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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 04 14 Regular Item A CO:M}yfiSSION AGENDA ITEM A REGULAR X CONSENT INFORMATIONAL April14t 1997 Meeting MGRI f1wv IDEPTd\h. Authorization ~ REQUEST: Police Department requesting the Commission to hold a public hearing in relation to the question of raising the posted speed limit on sections of North Edgemon Avenue from 20 MPH to 25 MPH. PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is to provide the Commission with information and recommendations regarding a request by the Owners Association of Winter Springs Industrial Park, S.R. 419 to raise the posted speed limit on the northernmost section of Edgemon Avenue North, roughly in the area between S.R. 419 and Senior Center. CONSIDERA nONS: In May of 1996 conversations occurred between (former) Mayor Bush, (former) Police Chief Sexton, and the City Manager regarding the speed limits in the city, and the need for traffic studies to be conducted prior to the Commission passing a resolution to raise the speed limits set by City Ordinance 12.52.. On May 29, 1996 Mr. Roger E. Owen of ROGER OWEN REALTY sent a letter to the City Manager on behalf of the Owners Association of Winter Springs Industrial Park, S.R. 419. In that letter Mr. Owen requested that the city raise the speed limits on Edgemon Avenue North in the area between S.R. 419 and the apartments north of the Senior CenterNFW Post. In response to this request, the Police Department researched applicable sections of Florida Statutes. F.S.S. 316.189 Establishment of municipal and county speed zones. (1) MUNICIPAL SPEED. The maximum speed within any municipality is 30 miles per hour. With respect to residence districts, a municipality may set a maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour on local streets and highways after an investigation determines that such a limit is reasonable. ... In August of 1996, the Senate passed SENATE BILL 892 which amended F.S.S. 316.189 to allow municipalities to set maximum speeds at 20 or 25, if the required investigation showed the speed to be reasonable. (Effective October 1, 1996) The Seminole County Traffic Engineers were consulted regarding this change in statute, and advised that for purposes of this statute "reasonable" is defined as 85% of average speed for a 48-hour period. The County Traffic Engineers were requested to provide a traffic survey investigation on North Edgemon Avenue, which was conducted in August 1996. The results of that investigation reported that the Average Speed on North Edgemon Avenue is 24.8 MPH, with the Reasonable Speed being 30.6 MPH. mSTORY: Edgemon Avenue North is one of the original streets platted when the Village of North Orlando was incorporated in 1959. The establishment of the speed limits by City Ordinance in 1974 (formerly 11-17, recodified as 12-52) applied to Edgemon Ave. North as a neighborhood street with no outlet or connection to another major road. At that time the northern terminus of Edgemon Avenue was the intersection of Third S1.. The connection to SR 419 did not occur until the early 80's. Longwood-Oviedo Road (State Road 434) was widened to four-lanes in the late 70's. Sometime later in the early 80's, Edgemon Avenue North was connected to Sanford- Oviedo Road (State Roadl419). At that time, Edgemon Avenue North became a connecting street between two state highways. However, the character of the roadway remained a two-lane street through a densely populated residence district with no sidewalks. (Sidewalks were installed later.) At the time of the connection to SR 419, it was felt that the large number of residence driveways exiting onto Edgemon Avenue North, as well as the amount of pedestrian traffic walking along the edges of the street, would create a significant traffic safety concern which warranted maintaining the posted speed limit at 20 MPH. ISSUES ANALYSIS: As of this writing, Edgemon Avenue North is a connecting street between two state highways. The southern portion of the road travels through a residence district, which now has sidewalks in place. The northern most portion travels through an area of no development and without sidewalks. However, plans are in place and underway to develop a subdivision in this area which will connect Shepard Rd. to Edgemon Avenue North, creating a more direct route to U. S. Highway 17-92 and a pedestrian route to Highlands Elementary on Shepard Road. The posted speed limit, per City Ordinance, is 20 MPH. Traffic studies indicate the average speed on the roadway is 24.8 MPH, with a "reasonable" speed of30.6 MPH. This indicates that, on average drivers on this road travel at roughly 5 MPH over the posted limit. If this same pattern were to continue after the changes in the posted limits, raising the posted speed to 25 will give an average speed of 30, while raising the speed to 30 will give an average speed of 