- May 2, 2024
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Ormond-by-the-Sea will be getting 14 new crosswalks in fall 2025.
The Florida Department of Transportation held a community meeting, both in-person and virtually, on Thursday, March 14, to discuss a new pedestrian safety project that, in addition to the crosswalks, will resurface A1A and lower the speed limit from north of Roberta Road in Ormond-by-the-Sea to the Flagler County line. The project is fully funded, with design expected to be completed summer in 2025 and estimated to cost $2.7 million, following by a $15.9 million construction phase in the fall. A total of 64 people attended the meeting in person.
Of the 14 crosswalks, two will be equipped with rectangular rapid flashing beacons. One will replace the existing rapid flashing beacon crosswalk at Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park with a more modern version, and the second will be added at Seabreeze Drive.
The other 12 crosswalks will be at:
Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent said FDOT's project is a positive step in keeping pedestrians safe as they cross A1A to reach the beach.
"We have a ton of people that live on the north peninsula, and they're fortunate because they're able to walk to the beach," Kent said. "It's scary in today's day and age to cross any road, but especially one like A1A."
Scary, he said, because of the number of people who drive while talking on the phone or texting.
The RRFBs proposed by FDOT are needed, he added, saying he was also pleased with the proposed locations for the 12 other sidewalks.
FDOT also plans to replace the existing 5-foot sidewalk with a 10-foot-wide shared use path from Roberta Road to north of Coquina Key Drive. The 8-foot-wide sidewalk from north of Coquina Key Drive to the Flagler County line will remain as is. Median islands will be added at Imperial Heights Drive and Sand Dollar Drive, but FDOT notes they will not block side streets.
The speed limit will be lowered from 40 mph to 35 mph from north of Roberta Road to north of Silk Oaks Drive, and from 45 mph to 40 mph from north of Silk Oaks Drive to north of Coquina Key Drive.
"I know in today's hustle and bustle type of world that we live in, not everybody's going to like that, but at the end of the day, if it keeps people safer and saves our residents and our visitors from getting into a vehicular versus pedestrian crash, then this is absolutely worth it," Kent said.
The speed limit on A1A from Milsap Road north to Granada Boulevard was also recently lowered, going from 35 mph to 30 mph as part of a similar $4 million pedestrian safety project. FDOT added eight new mid-block crosswalks, seven of which had rapid flashing beacons and one — at Rockefeller drive — was equipped with an overhead pedestrian hybrid beacon.
Kent who lives in the neighborhood, said A1A definitely looks different in that stretch or road from what it did six months ago — but, again, it's a positive change.
"I have read where some residents have complained about the markings on the road and the signage, but at the end of the day, the reason for this was to get pedestrians from the west side of A1A to the east side of A1A and vice versa when they come back from the beach in the safest manner that we can," Kent said. "People were taking their lives, literally in their own hands, by running across A1A and stopping in the middle of the median to cross the rest of the way."
On Jan. 29, a 71-year-old woman was struck by an SUV as she crossed A1A at 100 S. Atlantic Ave. The woman, who was not using a crosswalk, had paused at the median before walking east across A1A’s northbound travel lanes when she was struck.
Zone 2 Ormond Beach City Commissioner Travis Sargent, who represents the beachside, said he's received mostly positive feedback from residents about the project.
"So far, I like the aesthetics of it, and from what I see, I feel like it will get the ultimate goal accomplished of reducing fatalities," Sargent said. "I think it'll take time for people to get used to it, but I think it's a great idea and I'm very happy that we were able to get that done in that area."
Next on FDOT's to-do list in the Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea area is a resurfacing project on A1A from north of Granada Boulevard to north of Roberta Road. The $19.9 million project is expected to open for bids this spring, and construction to begin by the end of summer, according to FDOT.
The project aims to encourage safer driving speeds by adding a curb and gutter along the corridor. Where possible, FDOT will add a new sidewalk and a shared-use path on the west side of the road, and the project is planning for raised midblock crossings with pedestrian activated signals.
Based on an exhibit from FDOT, these will be added at:
Sargent said the improvements will be great for this corridor as well.
"The ultimate goal is to prevent fatalities, and when you look at that northern area, there's been several fatalities over the years," Sargent said. "I just see a very positive outcome for getting this done. I think the looks of it will enhance that area as well, so I'm very pleased that FDOT is willing to do that for us."
While the crosswalks are important, Kent said people should still be vigilant when crossing A1A. The rapid flashing beacons are not a failsafe, he said.
But the upcoming A1A projects adding crosswalks with rapid flashing beacons show that FDOT is listening to residents' concerns, he said.
"Nothing happens in any type of government overnight," he said. "These were talks that we were having and residents were having, two, three, four years ago. It takes time to get the funding and that time is now for us. It's long overdue."
