An Islamorada resident’s recent entry into the village council race is bringing not only a challenge against the current vice mayor, but also talk over a pedestrian bridge that’s in the design phase.
Entering the race for the village’s seat 4 against incumbent and vice mayor Ken Davis is Henry Rosenthal. As a resident of more than 50 years, Rosenthal said he has a vested interest in Islamorada and the Florida Keys. Although he said his mark has already been made on Monroe County, he feels there is much left to be done. After many years of service in both the public and private sectors, he feels the time has come to step in to make a difference.
“We have arrived at an unprecedented time in our history as a nation. It is important to balance the needs of our community with tourism, which drives the economic health of the area,” he stated in a press release to the Keys Weekly. “Times have changed and are not likely going back to the way they were. There is a ‘new normal’ where resources are scarce and need to be allocated with great caution.”
For example, Rosenthal said the momentum to build the Founders Park Pedestrian Bridge, a Florida Department of Transportation project, over U.S. 1 doesn’t pass the “common sense test.” To build a bridge with a price tag reaching $5 million is “ludicrous,” he said.
“I believe in safety. However, I don’t believe the decision to build this bridge is based on sound research. According to an FDOT study, if using an overpass takes 50% longer than crossing at street level, almost nobody would use the overpass. Therefore, this bridge would not address the traffic problem.”
Discussions about a pedestrian bridge in Monroe County go back to 2016 when municipalities and the county submitted a request to the state for a mobile pedestrian bridge for safe crossing over a busy U.S. 1 during large public events. Lengthy discussions were had between Keys representatives and FDOT staff over proposed locations.
With considerations on where to store the bridge and costs to place the bridge for Keys events, FDOT decided to build one permanent pedestrian bridge. That location determined by FDOT was near Founders Park in Islamorada.
In October 2017, expressed agreement to proceed with FDOT’s proposed design for a bridge with elevators and stairs. Resolutions were approved in February 2018 to approve maintenance responsibilities for the proposed bridge crossing and in December 2018 to approve the bridge’s design.
Council expressed favor for the bridge twice before Davis joined the dais. Davis said he never voted for or against the bridge, as the opportunity did not exist. However, he said that halting the project could end in FDOT suing the village for expenses the department has incurred to date, and that could reach millions.
“It would do irreparable damage to Islamorada with FDOT, and they wouldn’t fund any projects we need such as the Fills and a new fixed span bridge,” Davis said. “It would be devastating.”
Davis said he understands the fact that residents don’t find the bridge visually appealing. However, when a small group desired a referendum, they could not gather 10 affiants required to initiate referendum proceedings, he said.
The bridge project started in May and is in the design/bid phase, per FDOT. Construction completion is scheduled for May 2022. Project costs are at $4.68 million. Costs to move electric utilities, between overhead and underground work, are between $850,000 and $1 million. Moving costs incurred from the elevated bridge project won’t be reimbursed by FDOT, meaning Florida Keys Electric Cooperative shareholders will pay.
Councilman Chris Sante asked the council during a May 21 meeting to rethink the pedestrian bridge project. No vote was taken, however, as the subject was brought up during the discussion portion of the meeting. Mayor Mike Forster, councilman Jim Mooney and Davis said they wouldn’t change their mind due to the fact it was an FDOT project with state funds specifically allocated to the pedestrian bridge. Sante asked for a referendum, while councilwoman Deb Gillis said FDOT wouldn’t frown upon the decision to forgo the project since budgets are tight.
Along with the pedestrian bridge, Rosenthal said workforce housing is another essential matter to be addressed for the economic recovery and success of the area.
“It’s easy to get caught up with focusing on smaller issues and not see the woods for the trees. Sometimes you have to step back and take a look at the bigger picture,” he said.
