Placement: New Business
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Approve Staff’s Recommended Speed Limit Changes on two (2) Sections of SW Paar Drive
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Submitted By: Heath Stocton, P.E., Director, Public Works
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Vision for convenient transportation.
Executive Summary (General Business): Pursuant to a City Manager request, staff evaluated the existing 25 mph speed limit on SW Paar Drive from SW Darwin Boulevard to SW Tulip Boulevard and are providing a recommendation for changes pursuant to City Code Section 71.01.
Presentation Information: N/A. Staff is available for questions and discussion.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve staff’s recommendation to reduce the speed limit from 40 mph to 35 mph from Port St. Lucie Boulevard to Darwin Boulevard and increase the speed limit from 25 mph to 35 mph from Darwin Boulevard to Tulip Boulevard on SW Paar Drive.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and complete the motion in the affirmative.
2. Move that the Council not approve the recommendation and provide staff direction.
Background: As part of the City’s multi-modal plan, a recommendation was provided for the reduction of speed limits from 30 mph to 25 mph on all locally classified roadways within the City. This recommendation was accepted by Council and the reduction citywide was completed in late 2022.
The section of SW Paar Drive from SW Darwin Boulevard to SW Tulip Boulevard is classified as a “local” road per the City’s Comprehensive Plan, while the remainder of SW Paar Drive from SW Rosser Boulevard to SW Darwin Boulevard is classified as a “collector” roadway. As such, only the portion of SW Paar Drive from SW Darwin Boulevard to SW Tulip Boulevard saw a reduction in speed limit to 25 mph; the remainder of SW Paar Drive remained at 40 mph. This discrepancy in speed limit along the corridor resulted in resident complaints to Public Works, the Police Department, and City Council’s Office. To address the complaints, staff contracted Kimley-Horn (consultant) to perform a speed study for the entire SW Paar Drive corridor (Rosser Boulevard to Tulip Boulevard) pursuant to FDOT’s Speed Zoning for Highways, Roads, and Streets manual to determine if a consistent speed was appropriate and applicable for the corridor.
Based upon the findings of the Study, a consistent speed limit is not applicable for the entire corridor, but a reduction in the discrepancy is possible. The consultant’s recommendations based upon FDOT’s manual and speed zoning policy contained within Florida Statutes (F.S.) 316.189 are as follows:
• Maintain 40 mph speed limit between SW Rosser Boulevard and SW Port St. Lucie Boulevard
• Reduce 40 mph speed limit to 35 mph between SW Port St. Lucie Boulevard and SW Darwin Boulevard
• Increase 25 mph speed limit to 35 mph between SW Darwin Boulevard and SW Tulip Boulevard
Issues/Analysis: It should be noted that the original request for consideration was only for increasing the 25 mph speed limit on the “local” portion of SW Paar Drive. However, this analysis is also recommending reduction from 40 mph to 35 mph between SW Port St. Lucie Boulevard and SW Darwin Boulevard.
Financial Information: There is minimal cost associated with changing approximately six (6) speed limit signs. This cost will be borne by Public Works’ Road and Bridge Operating Fund.
Special Consideration: The City’s Planning and Zoning Department will be updating the Comprehensive Plan for the City next year. The update will include a review of the road system, roadway classifications, and a 20-year plan. The recommendations of this analysis and the larger collector road study will be incorporated into the comprehensive plan during the update process. Pursuant to an additional recommendation from the Paar Drive Corridor Speed Study, staff will evaluate changing the classification of SW Paar Drive from SW Darwin Boulevard to SW Tulip Boulevard from “local” to “collector”, which will match the rest of the corridor.
Location of Project: SW Paar Drive from SW Port St. Lucie Boulevard to SW Tulip Boulevard
Attachments: Paar Drive Corridor Speed Study provide by Kimley Horn and Associates
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:
Reviewed by Margaret M. Carland, Senior Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.