Parallel flow intersection (PFI) concept microsimulation video for Pasco County, Florida VISION 54/56 Phase 2 alternatives evaluation.This latest version (v3...
Proposes to knock over a lot of buildings to grow the intersection footprint by… I’m guessing 3x.
Avoids constructing an overpass while aping features of a diverging diamond and NJ-style jug-handles. I think this is possibly cheaper, but probably not by a lot.
Lots of runway for merge zones, far from intersection.
The “just one more lane” gang is gonna be disappointed with the inevitable bill to widen this monstrosity in ten years.
Makes it impossible to turn into local parking lots which might be inducing demand for the intersection in the first place.
So, it’s not great nor abysmal but man is that a fuckload of extra pavement just to build a pedestrian “dead zone”. With respect to the last point, I’ve seen that kind of thing happen first hand. By the time the project is over, local business astride the new overpass/intersection have already closed their doors since traffic is now optimized to blow past everything at 55MPH.
IMO, if exercising imminent domain is on the table, may as well beef up and/or add secondary relief roads around this intersection instead. Spread the infrastructure build and cost into multiple smaller projects and leave the existing intersection to through and left-turn traffic only. The result should be calmer and less accident prone. Then, make sure that pedestrians and bikes can get around these multiple smaller roads.
A few things stand out from the demo/concept:
So, it’s not great nor abysmal but man is that a fuckload of extra pavement just to build a pedestrian “dead zone”. With respect to the last point, I’ve seen that kind of thing happen first hand. By the time the project is over, local business astride the new overpass/intersection have already closed their doors since traffic is now optimized to blow past everything at 55MPH.
IMO, if exercising imminent domain is on the table, may as well beef up and/or add secondary relief roads around this intersection instead. Spread the infrastructure build and cost into multiple smaller projects and leave the existing intersection to through and left-turn traffic only. The result should be calmer and less accident prone. Then, make sure that pedestrians and bikes can get around these multiple smaller roads.
It isn’t. This concept was not ultimately chosen for this intersection. In fact the inventor of this concept was a pretty… interesting guy.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2024/04/23/greg-parsons-bomb-threat-tampa-fdot-district-7/