Traffic and infrastructure during peak season

[kitlit]

Well, I think it really is about no alternate routes, but my point has been that since it's not likely that we can build a road before the summer onslaught, that some interim, alternatives would be a good temporary solution to what is a huge problem and could be a real disaster in a hurricane.

If we put some of these into effect when things aren't too bad; people would be accustomed to them in the event of a hurricane or some other disaster...

it seems worth trying to me, but maybe not....

I promise I'm not trying to burst your bubble, GoodWitch, because I wish it were different...

...but. Especially during impending hurricanes, it's harder than ever to deal with guest check outs. I've actually known guests to shift between multiple rental units in attempts to make the rental companies think they've already left... We've had to call the authorities out on numerous occasions to tell them, "Yes, you really DO have to leave in the event of a hurricane."

Not to mention, most of them still have to drive from the condominium TO the rental company to drop off keys, and then back track to leave town.

I agree that there is a need for alternate routing and alleviated congestion, especially during the summer months but, in my humble opinion, there really aren't many changes that can be made in the rental industry to aid us in this effort.

 

[Matt J]

well, I will defer to the voices of expereince; but, it does work in other areas; there are many places where the hotels have different check out times. I wonder what their secret is?

And, no one would be getting any more] time--they would just being checked in and out at different times. 10 -4 is the same amount of time as 11-5. Is it not?

I promise, one Saturday at a Rental Companies front desk and you'd never bring this up again. ;-)

The other issue is that you're wanting to do this for this season. Many of these renters have already booked and either been notified of check in/out or signed contracts with those times. One of the companies I used to work for had to have a bunch of snow birds check in at an alternative location and it took 2 clerks a week to call them all and straighten it out. Granted most snowbirds are just thrilled to get a call and that was most of it, but man were they lost.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I promise, one Saturday at a Rental Companies front desk and you'd never bring this up again. ;-)

The other issue is that you're wanting to do this for this season. Many of these renters have already booked and either been notified of check in/out or signed contracts with those times. One of the companies I used to work for had to have a bunch of snow birds check in at an alternative location and it took 2 clerks a week to call them all and straighten it out. Granted most snowbirds are just thrilled to get a call and that was most of it, but man were they lost.

Okay, okay. You and Kitlit win

I just find it hard to believe that any visitor -- if given a choice -- would prefer to sit in Highway 98 or 331 traffic for an hour or two on a Saturday morning rather than check in at a different time...but, as I said, I am not in the business, and I defer to wiser minds. ;-)

Now, I think you need to start going to bed earlier SWGB, you are just causing trouble by staying up late--get your beauty sleep and leave my pipe dreams alone!:funn:

 

[Kurt]

If we keep advertising, we're not only going to need more roads, we're gonna need more beach.

 

[DuneAHH]

I think many people must have left on Friday...I noticed the difference too; and I had expected 331 to be more of a problem than it was on Saturday am

Still, we know it is coming--and if the predictions are correct about the airport, then, we'll have even more people, and many of them driving unfamiliar rental cars.

Acknowledging SWGB & Kitlit's comments that changing the check-in/out times would be a nightmare... and also your thoughts as to staggering those times...

could it work if the rental companies split up the days (some Fri-Fri, Sat-Sat, Sun-Sun)? I wondered if the reason last Sat's exit traffic wasn't as bad as expected is that in these difficult economic times the rental companies are relaxing the 7 day Sat-to-Sat. rental rule, thereby mitigating some of the traffic congestion? Seems to me like a potential silver lining in the economic storm cloud!

I have out of state friends who still want to vacation at the beach but simply cannot afford an entire week.

 

[North Lake]

I've often wondered why there's not another cut through beyond 395. It would sure alleviate a lot of traffic woes.

SC, getting the state to part with a swath of land 70 - 100 feet wide through the state forest is the biggest challenge. Then there's the challenge of wetlands when you cut through there. It's been suggested before. Another option is the Alabama Power Company strip that runs from 30A to 98 starting at the transformer station by Lakeview and coming out somewhere near Regional Utilities out on 98. They've been approached with negative results as well.

 

[Matt J]

There's always another option!

Light up some of this and relax.

 

[NotDeadYet]

SC, getting the state to part with a swath of land 70 - 100 feet wide through the state forest is the biggest challenge. Then there's the challenge of wetlands when you cut through there. It's been suggested before. Another option is the Alabama Power Company strip that runs from 30A to 98 starting at the transformer station by Lakeview and coming out somewhere near Regional Utilities out on 98. They've been approached with negative results as well. __________________

There are very good reasons for the state's refusal to give up preservation land, fragment habitat, and impact wetlands. And there is another road up to 98 - it just happens to be a tad further east than folks find convenient. Anyway another road would not alleviate the bottleneck that is Seaside or the bottleneck that is 98 once you get there. The Destin Commons intersection was supposed to fix a lot of the 98 problems but as we see it is inadequate for a rainy day. And I hate to say it but I think when 331 finally does get four-laned it will be inadequate. Even with the high occupancy during spring break a lot of bank owned properties stayed empty, and many lots remain to be built upon. Heaven help us if we ever get to true 100% occupancy. For years the county fiddled around with traffic concurrency in order to approve higher and higher densities in SoWal. And for years citizens went to hearings and protested, pointing out that infrastructure was insufficient. Carving out a new road through preservation land after the fact for our convenience is not the answer.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Acknowledging SWGB & Kitlit's comments that changing the check-in/out times would be a nightmare... and also your thoughts as to staggering those times...

could it work if the rental companies split up the days (some Fri-Fri, Sat-Sat, Sun-Sun)? I wondered if the reason last Sat's exit traffic wasn't as bad as expected is that in these difficult economic times the rental companies are relaxing the 7 day Sat-to-Sat. rental rule, thereby mitigating some of the traffic congestion? Seems to me like a potential silver lining in the economic storm cloud!

I have out of state friends who still want to vacation at the beach but simply cannot afford an entire week.

Yes, thank you. What I have been trying to do is promote some "out of the box" thinking.

We aren't going to build another road any time soon and maybe never--and there are good reasons for that (See NotDeadYet above) and people have been attending meetings and calling and writing Commissioners for years being concerned with it; and yet, all we seem to is authorize more money for more marketing..and pay for expensive televison ads to bring more people...331 four laned will not be enough if we have more visitors via the new airport; and if we ever get to 100% capacity...well, there are no words.

It seems to me we are on the way to "killing the goose that laid the golden egg" if we continue along this track without some creative solutions to infrastructure problems.

SWGB and KitLit I love you and I hear you and I wish you would step outside the box and find another solution that just might work....What if some enterprising rental company did a survey of their visitors a who are booked for the summer and asked them a few questions about check in check out...three day minimums, one week minimums, etc., etc.,

We might all be surprised by what we find. (I love it when I get another chance to blow bubbles...or have pipe dreams..)

 

[scooterbug44]

I don't know of a way to reduce traffic jams at check-in/out aside from a new road or two, but am trying to think how we can reduce in-season congestion.

Like a Smart car or Tata* club where 2nd homeowners or renters get a membership and they can then park their SUV or take a shuttle from the airport and have a small, easy to park, and safe vehicle to use during their stay.

*NOT LSVs, real cars with seat belts and AC!!!