Can better roads help Daytona's beachside? FDOT meeting Wednesday aims for citizen input

DAYTONA BEACH — What can be done to improve the beachside's Main Street, a once-thriving corridor that's now devoid of traffic except during biker events?

How can Seabreeze Boulevard be upgraded and modernized? And the peninsula's main north-south road, State Road A1A?

Those three roads, and two others, will be the focus of a public meeting Wednesday night to get local residents' input.

The Florida Department of Transportation is hosting the meeting on future plans for State Road A1A, East International Speedway Boulevard, Main Street, Seabreeze Boulevard and Oakridge Boulevard.

Plans are already in place for Oakridge Boulevard, which is under construction, and East ISB, which is slated to begin construction next year. But public input is being sought for improvements to A1A, Main Street and Seabreeze.

The meeting will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ocean Center. At 6 p.m. a formal presentation will begin to provide updates on Oakridge and East ISB, and share ideas so far for the other three roads.

Meeting attendees will also be able to look at renderings and displays and ask questions of FDOT officials who will be attending. People can also submit their thoughts and ideas verbally and in writing.

Revised corridor concepts based on community input received at a public meeting earlier this year will be presented to seek additional input and build consensus.

Renderings showing embedded in-pavement lighting, new bike lanes, added greenery, widened sidewalks and curved stretches of roadway to slow traffic were displayed at the July community meeting on the main beachside roads that drew about 100 people to The Plaza Resort & Spa.

Read more about Daytona's beachside: A1A: Pockmarked Paradise

Related coverage: Bike lanes, landscaping, sidewalks: Public reacts to Daytona beachside roadway concepts

Wednesday's meeting is being held as part of FDOT's ongoing evaluation of proposed transportation projects on the beachside roadways. FDOT is doing a study considering capacity, safety and multi-modal enhancements along the corridors.

The core beachside area has struggled economically for years, grappling with a poor housing stock, crime and lack of diverse businesses to attract both tourists and local visitors. Needed roadway improvements is one of the key issues the area faces.

Daytona beachside road ideas

Maryam Ghyabi-White, CEO and President of Ghyabi Consulting and Management in Ormond Beach, has been heavily involved with the beachside road projects. She said there's been no talk of widening A1A, but there has been an emphasis on making the road safer, beautifying it and modernizing it.

That could include planting new landscaping, adding LED lights, reconfiguring turn lanes, coming up with a new plan for where delivery trucks can park and creating bike lanes separated from traffic, Ghyabi-White said.

Tom Caffrey, owner of the World's Most Famous Brewery on Main Street, is full of ideas for beachside roads.

"For starters, I'd like to see them close Main Street (to motorized vehicles) from Peninsula Drive to A1A, except during special events," Caffrey said Monday. "It's never busy."

If that idea is rejected, then he'd like to see the road turn into a one-way thoroughfare with only eastbound traffic "to create a flow."

Caffrey would also like to see Auditorium Boulevard turned into a one-way road. He noted that Oakridge and Seabreeze used to have two-way traffic but are both one-way roads now.

He said Main Street is only busy during special events, so it make sense to make it more of a pedestrian-friendly road. There's plenty of parking nearby that business patrons could use, he said.

He thinks a pedestrian-only stretch of road would attract more customers. Wider sidewalks on Main Street would allow for outdoor cafe seating and a farmers market, he said.

"It can be a catalyst for growth," Caffrey said.

On A1A, he would like to see flashing lights installed at crosswalks to improve pedestrian safety. The road could also use new pavement and landscaping, he said.

Eddie Hennessy, owner of the Streamline Hotel, owns all of the property fronting A1A from his hotel south to ISB. He also owns properties along East ISB, and he's glad to see the planned improvements for that gateway to the beach are just months from beginning now.

"I'm excited. I can't wait for the new road to come in," Hennessy said. "It will change the whole perception of Daytona Beach."

He's also happy to hear the other main beachside corridors are in line for improvements.

Other ways to take part in the meeting

Those who prefer can join the meeting virtually from a computer, tablet or mobile device. To join the meeting live virtually, advance registration is required by visiting https://bit.ly/39HclDE.

Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting online. Virtual participants should note that Internet Explorer cannot be used to register or attend the webinar.

Those who want to listen by phone can join the meeting in listen-only mode by dialing 1-866-901-6455 and entering the pass code 293-633-999 when prompted.

All meeting materials, including a presentation, will be available on the project website at https://www.cflroads.com/project/449490-1 prior to the meeting.

Those who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or need translation services can contact FDOT Manager Project Manager Steven Buck at 386-943-5171 or by email at steven.buck@dot.state.fl.us at least seven days prior to the meeting.

Those who are hearing or speech impaired can contact FDOT using the Florida Relay Service at 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).

You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Beach's main beachside corridors will be focus of meeting