Agenda - Council Work Session - 11/13/2007

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activity following a median pr:oject. Destination type businesses, such ascertain restaurants and specialty stores, appear less sensitive to access changes than businesses that rely primarily on pass-by traffic, such as gas stations or convenience stores. In addition, because the likelihood of left-turns into a business declines as opposing traffic volumes increase, medians or other access changes will have less effect on the frequency of left turns into businesses on high volume roadways or during peak travel periods. . Although medians do not appear to have a significant adverse economic impact on corridor businesses, such projects do tend to invoke anxiety among affected business owners. One solution is direct and meaningful involvement of affected businesses in median issues. A Florida study of public involve ment in median projects found that Florida Department of Transportation District offices with a public involvement process for median projects had fewer administrative hearings and reported greater success in achieving their access management objectives than other Districts.5 Such success was attributed to a fair and open process for responding to public concerns, including early public involvement in design decisions, as well as an open house meeting format, to provide a more personal atmosphere. Although several studies have attempted to assess the potential economic effects of left turn restrictions, none have systematically examined the potential long-term economic benefits of access improvements. Poorly designed vehicular access not only adversely imp acts the character and efficiency of a corridor, but also its economic vitality over time. Property values that have increased rapidly during commercial development tend to decline after the area is built out, if the character and efficiency of the corridor has been damaged in the process. The end result is a pattern of disinvestment as successful businesses choose other, higher quality locations. This is exemplified by the growing number of older commercial strips across the country that are now experiencing economic decline. Further research is needed to document these trends in property values over time. 5 K. Williams, "Public Involvement in Median Projects," Proceedings of the Urban Street Symposium, Transportation Research Board, Dallas,. TX, 1999. See als 0: Public Involvement Handbook for Median Projects, Center for Urban Transportation Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, 1994 (available at www.cutr.eng.usf.edu.) Prepared by Kristine M. Williams, AICP, Center for Urban Transportation Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, January 28, 2000.