Survey Results: Traffic Calming, Sidewalks and Pedestrian Safety

On September 22, MyEscambia.com asked residents to complete an online survey to gauge the communities' thoughts and ideas about traffic calming and pedestrian safety issues faced by County residents. It was the fourth in a series of articles, videos, public meetings and surveys developed to facilitate an ongoing dialogue about issues of concern to our community. The results of the first three surveys, “Envision Escambia 2028: Tell Us What’s Important to You,” “Envision Escambia 2028: Traffic Safety” and “Envision Escambia 2028: Storm Water Drainage” have already been published. Two additional surveys: one regarding residents’ satisfaction with Public Safety services and one concerning parks and community centers are now being conducted. Sign up to receive our General Alerts e-newsletter by selecting "Notify Me" from the left navigation panel of this web site or follow us on Twitter at @MyEscambia or @EscambiaLOST to learn when the latest survey is available.

Envision Escambia 2028: Traffic Calming, Sidewalks and Pedestrian Safety

Question #1: First, tell us little about yourself. Where do you live?

• 4.55 percent = North of Cantonment
• 5.68 percent = Between Cantonment and Nine Mile Road
• 4.55 percent = Between Nine Mile Road and I-10 (Ensley, Ferry Pass and Pine Forest Road)
• 4.55 percent = South of I-10, West of Pine Forest Road and North of Saufley Field Road
• 3.41 percent = East of Pine Forest Road, South of I-10, West of Pensacola Boulevard, North of Michigan Avenue/Beverly Parkway
• 11.36 percent = South of I-10, North of Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard, between US 29 and Escambia Bay
• 2.27 percent = South of Michigan Avenue, North of Cervantes, between Palafox on the East and US 90 on the West
• 3.41 percent = East of Palafox, South of Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard to Escambia Bay on the East and Pensacola Bay on the South
• 4.55 percent = Downtown Pensacola
• 13.64 percent = West of Palafox, East of New Warrington Road, South of Fairfield Drive, North of Pensacola Bay
• 6.82 percent = South of SR 98, West of Navy Boulevard to Innerarity Point
• 17.05 percent = Pensacola Beach
• 14.77 percent = Other

Other responses included:

• “Sanders Beach”
• “Brownsville”
• “Scenic Heights”
• “West of New Warrington Rd, South of Jackson, north of 98”

Question #2: In addition to methods already employed, which of the following traffic calming methods would you consider a desirable expenditure of Local Option Sales Tax funds? (With Strongly Agree signaling support and Strongly Disagree indicating that you do not support using LOST funds.) Examples of the traffic calming methods are shown.

Raised crosswalks generated the strongest show of support among survey respondents with more than 65 percent answering that they strongly agreed or agreed that this was a desirable expenditure of Local Option Sales Tax funds. Of the other traffic calming methods listed neckdowns were the next most popular with 41 percent answering that they either strongly agreed or agreed. Center island narrowing followed with 33.3 percent of the vote supporting that traffic calming method. Traffic circles were supported by 32.8 percent of respondents and chicanes were supported by 26.8 percent of those who answered the survey.

Some of the open ended responses to this question, are listed below:

“Prefer speed bumps, New Chemstrand between 9m.rd and Ensley St. has very fast traffic, too fast.”

“Low, but rough rumble surfaces at each school zone.”

“… any design that lows (sic) neighborhood traffic on Cypress St. Motor humps would discourage people Short cutting through Sanders Beach.”

“Emerald Avenue in the Oakcrest Subdivision needs speed bumps.”

“Over the road walk over”

“I strongly disagree w/speed bumps and tables.”

Question #3: Please tell us whether or not you would support such measures using Local Option Sales Tax funds. Examples of the methods listed are shown in photographs below the question.

Full Street Closures

• 20.31 percent support
• 48.44 percent don’t support
• 25 percent undecided
• 4.69 percent not applicable

Diagonal Diverters

• 11.11 percent support
• 61.90 percent don’t support
• 23.81 percent undecided
• 1.59 percent not applicable

Median Barriers

• 29.69 percent support
• 48.44 percent don’t support
• 20.31 percent undecided
• 1.59 percent not applicable

Question #4: Please mark the following statements as “True” or “False” as you understand pedestrian (and bicyclist) rights under Florida Law. If you are not sure, please select, “Don’t Know.”

When traffic control signals are not in place and there is no signage indicating otherwise, the driver of a car should slow down or stop to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within a crosswalk.

• 86.15 percent = True
• 10.77 percent = False
• 3.08 percent = Don’t Know

Pedestrians crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk should yield the right-of-way to vehicles on the roadway.

• 87.69 percent = True
• 7.69 percent = False
• 4.62 percent = Don’t Know

Pedestrians crossing within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection have the right-of-way over vehicles.

• 55.56 percent = True
• 26.98 percent = False
• 17.46 percent = Don’t Know

Pedestrian are permitted cross a roadway intersection diagonally only when authorized by official traffic control devices.

• 57.81 percent = True
• 21.88 percent = False
• 20.31 percent = Don’t Know

Under Florida law, a bicyclist riding on the sidewalk generally has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.

• 42.19 percent = True
• 37.50 percent = False
• 20.31 percent = Don’t Know

A crosswalk at an intersection is defined as the extension of the sidewalk or the shoulder across the intersection, regardless of whether it is marked or not.

• 45.31 percent = True
• 23.44 percent = False
• 31.25 percent = Don’t Know

The answer to all of the above questions was “True.”

Question #5: Please select the answer that most accurately reflects your opinion of the statements below.

Almost 78 percent of survey respondents felt that motorists were more likely to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks that have added safety features such as signs, raised pavement or flashing beacons, while 69 percent said there weren’t enough sidewalks. More than 41 percent felt that pedestrians have to walk too far to find a place to safely cross the street and 29 percent thought that pedestrian signs don’t give people walking at average speed enough time to cross. Only 22 percent of respondents said that traffic signals make pedestrians wait to long to cross the street.

Open-ended answers to this question included:

“Escambia county is a VERY dangerous place for pedestrians and cyclists. Many of our roadways don't even have a walkable shoulder, much less a bike lane or sidewalk.”

Question #6: Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns?

“Anything that slows traffic and provides pedestrians a safe alternative to walking on roads has my strong support.”

“The newest crosswalk on Pensacola Beach has added to safety to cross Pensacola Beach Blvd however inattentive drivers are a danger.”

“I beg you to consider building more sidewalks, or at least walkable 'shoulders' on the side of the ditch away from the road.”

“NEED A WALKING TRAIL IN THE ENSLEY AREA.”

“Traffic calming devices need to be maintained, to include repainting of stripes leading up to the device.”

“I am against use of special sales taxes.”

“Please slow down traffic on Cypress St.”

“Definitely need public education regarding vehicles' need regarding the need to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Also, more cycling paths needed.”

“Do not impede traffic on major arteries with bumps, humps, circles, and other mish mash.”

“I like the idea of adding sidewalks and cross walks to roadways. However, a lot of newly installed sidewalks both start and end in the middle of nowhere, serving little to no purpose.”

“There is a desperate need for a sidewalk down san gabriel for safe crossing of the children leaving scenic heights elementary. It is very dangerous.”