The intersection of 87 Street and Harding Avenue currently operates as a one-way stop-controlled T-intersection.  The westbound approach on 87 Street is stop-controlled while Harding Avenue traffic is uncontrolled.  SR A1A/Harding Avenue is an urban principal arterial under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), while 87 street is classified as a local roadway.  In this area, 87 street runs east/west with on-street parking on both sides and has one-way signs and stop signs on both westbound and eastbound approaches, leading to southbound or northbound left turns only onto SR A1A/Harding Avenue or SR A1A/ Collins Avenue, respectively.

The Stella Maris House elderly community facility is adjacent to this intersection.  The closest crosswalk to cross Harding Avenue is located 330 feet from the entrance to Stella Maris which results in a significant amount of jaywalking by elderly residents. In addition, Mater Academy is also adjacent to the intersection which results in additional jaywalking.

In 2013, the City requested that FDOT perform a warrant analysis study for a new crosswalk at the intersection of Harding Avenue and 87 Street.  FDOT conducted a study; however, a crosswalk was denied because the intersection did not meet the minimum thresholds to warrant a crosswalk.

Following concerns with pedestrian safety crossing Harding Avenue at the intersection on 87 Street and Harding Avenue, the City’s Senior Affairs Committee passed a resolution requesting a crosswalk at the intersection.  At the April 10, 2019 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Michael Gongora sponsored Resolution No. 2019-30790 urging FDOT to re-evaluate the need for a crosswalk in the vicinity of Harding Avenue and 87 Street. Following the City Commission meeting, the Administration transmitted the Commission resolution to the FDOT District Six Secretary.

At the May 4, 2022 meeting of the Senior Affairs Committee, the Committee passed a motion sponsored by Commissioner David Richardson urging FDOT to prioritize the installation of a Pedestrian crosswalk, including a Flashing Pedestrian Crosswalk Light, at Harding Avenue and 87^th Street.

Pursuant to the City’s request, FDOT completed a traffic engineering study for the intersection of Harding Avenue and 87 Street which included turning movement counts, pedestrian counts, a review of crash data and crash analysis, field observations during the periods of highest pedestrian and vehicular demand, and an evaluation for installation of a mid-block pedestrian crossing (Attachment A).  Based on the results of the study, FDOT recommended the installation of a marked mid-block pedestrian crosswalk equipped with overhead Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (i.e. LED pedestrian flashing beacons).  Attachment B depicts an image of the proposed device and crosswalk configuration at the intersection.  

 FDOT has programmed the project in its Five-Year Work Program.  Based on the adopted Five-Year Work Program, the design phase for the proposed crosswalk at Harding Avenue and 87 Street is funded in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/2024 and the construction phase is funded in FY 2025/2026. This means that the safety needs of the community would not be met until 2026.  Given the pressing pedestrian safety needs of our elderly residents, City staff recommends that the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee (PSNQLC) recommend that the City Commission adopt a resolution urging FDOT to advance the project design to FY 2022/2023 and construction to no later than FY 2023/24.