CRESTVIEW — Imagine evening rush-hour traffic flowing smoothly from Cox Bridge to Stillwell Boulevard and beyond.

It's not difficult for Department of Transportation District 1 Secretary Billy Hattaway, who foresees major thoroughfares like State Road 85 with fewer street lights; subdivision design that removes cars from main roads; and more educated drivers.

Rethinking community design is a necessity, said Hattaway, who for two years has led efforts that have reduced Florida’s status as the nation’s former leader in pedestrian deaths.

Post-World-War II town planning  — including clusters of unconnected residential developments, each attached to main arteries — forced more vehicles onto already crowded main roads, he said while speaking in Crestview to the Northwest Florida Regional Transportation Planning Organization.

Hattaway’s solution is planning streets that connect developments — with traffic light-protected, mid-block pedestrian crossings and neighborhood businesses — that parallel major arteries.

New state rules require communities to consider roundabouts, also known as “traffic circles,”  before installing signals. They allow a continuous vehicle flow through an intersection, rather than halting traffic and allowing it to back up, and reduce intersection fatalities as much as 90 percent, he said.

Rewriting state laws so drivers and law enforcement officers can understand them also is among the DOT's priorities,

Hattaway cited a recent state statute defining a crosswalk as “that part of a roadway at an intersection within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks.” The revised statute now reads, “Pavement markings on the roadway surface … at an intersection used by pedestrians for crossing the roadway.”

Implementing these cultural changes — including narrowing vehicle lanes to create bicycle lanes without using additional pavement — requires shifting from a car-centric mindset, Hattaway said. His department is developing a pedestrian safety action plan, conducting road safety audits, creating guidelines for designing for pedestrian safety, and teaching traffic engineers the initiative’s benefits.

Targeted engineering, driver education through media campaigns and high-visibility enforcement are key components of the plan, Hattaway said.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Rethinking subdivisions, less reliance on cars can improve Crestview traffic

CRESTVIEW — The 8-mile drive through Crestview on State Road 85 could cost drivers as much as 48 cents if Florida follows Oregon’s lead and implements a mileage-based user fee to fund road maintenance and construction.

Two bills currently in the state Legislature include funding to study implementation of such a fee in Florida.

That’s because the current primary funding source, gasoline taxes, is unsustainable, Florida Transportation Commission assistant executive director Mark Reichert said.

Though there are more cars on the road, revenue from state and local gas taxes continues to decline because drivers are driving more fuel-efficient vehicles less.

Plus, Reichert said while speaking to the Northwest Florida Regional Transportation Planning Organization, more electric vehicles are essentially getting free trips by paying no gas taxes.

He likened this to stealing a neighbor’s cable TV service.

“You’re taking full advantage of the utility but you’re not paying for it,” Reichert said.

A FEE IN OREGON

The TPO, meeting in Crestview on Monday, heard Reichert’s description of a new Oregon user fee beginning July 1. Several other Western states are also considering the fee, he said.

Florida leaders are already in discussion with other Southern states about the potential for implementing a road user tax in the region, Reichert said.

The tax would be levied based on the distance a motorist drives. Monitoring devices in vehicles could tally trips on tax district roads, though, Reichert said, would shut off when the car drives over a state line or onto a private road.

“You only pay for those miles you actually drive,” he said.

UNPOPULAR TAX

He noted the fee is, understandably, unpopular among many drivers.

“A lot of people have issues about being tracked by the government,” he said, but already drivers are monitored by traffic cameras and other technology.

“If you have a smartphone, you can be tracked,” he said.

To ease their concerns, monitoring motorists’ mileage is conducted by private contractors. In addition, drivers can opt out of paying mileage-based fees and pay an annual flat fee.

“But it’s expensive,” Reichert said, saying it averages about 6 cents per mile, as compared to the approximately 2.5 cents per mile currently paid in Florida in gas taxes, license, tag and registration fees.

FAIR FUNDING METHOD

Unpopular as the fee is, Reichert said “it seems to be the fairest method” because it targets everyone who drives in the state, including visitors and drivers passing through to another state.

“We spend more on cable TV and cell phone bills than we do on the utility we use most and that drives our economy,” he said. “Obviously, continuing to rely on the fuel tax will not close the funding gap.”

However, he said, “The Florida Transportation Commission does not support a mileage-based user fee at this time.”

It would take several years for such a fee be implemented, Reichert said, but the state is wise to consider its options now.

