FDOT presented its feasibility follow‑up for US‑1 at Palm City Road at the Sept. 15 Martin County MPO meeting and recommended revisiting the previously selected alternative to reduce severe traffic redistribution and right‑of‑way impacts.

Jesus Sosa, FDOT project development manager, and Juan Calderon, consultant, said the area has significant speeding and queuing issues, with motorists shifting from inner lanes to the right to access the Ewing Triangle and nearby commercial destinations. FDOT said an earlier preferred alternative (Alternative 5) relied on traffic redistribution that FDOT staff judged could shift up to 50 percent of traffic away from Palm City Road—an outcome FDOT considered unlikely and risky for neighborhood circulation.

FDOT recommended a pinout roundabout concept—an enlarged roundabout geometry that preserves maneuverability for trucks and prevents the large‑scale traffic redistribution that would have been required by Alternative 5. Juan Calderon said the roundabout would operate at a similar level of service to the previously‑selected alternative, reduce southbound queuing and be less sensitive to unforeseen traffic rerouting. FDOT noted potential minor right‑of‑way needs on the southwest corner of the triangle and said lighting and pedestrian features would be included in the design.

The Stuart City Commission had requested that FDOT hold a public open house so neighborhood residents could review the concept; FDOT confirmed it will conduct public outreach. Commissioner Jay Capps and other board members said the prior public engagement on this intersection had been substantial—one open house drew roughly 88 attendees and another over 100—and urged FDOT to hold another neighborhood meeting before advancing design. The MPO voted unanimously to direct staff to send a letter to FDOT supporting the city’s request for a public meeting; the chair was authorized to sign.

FDOT emphasized safety as the main driver of alternatives and said continued neighborhood input would inform the preferred alternative and any subsequent design work.