Placement: New Business
Action Requested: Discussion
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Traffic Calming Plan 2025 Update
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Submitted By: Antonio Balestrieri, Manager - Traffic Operations Division
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of safe, clean, and beautiful.
Executive Summary (General Business): This item is an annual update for the City’s traffic calming projects. Staff will highlight current and planned projects, provide updates for upcoming projects and pending requests.
Presentation Information: 10-minute power point presentation.
Staff Recommendation: Request that the Council discuss and provide staff direction regarding the traffic calming projects and approve projects for construction.
Background: The City of Port St. Lucie is committed to the overall safety and livability of residential neighborhoods. One way to meet this commitment is for city staff and property owners to collaborate to minimize speeding and speeding occurrences in neighborhoods.
The City of Port St. Lucie adopted a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy on May 18, 2020, which provides a process for identifying and addressing problems related to speeding, excessive volumes and safety on neighborhood streets. The policy provides a procedure to consider, evaluate and implement requests for traffic calming measures within the City of Port St. Lucie.
The council approved an increase in the Traffic Calming budget to facilitate the implementation of the proposed Traffic Calming Plans previously presented. In FY 2022/23 due to overwhelming requests a one-time amendment to raise the budget to $750,000.00 from $250,000.00 was approved. Proposed neighborhood calming projects include two (2) streets that have met minimum requirements and have undergone a design and voting process, being brought back to council for approval for construction. There are two (2) additional street segments that have also met minimal requirements that will be undergoing the design and voting process as well. Other street segments are in queue as well as a couple being on hold pending other construction projects to be completed prior to the completion of a follow-on traffic analysis.
Issues/Analysis: Traffic calming is not a sure stop way to eliminate speeding. Additionally, the use of speed-tables and raised intersections create other negative impacts such as braking on approach and accelerating upon passing. Overcoming the speed-table obstruction in the drive path becomes a nuisance. Other public agencies have experienced the need to spend additional funding to remove the calming elements 3-5-years post calming installation.
Financial Information: Traffic calming projects are funded through the mobility fees through public works capital improvement fund. The current recurring annual budget is $250,000.00. The two (2) proposed traffic calming projects and the additional six (6) potential projects under review and in queue will require continued future budgeted funding. These projects have an estimated cost of $800,000.00 to $1,000,000.00
Special Consideration: To improve focused speeding enforcement, staff is reviewing data analytics software that can identify traffic patterns and areas of concern that should be able curb the need for calming as well as confirm if implementations have been successful at reducing speeds and any impacts to adjacent streets.
Location of Project: City wide, with specific request for SE Grand Drive (from SE Lennard to SE Tiffany) and SE Atlantus Avenue (from SE Floresta to SE Coral Reef)
Attachments: 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