“Most states are facing a crisis today,” Reichert said. “Our crisis is a little bit farther down the road.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Florida motorists pay these gasoline taxes:

•18.4 cents: federal highway tax (plus 6 cents more for Diesel)

•13.3 cents: state highway tax (adjustable to inflation)

•7.3 cents: enhanced state tax (adjustable to inflation)

•2 cents: constitutional fuel tax (set in 1943)

•1 cent: state-collected county fuel tax (set in 1941)

•1 cent: state-collected municipal fuel tax (set in 1971)

•1-6 cents: county optional fuel tax (6 cents for Diesel)

•1 cent: “ninth tax”

•Up to 12 cents: local option tax (10 cents in Okaloosa County)

Source: Florida Transportation Commission assistant executive director Mark Reichert

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's why you could pay for using Florida roads

CRESTVIEW — At first glance, a patched spot on Territory Lane looks like any other filled-in pothole. Not like a $34,000 repair project the City Council unanimously approved on Monday.

But that’s just on the surface.

Thirteen feet underground, more than 350 feet of 24-inch diameter drain pipe has failed, causing storm water to undermine the Fox Valley development street, and threatening other buried utilities.

“What happened, we think, is last year through all the rain and flooding events … the water and static friction is tearing away layers of it,” Public Services Director Wayne Steele said. “Not only that — it caused separation of the pipes and joints."

Fox Valley’s developer laid the fiber and concrete composite HardiePipe about 10 years ago. Steele said video inspection revealed the damage.

To excavate and replace the pipe would require about 370 feet of Territory Street to be closed and torn up, blocking residents from their homes for several days, Steele said.

Instead, Steele recommended to the City Council that a contractor insert a cured-in-place liner inside the pipe's damaged sections, which would provide “a solid end-to-end seal of the failed pipe.”

After insertion into the damaged pipe, the liner is steam-cured, or hardened, melding it to the original shape of the damaged HardiePipe.

Because the pipe failed after a decade of use, Councilwoman Robyn Helt expressed concern that there may be other HardiePipe lines that might also fail. But Steele said the city rarely uses the pipe due to its high cost and maintenance. 

“We should be evaluating materials the developer chooses to put in," Helt said. "This is material a developer put in but now the taxpayer has to pay to fix.”

Helt and Councilman Mickey Rytman asked Steele to see if the manufacturer had a warranty on the pipe to help offset Pensacola Concrete Construction’s winning $34,077 bid for the repair.

The money comes from the Street Department’s materials budget, leaving a balance of $63,026 for the rest of the fiscal year.

Work is expected to begin next week.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Failed Crestview drain pipe requires $34,000 sinkhole remedy

LAUREL HILL — To fill three City Council seats, voters here chose city hall outsiders over an incumbent and a former mayor.

Among new council members is the current mayor’s wife.

Debra Adams, Daniel Lane and Scott Moneypenny will replace incumbent Willie Mae Toles, retiring Councilwoman Betty Williamson, and will fill a third seat vacant for more than a year and a half.

Former mayor and city councilwoman Joan Smith and resident Randy Tickle were also defeated.

“I am looking forward to working for the citizens of our city,” Councilwoman-elect Adams said.

In an interesting political twist, her husband is Laurel Hill Mayor Robby Adams.

“Maybe we’ll have to check our politics at the door,” Robby Adams said, laughing. “It’s a unique situation.”

He said while their relationship could lead to more cohesiveness on some city matters, it wasn’t necessarily a guarantee.

“How many husbands and wives always agree on everything?” Robby Adams said.

The couples’ boys, Dylan, 10, and Aidan, 6, were “real excited” that their mom was elected, he said.

“Debra told me our older son was calculating. He said, ‘Mom, if you serve two terms, I can vote for you on your third term.’ He’s already doing the math,” Robby Adams said.

While the mayor is a non-voting member of the council, under Florida’s Sunshine Laws, there would be some restrictions on kitchen table conversation, Adams said.

“I just can’t share with her what another council member’s thinking,” he said.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Issue most Laurel Hill couples don't face? Obeying Sunshine Laws

CRESTVIEW — Graham Fountain, Republican, retired state law enforcement director and former undersheriff, seeks election to the Okaloosa County Commission District 1 seat being held by Wayne Harris, who will not seek re-election.

He served in the administrations of Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida CFOs Gen. Robert Milligan and Tom Gallagher, Okaloosa Sheriff Larry Gilbert and Walton Sheriff Mike Adkinson, and is a seasoned legislative and regulatory advocate and public policy expert. He was commissioner of the Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission and the State Historical Commission, and served on the USDOJ and Florida Homeland Security Advisory Councils.

He has managed over $400 million in budgets and work capital project program dollars, and has led more than 1,000 employees. While director (colonel) of Law Enforcement for the Florida Department of Transportation under Jeb Bush's administration, Fountain served on the department’s executive committee and was involved in the delivery of all statewide transportation projects and programs.

