Placement: New Business
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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SW Cashmere Boulevard Median Opening at Home Depot/Walmart Neighborhood Market Shopping Center and SE Carter Avenue at SW Airoso Boulevard Intersection Reviews
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Submitted By: Joseph DeFronzo, P.E., RSP1, Public Works
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of high-quality infrastructure and facilities.
Executive Summary (General Business): Pursuant to Council direction, Staff has reviewed the SW Cashmere Boulevard existing unrestricted median opening at the Home Depot/Walmart Neighborhood Market Shopping Center and the intersection of SE Carter Avenue at SW Airoso Boulevard. The two (2) locations are known to be high-volume accident locations. Staff will present an overview of improvements that could be constructed to improve safety.
Presentation Information: A 10- minute PowerPoint presentation will be provided by staff.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve Staff’s recommendations to install a raised bi-directional island at the existing full median opening of SW Cashmere Boulevard and Home Depot/Walmart Neighborhood Shopping Center as well as a raised landscaped median along SW Airoso Boulevard from SE Whitmore Drive to SE Carter Avenue that includes bi-directional median openings at SE Whitmore Drive and SE Carter Avenue.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and provide staff comments and direction on how to move forward.
2. Move that the Council not approve the recommendation and provide direction.
Background: A full access median opening on SW Cashmere Boulevard provides east/west left turn and through movements to/from Home Depot and the Walmart Neighborhood Market driveways in St. Lucie West. Resident concerns lead to City Council requesting Public Works staff to evaluate limiting access to north/south left turn movements.
Existing pavement marking arrow and regulatory sign indicating “Right Turn Only” for westbound traffic on SE Carter Avenue at SW Airoso Boulevard intersection have been ineffective. The Public Works Department is recommending approval of the raised bi-directional islands and landscaped median improvements, on SW Airoso Boulevard from SE Carter Avenue to Whitmore Drive.
Issues/Analysis: Resident concerns have indicated East/West left turns and through movements from the driveways at Home Depot and the Walmart Neighborhood Market are problematic during peak hours, reported crashes and traffic volumes on SW Cashmere Boulevard have both been increasing since 2017.
The current Right Turn Only arrow pavement marking and regulatory sign for westbound traffic on SE Carter Avenue at SW Airoso Boulevard have been ineffective in drivers conforming to the prohibited left turn and through movements. Installation of raised concrete directional and landscaped median islands are being considered and evaluated.
Financial Information: Neither of the recommend improvements are currently funded. The anticipated cost of constructing a raised bi-directional island in the median opening on SW Cashmere Boulevard at Home Depot/Walmart Neighborhood Market Shopping Center would be $50,000. The anticipated cost of constructing bi-directional islands at the intersection of SE Carter Avenue and SE Whitmore Drive at SW Airoso Boulevard in conjunction with a landscaped median between Carter Avenue and Whitmore Drive would be $250,000 excluding landscaping costs.
Special Consideration: Staff can find no agreement in place that would prevent changing the full access median opening on SW Cashmere Boulevard at the Home Depot/Walmart Neighborhood Market Shopping location.
Location of Project: SW Cashmere Boulevard south of St. Lucie West Boulevard at the Home Depot/Walmart Neighborhood Market median opening and the SE Carter Avenue at SW Airoso Boulevard intersection.
Attachments: PowerPoint Presentation.
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: N/A
Legal Sufficiency Review:
N/A