NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. — Tuesday night, residents in Neptune Beach were able to give their input to traffic engineers about the Penman Road project.

The project focuses on safety improvements along Penman Road between Beach and Atlantic Boulevard.

There’s a proposed pedestrian bridge, raised medians, more crosswalks and a proposed roundabout at Florida Boulevard.

“I just really want it to be safe,” said Pat Hazouri. “I want pedestrians to be the thing they think about.”

Since 1991, Pat Hazouri has been living in Neptune Beach. Not only does she drive down Penman Road, but she keeps an eye out for pedestrians who she says need safety improvements along this busy corridor.

That’s why she came to Tuesday night’s Neptune Beach meeting to give her input on the updated Penman Road Project.

The Peters and Yaffee team working on the project has made some changes after getting feedback from the community at past meetings.

“We’re listening. we’re here,” Dow Peters, President and Consultant Project Manager, said. “We had several meetings on the penman road project and we’re hanging in there and trying to get it to a better place.” 

The team said they want to make it easier for pedestrians to move from east to west of Penman. 

They’ve proposed a pedestrian bridge, raised medians to reduce pedestrian crossing distances, adding a multi-use path, more sidewalks and a roundabout at Florida Boulevard, a busy intersection.

“I love roundabouts. I think they’re fantastic and fun but not in a pedestrian area,” Hazouri said. 

“Just putting in more crosswalks can slow down traffic as well,”  Vice Mayor Nia Livingston said.

“I think you’ve done a tremendous job. you’ve taken down the medians and i appreciate y’all listening,” said another Neptune Beach resident.

Tuesday night’s discussion was just focused on getting feedback from residents so the city can stay on track with starting construction in 2027.

You can find more information on the Penman Project here.