Directing a statewide build out of commercial vehicle inspection facilities and law enforcement and communications operations centers, Fountain gained experience in road building, building construction and information technologies. He also served on the ESG-16 support function in the state emergency operations center, making decisions on emergency management operations during activations and out-of-state deployments.

As financial investigations chief for Florida CFO Bob Milligan, Fountain directed the state’s Fiscal Integrity Program, which identified and investigated waste, fraud and abuse in state and local agencies receiving and spending public funds.

Fountain holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice/Political Science from Troy State University and received his master’s degree in Management and Leadership Studies from Liberty University Graduate School of Business.

He is a graduate of the American Association of Highway Safety and Transportation Officials’ Executive Leadership Academy, Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute’s Chief Executive Program at Florida State University, The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at Glynco, and over 2,000 hours' advanced training in accreditation, quality assurance with Sterling Organizational Excellence Systems, leadership and management, homeland security, emergency management, and public safety technology.

Fountain plans to focus his campaign on the continued restoration of trust in county government; economic development; highway capacity issues; and making sure county government is well prepared for emergency management challenges in the future.

A strict constitutionalist and champion of full transparency in governance, Fountain will work with other board members and the Clerk of Court to fully implement a comprehensive website for the public to review all budget work, financial transactions and expenditures, and public employees’ salaries.

He also will propose a “county citizens academy,” similar to citizens academies held by the sheriff and local police departments." He pledges to donate a portion of his salary, if elected, to local charities and non-profits that serve the county.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Retired law enforcement director, former Okaloosa undersheriff eyes county commission

CRESTVIEW — Getting down to the wire on Election Day evening, candidates for Crestview mayor were optimistic about the outcome of the evening's ballot counting.

But in the end, it was the incumbent who triumphed.

Mayor David Cadle said he was humbled that voters should elect him to a third term as mayor of the county’s biggest city.

“I think it's a validation of the reform movement we started in the police department and improvements and efficiencies we created in other city departments,” Cadle said.

Serving as mayor, he said, “has been one of the biggest blessings of my life.”

While Cadle and his supporters gathered at Hub City Smokehouse, other candidates’ Main Street election night parties were in full swing as well.

VOTERS WANT CHANGE

"I gave it everything I had," Councilman Tom Gordon said at Desi’s Restaurant. "I've been a good steward of the resources I had. I gave it every penny and every minute."

Gordon congratulated Cadle, but noted that against the mayor’s 703 votes, he and business owners Landrum Edwards and Jeremiah Hubbard had a combined 966 votes.

“Fifty-eight percent of the people wanted change,” Gordon said. “Voters are looking for change. They want better.”

After the final results came in, Hubbard thanked his supporters gathered at Casbah Coffeeshop, before heading down the street to congratulate Cadle.

“There are greater things always waiting for us on the horizon,” Hubbard said.

IN THE FRONT ROW

Edwards held no downtown gatherings for his campaign, but observed results coming in at the Supervisor of Elections office.

"Lanny's not a party person," his wife, Voncile, said. "We're just lying low today."

“I enjoyed the campaign,” Edwards said. “I hope I got some ideas out. I love my city of Crestview and I’ll still be sitting in the front row at council meetings, making my voice heard.”

Tuesday’s final count showed 1,669, or 13.3 percent, of Crestview’s 12,574 registered voters cast ballots in the election.

“If people don’t participate in the running of the city of Crestview, if they don’t vote, how can they gripe about anything?’ Edwards said. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CRESTVIEW ELECTION: Cadle elected to third term

LAUREL HILL — Voters in Okaloosa County’s northernmost incorporated city chose newcomers over an incumbent and former mayor to fill three seats on the City Council.

School teacher Debra Adams, retired engineer Daniel Lane and former Marine and sailor Scott Moneypenny will replace incumbent Willie Mae Toles, retiring Councilwoman Betty Williamson, and fill a seat that has been vacant for more than a year and a half.

Former mayor and city councilwoman Joan Smith, running to reclaim her council seat, was defeated with 27 votes to Adams’ 52, Lane’s 75 and Moneypenny’s 52.

Long-haul truck driver Randy Tickle received 20 votes, and Toles received 38.

Residents at a North Okaloosa Republican Club-sponsored candidates’ forum expressed a desire to see the city move forward from distractions including monthly deadlocks that failed to fill the vacant council seat, allegations of racial bias, and questions of residency.

Electing relative newcomers to the council seemed to indicate frustration with the status quo offered by longtime residents.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill voters choose newcomers to fill 3 council seats