3 5 MPH. The request presented by Roger Owen addresses only the northernmost portion of the road, and describes it as the "area of trees only". Development of this area in the near future will change this characterization. Increased traffic during construction, and increased traffic due to new homes being built, as well as a certain amount of pass-thru traffic from U.S. 17-92 may affect any decisions made at this time. Further, posting a different speed limit on the north half of the roadway than is posted on the south half of the roadway may lead to confusion and ambiguity. City Ordinance 12-52 authorizes the Commission to alter speed limits by a motion. Unlike previously belived, no resolution is required. However, in order to keep the public informed in this matter, letters were mailed to property owners in the area describing the request and the schedule of action to be taken. FUNDING: No additional budget authority required. RECOMMENDATION: It appears that there are three options available to the Commission Option # 1. Move to raise the speed limit on the entire section of Edgemon Avenue North to 25 MPH in compliance with applicable statutes. Option # 2. Move to raise the speed limit on the undeveloped portion north of the Senior Center/VFW Post to 25 or 30 MPH, while leaving the southern section between SR 434 and the VFW Post at 20 MPH. Option # 3. Take no action at the this time, and revisit the issue after the completion of development in the area. The Police Department recommends Option # 1. IMPLEMENTA nON SCHEDULE: pending Commission action. ATTACHMENTS: Letter to City Manager from Roger Owen, dated May 29, 1996 Police Department memo # 36-96 dated May 10, 1996 Police Department memo OP 08-96 dated July 11, 1996 Police Department memo OP 17-96 dated August 28, 1996 Police Department memo 45-96 date August 30, 1996 Letter to Edgemon Ave. North property owners dated March 11, 1997 COMMISSION ACTION: "lrR~i~r Owen Realty, Inc. 100 Stale Road 419, Suite 210 Winter Springs, FL 32708 Phone: (407) 327-6600 (C(Q)fPY May 29, 1996 Ronald McLemore City. Manager of Winter Springs, Florida City Building SR 434/419 Winter Springs, Fl. 32708 Re: Adj~stment of Speed Limit on North Edgemon. Ave. Dear Ron, On behalf of the Owners Association of Winter Springs Industrial Park, S.R. 419, I would like to request the city to change the speed limit on North Edgemon Ave., from 20 mph. to 25 or 30 mph. in the area where no houses or building exhist. This would be from the two, two family apartments to the stop sign at S.R. 419. The Winter Springs Police set up radar cars in this location, as they do in most secondary streets in the city, and ticket anyone over the posted speed limit in this area of trees only for a distance of approximately 1,000 feet. Numeriousemployees, owners and customers of the Industrial Park have been cited for going 30 mph. in this uninhahited area. Thank you for looking into this matter. Call me if you have any questions. . Y=;;)Y truly, .' / L E. OWEN -------- - ..:.._._...._.:..:....._~.'~:_ .1..... :..... .' ._. .:.... ..:1....._._._.. - ........... -. .....h ...- ---. . , . " " I " , TO: Ronald McLemore, CITY MANAGER ~ \E!..::" , . .. FROM: "Charles Sexton, CHIEF OF:FOLICE ". .. . 'DATE: May .10, 1996 'Speed "limit . . : SUBJ: on North Moss :Road~ 36-96 Relatiye to our conversation of the speed limit on North Moss Road. This is to advise that the speed limit on this road is 25 mph .and 'not 20 mph. On the west side of town all speed limits are 20 mph with the exceptions of the Ranchlands, Hayes Road, Moss Road, Sheoah Blvd., and Shepard Road which are 25 mph. Speed limits are set by City Ordinances section 12-52 which states that all speed limits are 20 mph unless otherwise posted. "'"j .... '. ,...... ..' . It is my belief relative to this conversation that the Mayor could be referring to North Edgemon Ave. which is a 20 mph posted speed zone. With regard to what process would be required to change speed limi ts, the city would be required to do a traffic study for average speed, and volume on each road affected. If a higher speed limi tis justified a resolution by city Commission would be required. Charles Sexton Chief of Police ~~~. . o ".. -, To: Robert A. Pieper, Acting Chief of Police From: Capt. Glenn Tolleson Date: July 11, 1996 Subj: F.S.S. 316.189 establishment of speed zones. OP 08-96 I spoke with Ms. Danpelt of Seminole County Traffic Engineering in reference to the new amendments to F.S.S. 316.189. They are using a formula that equates to 85 percentile of average traffic speed .for resitlential roads to get a definition of REASONABLE for the amount of traffic as described in SB 892. The county at present time only has five (5) counters that will equate the .information needed, and all were presently being used. I requested that North Edgemon be counted to give us a speed limit to use for the investigation required under the statute. Ms. Danpelt assured me that it would be done within six (6) weeks as a maximum. I will request that South Edgemon be done as. well after North Edgemon has been completed. I will stay in contact with Ms. Danpelt, and keep you abreast of any changes or updates as they become avail~ble. Q t: Glenn Tolles~ Bureau Commander Enforcement Ops. ., ." 