PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – A petition launched on Friday has already gathered hundreds of signatures calling for a change at a dangerous intersection in Ponte Vedra Beach.
The petitioner is requesting a “protected green arrow” for left turns at the intersection of A1A and TPC Boulevard.
The traffic light at A1A and TPC Boulevard currently uses a flashing yellow arrow for left turns. Due to dangerous traffic conditions, residents are asking for the light to be changed to a protected green arrow.
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Sid Amos, a local concerned about traffic, said, “The people on the Sawgrass side, the beach side, are unable to turn because there are so many cars coming at them. So it is very dangerous. I’ve had that problem.”
“It’s just much more traffic there,” added another resident named Benjamin Gavronsky. “As things have grown, there may need to be a little bit more signage for people to understand what’s going on on the road.”
The petition was started less than a day after a serious accident occurred at the same intersection. St. John’s County Fire Rescue reported that two people were treated and transported from the scene, including one with critical injuries who was airlifted to a local trauma center.
As of this writing, the petition had garnered over 600 signatures and has a goal of reaching 1,000.
Gavronsky said, “They just want to get safe and get home in one piece. I think that’s everybody’s goal every day.”
Amos, who lives nearby, said, “Yes, the traffic is horrendous now that we’ve grown so big.”
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) provided a statement saying the existing signal operations include a flashing yellow signal followed by a protected green arrow, allowing motorists to turn when it is safe.
The intersection has been evaluated before, and removing the flashing yellow signal was considered. FDOT said it will review the intersection again for possible safety improvements.
The full statement can be read below.
Our hearts break whenever we learn of a fatality or serious injury on the roadway. To that end, reviewing crash reports is critical to understanding crash causes and prevention. Since the crash that occurred recently is still pending investigation, questions about the crash should be directed to law enforcement.
As is standard operating procedure, FDOT reviews all reported crashes on state roadways and interstates – a special emphasis is placed on fatalities and crashes with injuries. If there are improvements that can be made to enhance the safety of the facilities, FDOT will work to implement them.
Unfortunately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found human error to be a factor in 94% of all motor vehicle crashes. This underscores the importance of drivers obeying the speed limit, never driving distracted and making safe decisions on the roadway.
The existing signal operations indicate a flashing yellow signal, followed by a protected green arrow signal. This allows motorists to turn when it is safe to do so. The intersection has previously been evaluated and removing the yellow flashing signal was considered. However, the Department will review the intersection for possible safety improvements.
Spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation
However, the only time News4JAX observed the green arrow activating was when a car waited through a full light cycle.