Ayres Knowledge Center Implement Intersection and Bike Lane Game Changers | Page 6

THE CHALLENGE: When a student at Crews Lake Middle
School in Spring Hill, Florida, convinced Pasco County officials that safety
demanded signalization of a busy intersection just outside the school,
the County sought an extremely accelerated design effort to make it
possible to turn what was a proposal in July 2017 into a reality by the
start of school a few weeks later.
THE SOLUTION: T ypically the design process would take
several months, but two weeks after contracted, Ayres Associates
delivered plans for the installation of a span wire traffic signal system.
The project increased safety in general and pedestrian safety in
particular. Student Makayla Trowell’s devotion to the idea ultimately
led to action in the form of an enforceable, flashing 15 mph speed
limit “School Zone” sign on busy Shady Hills Road and a new signalized
intersection at Shady Hills Road and Softwind Lane/Crela Lane.
Intensive collaboration and utility locating expertise are critical in
pulling off such an accelerated project. Some of the communication
on this project involved back-and-forth decision-making loops that
were completed in a matter of hours. In that communication loop were
County officials, consultants, and utility companies. Designers had
to account for new loop detectors and conduit paths being saw-cut
into place, which had the consultant’s in-house utility locating group
interacting rapid-fire with County and utility officials.
Design plans were drawn up quickly, submitted for review, and then –
literally over a weekend – officials made comments on the plans, the
consultant accommodated those requests in a plan set, and the design
was ready for construction.
6 | INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS AND BIKE LANES
“It was a nightmare to get across that
road before that traffic light was there,
and now it’s easy. I was completely
shocked by how different it is. It’s made a
world of difference.”
– David Huyck, principal, Crews Lake Middle School