'II To: Robert A. Pieper, Acting Chief of Police From: Capt. Glenn Tolleson, Bureau Commander Date: August 28, 1996 Subj: Florida state statute 316.189 Changed by SB 892 Effective October 1, 1996. OP 17-96 On July 9, 1996 I spoke with Ms. Denise Danpelt of Seminole County Traffic Engineering in reference. to SB 892, and its effect on F.S.S. 316. 189. in SB 892 municipalities may set a maximum speed ,limi t of' 20 :m.ph or 25 mph on local streets only after an investigation determines that such a limit is REASONABLE. Ms. Danpelt said that Traffic Engineering, Florida Department of Transportation has set that 85% of average speed for a forty-eight (48) period is REASONABLE, and satisfy the requirements under SB 892. I requested a survey be completed on North Edgemon from SR 419 to SR 434, provide us with the 85% average speed, and complete as soon as available. The survey was started on August 20, 1996 and concluded on August 22, 1996. The survey counted that 9,052 vehicles traveled North Edgemon betw~en these dates, revealed that the average speed was 24.8, and the 85% REASONABLE SPEED IS 30.6 mph. I feel that with the average speed of' 24.8, that we should recommend to the city Commission to raise the speed limit on North Edgemon from 20 to 25 mph. I have attached SB 892, and the Seminole County Traffic Engineering Survey for your review. Ccf2~'\# - .Capt. Glenn Tolleson Bureau Commander Enforcement Ops. -- copy: SB 892 Traffic Survey >I t ~ . \ - . fR\ ~. /7-~rrw 11.'; ;",,( "!!-f ., J I..... I!" .\.', ..,: ,- I \ 'IE"'IQ)' .'. .. . .._-~~....... f' I ..t\\.~...~ ~ -. TO: RON MCLEMORE, CITY MANAGER --!r7 FROM: ROBERT A. PIEPER, ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE 1\ L--- CITY OF vVINTER SPRINGS 45 - 96 City Manager SEP 0 3 1996 SUBJ: SPEED LIMIT 1 NORTH EDGEMON AVE. RE: REQUEST BY ROGER E. OWEN DATED MAY 29, 1996 DATE: AUGUST 30,1996 This memo is in regards to Mr. Owen's request to raise the speed limit on North Edgemon Ave. Traffic studies have been conducted in conformity with SB 892 (effective 10101196) and have detennined that the "reasonable" speed on this roadway, as defined by Seminole County Traffic Engineering, is 30.6 MPH, based on the 85th percentile of the study. The average speed of vehicles during this study was 24.8 mph. Mr. Owen's request is based upon what he refers to as the "uninhabited area" of North Edgemon Ave. However, construction of an intersecting connecting street (Shepard Rd.) is anticipated in the near funire, and I would be reluctant to raise the speed limits only to lower them in the near future when this occurs. If raising the speed limit is desired by the City Commission, and since Mr. Owen's request deals with the portion of North Edgemon Ave. north of the Senior Center/Sunshine Park and VFW Post 5404, I would recommend that we continue to take the necessary steps to have the City Commission pass a resolution to raise the speed limit in this area to 25 miles per hour. However, I would also recommend that the portion of this road south of Third Street to SR 434 remain posted at 20 :MPH, due to the concentration of residences in the area. Attachments: copy memo OP 17-96 copy memo OP 08-96 copy memo 36-96 copy of letter 1 Roger Owen (),~ ) ( U 6\f rY \ ) CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA 1126 EAST STATE ROAD 434 WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA 32708-2799 Telephone (407) 327-1800 Ronald W. McLemore City Manager March 17, 1997 Dear Edgemon Avenue North resident/property owner, The purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention a matter of concern to you as an owner or resident of property along Edgemon Avenue North in the City of Winter Springs. A request has been made by business operators on State Road 419 to raise the speed limit on a section of Edgemon Avenue between SR 419 and SR 434. The speed limit on Edgemon Avenue is currently posted at 20 MPH. The request which will be presented to the Commission will ask that the posted limit in the area p.orth of the Veterans of Foreign War Post be raised to 25 or 30 MPH. As citizens of Winter Springs, and particularly as property owners in the affected area, you are invited to attend this meeting and express your support or opposition to this request. The request will be presented at the regularly scheduled City Commission Meeting on Monday April 14, 1997 at 6:00 PM. Meetings are held in the Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1126 East S.R. 434, Winter Springs. Thank you for your interest in this matter. Sincerely, /f~~7'1Y/ Ronald W. McLemore, City Manager R WM/rap