But, how many of you dread or avoid GHT rides that involve crossing Williston Rd./SR-331?
Yeah, me too...
As a ride captain, I don't post rides that involve crossing Williston Rd. anymore, even though there is "easy access" to UF and downtown, as well as 2 trailside breweries and great food options, starting rides on the west side of that trail crossing.
Many of us are relieved that FDOT is replacing those fancy, expensive flashing yellow cross lights, (which really added confusion to that busy intersection,) with a MPS/Midblock Pedestrian Signal, but few of us likely expect that this improved signal will eliminate the hazard, and sense of danger we feel at this trail crossing.
Why do many of us experienced cyclists avoid crossing Williston Rd. on the GHT on bikes or on foot?
Maybe because the vehicles, including 18-wheelers, garbage trucks, school buses, pick-up trucks, SUVS, motorcycles, sedans and even "Smart" cars, are often barreling towards the trail crossing at the POSTED 45 MPH, or even higher speeds...
For some inexplicable reason, the speed limit at the trail crossing on Williston Rd. is 45 MPH, even though a mere 500-700 ft away, the speed limit is lowered to 35 MPH, a much more survivable speed if a crash occurs, and an easier speed for slowing and stopping a vehicle, if something unpredictable occurs in front of a driver.
Yes, you read that right...
The speed limit slows to 35 MPH about 500 feet AFTER drivers pass the trail crossing, heading into downtown, AND the speed limit actually INCREASES from 35 MPH to 45 MPH for drivers traveling in the other direction, just as they are approaching the trail crossing heading out of town on Williston Rd.
(That is a particularly bad look, to increase the speed limit for drivers by 10 MPH just as they see a yellow warning sign for a bike trail crossing, wouldn't you agree??)
And yet, the FDOT engineer in charge of this section of Williston Rd., Mr. Nathan Lee, is digging his heels in and resisting when I implore him to PLEASE move the speed limit signs a half mile or so, in order to help drivers who want to drive safely, (and not hit and possibly kill someone crossing the road on foot or on a bike,) to slow down, because there is a busy trail crossing coming up.
Good drivers, and especially those unfamiliar with the area, need a posted speed limit that encourages them to drive safely for the congested conditions they are about to encounter. This is especially true for truck drivers. It takes them much longer to slow down.
This is logical, common sense.
Many of us have witnessed near-misses at this intersection, when naive trail users either didn't stop to look and make sure that it was safe to cross before proceeding, or who started out, because one or two vehicles slowed/stopped for them, but then realized just in time that another oncoming driver wasn't slowing down or stopping.
Some of us have witnessed actual crashes involving cyclists and/or vehicles at that spot. I saw two near misses last week when I and another rider were at that intersection, observing for less than 10 minutes...
There have been multiple horrific crashes with cyclists and pedestrians resulting in many serious injuries at this trail crossing, not to mention many vehicle crashes that have resulted in more minor injuries.
The City of Gainesville has adopted a Vision Zero policy aimed at eliminating cyclist and pedestrian deaths.
According to Gainesville’s Vision Zero Plan, the primary reason for deadly outcomes was vehicle speed. Higher speeds translate into greater crash energies and more severe injuries. This trail crossing is a well recognized hot-spot for serious crashes and injuries. Yet, the City's Vision Zero Coordinator feels that her hands are tied, as far as reducing the speed limit at the GHT crossing at Williston Rd., because this road is under the jurisdiction of FDOT.
This intersection will likely remain one of the most dangerous in our area for cyclists and pedestrians because of the combination of high volume, high speed vehicle traffic and its popularity and heavy use of the paved trail, often by inexperienced/naive cyclists, runners and walkers.
The speed limit on University Avenue near UF Campus was lowered recently. (It "only" took the death of a young UF student to be the final straw to make that happen...)
Do we need to wait until another UF student dies while out running or riding their bike on the GHT/Connector Trail before the FDOT lowers the speed limit here???
The MPS/ Midblock Pedestrian Signal/ red light beacon being installed on Williston Rd. will likely help make things safer than the current arrangement, but it won't prevent all crashes there.
People are going to do stupid things, and the cyclists and pedestrians who do so will pay a heavy price. For that reason, we need to make every reasonable change that could likely prevent a tragedy from occurring as we, the UF students, and others in our community, enjoy that great trail. Moving the speed limit signs is a very reasonable change that can only help reduce crashes at that dangerous spot.
Mr. Lee, the FDOT engineer, seems to think it is unreasonable for me to repeatedly ask him that the speed limit at the trail crossing be 35 MPH, rather than 45 MPH, because, in his words, "We have performed speed studies in the corridor and they did not warrant lowering the speed limit in this area."
I think Mr. Lee needs to hear from many other GCC members who, like me, do not understand why he won't move the signs and lower the speed limit for vehicles as they are approaching the GHT Connector crossing at Williston Rd. Doing so would be a very easy, inexpensive change to make. Especially right now, as the work on installing the MPS/red light beacon is occurring.
If you want to ask him to do this, here is his email:
I hope you will join me in politely, but adamantly requesting that our tax dollars go toward making this very reasonable change that will make it much safer to ride, walk, run and drive in our community.
