Highlights of walking the Twin Pairs with Victor Dover - July 18, 2023

Maybe we should be unsafe and disorderly. Think about it. We could install Hotwheels jumps to jump the train and build upside-down loop-de-loops in downtown Vero. ROFL 🤣🤣🤣

I agree with everything you say except that I'm skeptical about parallel parking and bike lanes on Twin Pairs. Use the excess lanes for dedicated turn-only lanes so that thru traffic proceeds without turning bottlenecks and for pedestrian pump-outs. There are more appropriate side streets for bike paths.

Why does somewhat greater traffic on HW1 through Sebastian, which has only two thru lanes in each direction, flow well and not create huge backups or evacuation challenges? What seems critical to me is that the two thru lanes east and west are configured so they do not back up due to right/left turn cars or vehicles trying to parallel park. Further, stoplights could be timed so most cars get thru without stopping. I'd love to see how Mr. Good's concept for Twin Pairs would change if parallel parking and bike lanes were eliminated.

I think it is unfair to label the Twin Pairs reduction as being business-led -- it is to create an inviting venue for an expanding Greater Vero to live, dine, listen to music, buy art and hang out with friends, which complements Three Corners and Ocean Drive. Creating an environment that attracts magical business is critical!

Neighbors, please keep an open mind that there need not be winners and losers on this. We have to find the right balance between assuring reasonable passage times thru downtown while taking a big step towards revitalizing our city center.

I previously commented in the thread that followed the Victor Dover zoom call but this forum is probably a good place to repeat my thoughts. It's too bad everyone had not had a chance to view the YouTube presentation of Victor Dover regarding the Chattanooga project.  He basically answered many of the philosophical questions in that hour + presentation.  I could get behind some of those ideas but I keep stumbling when trying to apply these ideas to the 5 or 6 block long stretch of 14th Ave.  I find myself visiting our "downtown" area during many different parts of the day, in the evenings to enjoy the galleries and dining spots and in the daytime generally passing through enroute to destinations further to the west or east.  The problems I see with making the changes to the Rte 60 corridor is that the biggest result would be causing major traffic problems during the daytime drive times without producing the benefits of slowing down to enjoy the "culture" of the area.  In the evenings the twin pairs don't really present any sort of challenge to pedestrians and may often be crossed without yielding to the "walk signals" due to the complete absence of east-west traffic.  During the daytime most of the traffic represents business missions and I have serious doubts that there would be significant stopping for a leisurely stroll along 14th Ave., even for lunch since parking would still be problematic.

Looking at the whole downtown area it appears that creating new spaces is severely hampered by residential areas to the west, industrial areas to the east, government complexes to the north and schools to the south. 

Even though the whole idea of trying to enhance a new ambiance and culture on 14th Ave. is appealing, I just can't see a balanced trade-off between what would be a significant impediment to traffic patterns and drawing people to the 5 blocks in question.  The traffic must be allowed to move back and forth East/West and impediments on the twin pairs would undoubtedly increase traffic on adjacent streets, primarily residential.  That's likely not an acceptable result.

I'm all ears however so anyone with ideas about this conundrum please speak up.

David Cerchie

to reduce lanes would be the most unsafe way to make downtown more userfriendly. With the addition of at least 32 trains a day, now using twin tracks, the buid up of traffic at the railroad crossing will be more or less permanent, and to immediately add lane restrictions will have dire consequences. Cars backing out of the parking into the traffic will be very unsafe. Most of the traffic is headed to the mall down 60 and to I95. This traffic will look for alternative routes through residential areas. Lowes and Home Depot attract a great deal of commercial users. Builders, carpenters, landscapers, etc, this traffic is not interested in 14th avenue, nor is 90% of the total traffic.

When the council build a proper car park, people may visit more frequently, but until there is a good reason to visit, making a bottleneck wont help one bit. Lowering the speed limit through town would be the safest way to proceed.

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions to make Vero a better place. Reducing traffic speed is a good idea in a downtown area with pedestrians and lots of cross traffic. After listening to comments by traffic expert Victor Dover, I'm puzzled that he wants to reduce lanes of a major east-west corridor without an alternative for through traffic. Everything he says about reducing lanes causing an increase in downtown shopping, parking, walking, etc. makes sense, except for the fact that he states no alternatives for all the through traffic that already exists! That traffic is not going to go away. Most downtown areas with a major thoroughfare through their downtown areas have built by-passes that go around the old, historic shopping and pedestrian areas, thereby allowing slower and safer traffic for downtown and the by-passes for the through traffic. He and the other citizens joining him want a more pleasant experience for downtown. How pleasant will it be with only one or two lanes in each direction when traffic backs up and gridlock ensues! People will search for alternative routes through neighborhoods making small neighborhood streets more heavily traveled and dangerous.

Some time ago I read an editorial article in the local newspaper suggesting temporarily closing lanes of traffic and reducing speeds for a period of time (maybe 6-8 weeks) as a test experience, particularly during the high season of winter when both seasonal and permanent residents will be using the roads; then take a survey to see how well received an idea it is. Doing this before major structural changes would cost nothing and allow residents to experience the lane reductions for themselves. Maybe it will be a pleasant experience and maybe not. But we'll all have a chance to try it out!

Having worked in down town I am fully aware of the impact of "The Pairs". Vero is the only small to medium sized town I have visited that seems to prefer getting people threw and out of downtown....at a speed of 45 miles an hour! The pairs are raceways. Most towns try to get vehicles to slow down and maybe even shop downtown. But instead Vero seems to want to limit parking and expedite their exit. Instead of a "reduced speed limit" sign and a drop in speed to 25 MPH we let them zip on threw. Yes, I would like to see the Pairs reduced, the speed reduced, and definitely more parking!

At the beginning of the city's development Rt. 60 was a one lane road. Why did it grow into three lanes both ways? Population growth. Is the city growing? Yes at a much faster rate!

Reducing lanes will infuriate drivers. Things change people. And reducing the amount of lanes is not wise. Yes, it's sad that businesses with store fronts that line Rt. 60 are drying up, but that's what happens with faster moving traffic. And Malls didn't solve this problem for the long term because of greed. If the city wanted to "improve" the social-econimic condition of this "still" beautiful town, the powers to be should think outside the box, and drop the idea of reducing lanes and make decisions to make the mall parking lot full! It appears to be true... the idiots are truly taking over. You site these traffic studies to strengthen your desires, but you totally overlook what the big picture is... Vero is becoming more popular!!

Hello. I'm here to support reducing lanes and calming traffic. It's clear this will have a positive outcome and I pray you’ll succeed in presenting this to the community. I frequent downtown, live nearby, and noticed long ago traffic is violent cutting straight through the village; unsafe for pedestrians, and bad for the businesses lining those streets. Frankly, the disproportionate rt 60 thoroughfares are an obvious city planning error based on living with it. Where’s the walkability, bike lanes, and accessibility to those businesses, even by car? Parking lanes would be an improvement. Downtown is a high-speed passthrough. More lanes and more roads attract more cars and more traffic. Period. Added vehicle capacity has the opposite result of one might hope for; it attracts more traffic. It does not lessen it.