FDOT to study pedestrian safety on Panama City corridor, staff says

A staff member at a Panama City town hall said the Florida Department of Transportation has committed to a safety study of 15th Street West between Frankfort and Lisenby avenues, responding to months of resident concerns about pedestrian safety.

"I'm pleased to share that the Florida Department of Transportation has committed to conducting a safety study in this area," the staff member said, describing follow-up steps after a December town hall where residents from the Hill community reported safety problems, poor lighting and multiple crashes on the corridor leading to the Hathaway Bridge.

The staff member said the city sent a formal letter to FDOT after the December meeting and that residents attended a January public hearing to advocate for improvements. "The thoughtful, organized way residents presented their concerns and their willingness to work with the city and with the FDOT to find solutions has truly made a difference," the staff member said.

The staff member cautioned that while the roadway functions for vehicles, pedestrian safety must be a priority. "While the roadway may function well for vehicles, our community has made it clear that pedestrian safety must be a priority around our entire city," they said, and added that the city will continue coordinating with FDOT and work on its own roads to pursue safety improvements.

The staff member did not provide a timeline or specific design changes for the FDOT study. The claim that the corridor is "one of the deadliest" was presented as residents' characterization; the speaker did not cite a specific ranking source during the town hall. The staff member said officials will keep the community updated as the safety study progresses.