Thank you for reporting this issue to us via SeeClickFix St. Pete. We have forwarded the details you have provided to the Neighborhood Transportation Department so that they may investigate and take any necessary action. We appreciate your help! Sincerely, Mayor's Action Center

I see “ close calls” at this intersection almost everyday. Between cars driving too fast around the blind bend or cars on 7th ave N running or rolling thru the stop sign, it is an extremely dangerous intersection. It doesn’t take “ a study” to figure out its a dangerous intersection. Just have someone stand on the corner for a couple of hours and watch the traffic. They’ll figure it out real quick... study done!

Transportation and Parking Management Department staff have been working on this stretch of roadway over the past couple of years and determined that crashes were occurring based on drivers not stopping for the stop sign or pulling out into traffic, believing it was an all-way stop. Based on our analysis we determined that state and federal requirements for an all-way stop or traffic control signal are not met based on side street volume or delay. We are prohibited from installing devices that do not meet warrants. We regret if any miscommunication on the City’s part implied that a full traffic signal was to be installed as the communication about any signal would have been the pedestrian signal (Rapid Flashing Beacons) which is highly effective in increasing driver yielding rates.

Due to our analysis we increased the size of the stop sign and as well installed “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop” warning signs under the stop signs. In addition we have undertaken several engineering measures to address the crash history including the following:

• Reducing the speed limit on 8th Street / Highland Street from 35 MPH to 30 MPH, based on the 85th percentile operating speeds
• Requested that the Police conduct enforcement on 8th Street / Highland Street
• Installed our driver speed feedback sign
• Installation of permanent “Intersection Ahead” advance warning signage with amber flashing traffic control beacons
• Installation of pedestrian crosswalks with Rapid Flashing Beacons

All of these measures have resulted in a drastic reduction of crashes, and since 2015 all crashes have been in an eastbound direction only.

Unfortunately, last fall the Neighborhood Association received a grant to replace the stop signs with a decorative / ornamental poles. This resulted in smaller stop signs and removal of the “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop” warning signage. Once this was realized the “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop” warning signs were re-installed. It was also determined that motorists may not have sufficient sight lines to the eastbound stop sign, which is located behind the on-street parking and sidewalk. So a work order was issued to our Engineering Department to construct an intersection bulb-out on the southwest corner for east bound traffic, so that we can relocate the stop sign out to the edge of the travel lane. This work is being finalized and the median bulb-out will be constructed shortly.

This engineering countermeasure should address the last few eastbound crashes that are occurring at this intersection. Unfortunately, some percentage of the driving population will continue to speed and be distracted. While there is no amount of countermeasures that could be implemented to eliminate the possibility of any crashes, I hope you will agree that we have taken this matter seriously and advanced several effective strategies to make this section of roadway safer, including one last project that will be completed soon. If crashes continue we will review it again until all potential improvements are implemented to eliminated from consideration for valid cause.

Michael, thank you for a very thorough explanation and follow up.