstration design will taper back to what is currently existing at Belleview Boulevard. Just north of Belleview Boulevard, the southbound left/through lane will be restriped to be a dedicated left-turn-only lane for the duration of the demonstration project.