Pinellas County outlines 3‑lane redesign, 2‑lane roundabout and new signals for 102nd Avenue; residents raise drainage and traffic concerns

Pinellas County Public Works staff on Wednesday presented a 60% design for the Hundred and Second Avenue North roadway improvements project and recommended a two‑lane roundabout at Ridge Road to reduce crashes and improve traffic flow.

Senior engineer Arturo Martinez, the county’s presenter, summarized the plan as a three‑lane roadway with a center two‑way left‑turn lane, curb and gutter, an 8‑foot sidewalk on the south side and a 5‑foot sidewalk on the north side. Martinez said, “The project's primary goals are to reduce crashes and improve the safety for all road users along the roadway and at intersections.” He said crash counts from 2019–2024 show 42 crashes at the 100th and 13th Street intersection and 22 crashes at the Ridge Road intersection, which informed the designs.

The county’s recommendation also includes a traffic signal with mast arms at 120th Fifth Street North, improvements to the Pinellas Trail crossing and Ashley Drive signalization, paving of an existing trail parking area, and a two‑lane roundabout at Ridge Road. Martinez told the meeting the two‑lane roundabout “provides the needed capacity to move traffic through and around the intersection,” and that staff expect about four trees to be removed at the Ridge Road location and an easement from Saint Petersburg College for drainage adjustments.

Why this matters: The presentation frames the project as a safety and access improvement rather than a capacity expansion to a four‑lane divided roadway. County staff said the three‑lane concept (two through lanes plus a center turn lane) was preferred by many residents in 2007 and helps reduce the severity of crashes and improve pedestrian crossings along a corridor that has sidewalk gaps today.

Design and schedule: Arturo Martinez said the project is at 60% design and that final design is expected in spring 2026, with advertising for construction planned for summer 2026 and construction beginning in early 2027 with completion anticipated in early 2028. The project budget presented during the meeting was $15,700,000 and is funded by Penny For Pinellas. Staff said typical maintenance‑of‑traffic plans will be required and that at least one travel lane in each direction will be kept open for most work; any needed closures will be communicated in advance.

Community questions and concerns: Dozens of residents asked about drainage, traffic backups, mailbox and mail‑delivery access, and whether the center two‑way lane would be misused as a passing lane. Rob Medder, transportation section manager, said the center turn lane is intended to “free up the traffic that is going straight through” and create gaps that allow side‑street and driveway movements. He acknowledged drivers sometimes misuse center lanes and advised residents to report recurring unsafe behavior to the sheriff’s department so directed patrols can be arranged.

On drainage, county staff and design consultant Scott Garth said the design relies on swales and piped conveyance sized to account for the additional impervious area and that the design team has performed drainage analysis as part of the 60% design. Scott Garth said the plan “is to maintain the existing drainage patterns” while improving water quality using swale treatment; he said the county’s stormwater operations group keeps a historical database of flooding complaints and staff will review any recent storm reports submitted by residents.

Signal timing and trail crossing: Transportation division director Tom Washburn said the Pinellas Trail crossing will be realigned to cross 100th and Second perpendicularly and will be tied into the Ashley Drive signal so the trail and Ashley Drive share a coordinated signal. Washburn described timing options, including leading pedestrian intervals and holding left‑turn phases to reduce conflicts between trail users and turning vehicles.

Roundabout choice and capacity tradeoffs: Martinez explained engineers analyzed signalization, single‑lane and two‑lane roundabout options at Ridge Road. He said signal spacing near 13th Street limited the feasibility of a traffic signal at Ridge Road and that a single‑lane roundabout would not provide sufficient capacity. The county presented an example from Hillsborough County where a similar two‑lane roundabout was credited with a long‑term crash reduction; staff cited an FDOT data point that public responses to that example were largely positive after construction.

Property access and construction impacts: Residents asked how mail delivery, garbage pickup and driveway access would work with curb and gutter and an added sidewalk. Martinez and other staff said mail carriers would continue to deliver as today and that the contractor will relocate mailboxes when needed at no cost to property owners. Staff said they will coordinate individually with residents on driveway details where curb adjustments are needed.

Trees, easements and ongoing feedback: The county identified roughly four trees to be removed at the Ridge Road location and said replacement plantings will be coordinated with an arborist. Staff confirmed an easement from Saint Petersburg College is required for drainage modifications at Ridge Road. County staff repeatedly encouraged residents to submit comment cards on the project webpage and said one‑on‑one meetings with the project manager, Kathy Fernandez, are available.

No formal vote: This meeting was an informational public outreach session; staff recommended the two‑lane roundabout but there was no governing‑body vote during the meeting. Martinez and other staff said public feedback received during this and other outreach will be reviewed and addressed as the design progresses.

What’s next: County staff said they will continue design work to 100% while reviewing resident input collected during and after the meeting, finalize drainage plans, and prepare the project for advertisement in 2026. Residents were given the project manager’s contact and told a recording and the presentation will be posted on the project webpage.

Resident voices (examples): Several residents summarized local experience and concerns during the Q&A. Robert Glass, a long‑time resident, said, “There’s probably about six streets or so ... where getting into 100 and Second to go east is one of the worst areas,” asking how the center lane helps his ability to turn out from north‑side streets. Martinez and Medder responded that the center lane acts as a refuge for left turns, which creates gaps and improves opportunity to enter traffic. George Perez asked staff to “reconsider” adding a signal at 120th Fifth if it causes persistent queueing that would block neighborhood access; Tom Washburn said signal timing and detection will be used to prioritize east‑west progression while still providing safe pedestrian phases.

Ending: Pinellas County staff presented technical analyses and a recommended design direction while hearing sustained resident concern about drainage, queuing and pedestrian operations. The county said it will revise the design using public feedback, complete the final design in 2026 and proceed toward construction after advertisement and contractor selection. Residents were asked to use the project comment card and to contact the project manager for individual follow‑ups.