meeting - Official Scenic Highway designation for 30-A

[Kurt]

A community meeting open to the public is planned for Thursday, June 30th at 5:30 p.m. at the Walton County Tourist Development Council at the junction of US 98 and 331 to address our efforts to obtain a Florida Scenic Highway designation for County Road 30-A through a program sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation.
​

Contact: Claire Bannerman
Corridor Advocacy Group Coordinator
Bannerwoman@mchsi.com
850-622-3059

See the attached pdf for more info.​

 

[phdphay]

Kurt, what do you think the implications of this could be as far as maintaining the character of 30-A, such as no three-or-four laning of 30-A?

I feel so sorry for people trying to cross from the north side of 30-A to get to the beach. I stop for them all, no matter how big a hurry I'm in, but many people have absolutely no respect for pedestrians. I'm a runner (unfortunately sidelined for a while with plantar fasciitis), and I can't believe how many times I've almost been run over. As I've said before on this message board, it really ticks me off when people don't stop for families with bikes, strollers, or small children in tow, especially at the bike path crossing by Wheelhouse where pedestrians have the right-of-way. When a car doesn't stop for me there, I fake that I'm about to run in front of their car and then bang on their hood - without damaging it -when they screech to a halt, and point to the yield sign. My sister taught me this, and she does it especially when they don't stop for her young boys. It definitely gets their attention. Yes, it's a really stupid thing to do, I'll admit, but that's how important it is for me to make a point about the need to stop for pedestrians.

If pedestrians have to cross 3 or 4 lanes, they might as well forget crossing 30-A on foot.

 

[Kurt]

Please don't beat my car.

 

[GraytonBound]

But I know you stop for pedestrians, Kurt, so it's a non-issue

 

[Sally]

Walton Sun:
BY PASHA CARROLL SUN REPORTER

It is almost a decade long process, but The Scenic 30A Corridor Advocacy Group is continuing to move closer to fulfilling its goal, designating County Road 30A as a ?scenic highway.?
?The designation will preserve 30A, promote awareness of natural resources, and promote history through educational means,? Claire Bannerman, the Corridor Advocacy Group Coordinator said.
?Scenic means a combination of natural and manmade,? she said.
The program is sponsored through the Florida Department of Transportation. The designation will increase 30A?s capacity for state grant funding.
A scenic corridor designation also means one clearly defined vision for the pristine county road. That vision encompasses communities, public lands, resources, businesses and cultural interests.
?The DOT has agreed that County Road 30A is unique and should be maintained as such,? Bannerman said.
She said the designation would not affect homeowner?s taxes on 30A.
?It will bring economic development and community recognition into focus,? Bannerman said. ?It promotes good design.?
The approximate sevenyear process is in its 5th year. While he was in office, former County Commissioner Tim Pauls worked on the letter of intent, the first step to making a road eligible for a scenic corridor designation.
?We are in the eligibility phase,? Bannerman said. ?There is a 200-page justification.?
The DOT will tour 30A in October to decide whether to take the county road to the next level. A specific date has not been set.
The public is encouraged to attend a community meeting to address scenic corridor designation efforts. The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. June 30 at the Walton County Tourist Development Council.