TUNNEL VISION
Seminole moves forward with plans to build underground for bicyclists and walkers
The hundreds of bicyclists and walkers who use the popular Seminole Wekiva Trail daily may soon find it easier and safer to cross two of the busiest roads in Central Florida.
Seminole County commissioners on Tuesday agreed to move forward with a plan to build a pair of tunnels about a mile apart in Altamonte Springs that would allow trail users to travel underneath State Road 436 at Laurel Street and State Road 434 at Orange Avenue.
Trail users currently must wait for a traffic light signal at each intersection to cross up to eight lanes of the roadways.
Commissioners opted to build tunnels that go underground rather than a couple of bridges that span across the state roads, despite the higher costs of construction. A county consultant pointed out that bridges require greater maintenance costs over the years.
“I use the trails a lot, and I prefer the tunnels,” commission Chairman Bob Dallari said to his fellow commissioners. “We have to look at the long term of 20, 40, or even 50 years from now . ... And this is truly a signature trail. So, whatever we decide, it’s not just a local opportunity. It’s not just a regional opportunity. It’s a state opportunity. And if you want to go cheap, we should’ve not done the trails at all.”
Emily Hanna, executive director of Bike/ Walk Central Florida, a nonprofit organization that advocates for bicyclists and pedestrians, said she was pleased that trail users — whether they are using the trail for recreation or going to work — will soon have a safe way to cross the busy roads.
“Unfortunately, [intersection] crossings aren’t designed for the trail user in general or for anyone on a bike. The signal times are just not long enough,” she said. “It’s just not an enjoyable experience. This is a signature trail, and it needs to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”
But Commissioner Andria Herr said she was concerned about the safety and the costs of building tunnels rather than bridges. She added that because bridges are more conspicuous; they are more inviting to use.
“I would tell my kids: ‘Don’t go in a tunnel. Walk across the road,’ ” she said.
Commissioners then agreed to add security cameras inside the tunnels that would be monitored by law enforcement. A county employee would open the tunnels in the
early morning and close them at night.
Building a bridge at S.R. 436 is estimated to cost up to $9.6 million, depending on the design, according to a county report. Whereas, a tunnel, could cost about $14.5 million.
At S.R. 434, a bridge is estimated to cost up to $11.5 million and a tunnel as much as $19.7 million, according to the report.
The projects would be paid for with revenues from the county’s one-cent sales tax, which draws in about $65 million a year that can be used for road improvements, new trails and sidewalks. State and federal funds also would be used.
The tunnels would likely be built at the same time. The design work would take between 12 and 18 months to complete before construction could start, according to county staff.
Zembower, who favors tunnels at those locations, said pedestrian bridges could become a distraction for motorists.
“People don’t jump off tunnels,” he said. “We don’t have people waving flags off tunnels. We don’t have people having rallies in tunnels.”
Hanna said pedestrian tunnels work better in busy locations, such as at state roads 436 and 434.
That area of Altamonte Springs is often thickly congested with traffic and peppered with dozens of big and small retail stores. It is also surrounded by apartment complexes and residential subdivisions. About 50,000 cars and trucks use those state roads at each of those locations every day, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
“For an urban setting, a tunnel does make a better crossing,” Hanna said. “But it’s all in how you design it.”
The Seminole Wekiva Trail is one of the region’s most popular trails. It stretches about 16 miles between State 46 at Longwood Markham Road, just east of the Lake County line, and the intersection of Bear Lake Road and Maitland Boulevard, just north of Orange County line.
Consultants and county staff pointed out that Seminole Wekiva Trail already has two underpasses built years ago — one at S.R. 434 and Markham Wood Road, and another at West Lake Boulevard — that county employees also lock at sunset and open at sunrise daily.