Item 8G v
AGENDA ITEM # 8G
NOVEMBER 13, 2006
STAFF REPORT
City of Atlantic Beach
Commission Meeting
AGENDA ITEM: Selva Linkside Traffic Concerns
DATE: October 27, 2006
SUBMITTED BY: David E. Thompso~hief of PolicelDPS
Rick Carper, Director of Public Works
BACKGROUND:
At the October 22, 2006 City Commission Meeting, Jack Robbins presented the
Commission with a petition with two (2) requests:
1. Add two (2) speed humps on Linkside Drive; and
2. Prohibit all City Public Works vehicles from driving through Linkside Drive.
Addressing Speed Bumps/Humps: General Use of Speed Bumps/Humps
In general, speed bumpslhumps create more problems than they solve. They aze a daily
aggravation to some people who must drive across them, and they aze not effective at
preventing speeding.
When speed bumps/humps are installed, they invariably lead to numerous complaints.
Motorists will try to find the "right speed" to hit them such that it is the least irritating to
„~ the motorists. Motorists will drive off of the edge of the pavement in an attempt to miss
the speed bumps/humps. Motorists who oppose the speed bumps/humps have been
known to blow their horns or fmd other ways to show their objections to the speed
~„ bumps. Motorists will contact the city to file claims for damage to their vehicles. Some
will request that the city pay for front-end alignments every few months.
~„ Once speed bumps/humps are installed, some citizens will call and ask that the speed
bumps/humps be enlarged, while others will call to recommend that the speed
bumps/humps should be smaller. It is also common for people to want the bumps/humps
redesigned to accommodate strollers, bicycles, skateboazds, etc. Typically, citizens will
also ask for more speed bumps to be placed between the existing speed bumps.
Even if speed bumps aze installed, it will not make the streets a safe place for people to
walk or play.
November 13th, 2006 Regular Meeting
~7
Petitions
AGENDA ITEM # 8G
NOVEMBER 13, 2006
~" The use of petitions to make such decisions is questionable at best. The petitions are
obviously initiated by those citizens in support of the speed bumps/humps. We know that
people who oppose having speed bumps/humps will still sign a petition to avoid conflicts
~"' with neighbors. We have had experience with citizens who signed petitions advocating
speed bumps/humps, and they later called and complained about the speed bumps/humps.
Petitions show the names of people who advocate the speed bumps/humps, but they do
not represent the rest of the people who may be affected by the speed bumps humps.
They do not take into account the people who drive, bicycle, walk, stroll, skate, or
~" otherwise pass through the neighborhood. They also do not identify the neighbors who
decline to sign the petition.
Petitions typically include signatures from people who live neaz the location in question.
There may be hundreds or thousands of motorists passing through that roadway each day
or week, and they do not have the ability to be heazd relative to speed bumps.
Impact on other Roadways
When speed bumps aze installed at one location, they have a significant impact on the
roadways neazby. When speed bumps aze installed on one street, people will start using
~„ the peripheral streets. This will essentially increase the amount of traffic on the other
streets. As you might expect, the people on the other streets do not appreciate the traffic,
and invariably, they will want speed bumps, too. In the case of Selva Linkside, traffic is
,~., likely to move to Selva Lakes Drive, and I doubt that the people living in Selva Lakes
will appreciate this.
Restricting City Vehicle Access to Linkside Drive
~, Although the petition addresses-only Public Works vehicles, discussions with the HOA
President indicate the intent is to restrict all city vehicle traffic (except police cars)
leaving the City Yazd and traveling through the neighborhood. This consists of pickup
~. trucks and cars only, construction vehicles /trailers or heavy equipment have already
been directed not to use the neighborhood roads. Staff estimates these city vehicles
generate a maximum of 52 trips per weekday along Sandpiper Lane and Linkside Drive.
This compares to a average of 908 trips per day from all sources as measured by the
Public Safety Department in October. The City vehicle trips primarily occur during the
work /school day (7:30 am to 5:00 pm) when there is less resident vehicle or pedestrian
~. traffic on the roads in question.
,,. November 13th, 2006 Regular Meeting
AGENDA ITEM # 8G
NOVEMBER 13, 2006
BUDGET: Financial impact of requiring city vehicles to avoid the Linkside
neighborhood is detailed in Attachment 2. The total fiscal impact would be on the order
~"' of $30,000 per year. This is over 80% of the cost of adding an additional general
maintenance worker to the Public Works Department
"" RECOMMENDATIONS: With respect to speed bumps /humps, Staff recommends
utilizing other mechanisms to reduce speeding. The police department has dedicated
resources to address speeding and stop sign violations on Linkside Drive, and follow up
~'" studies will provide data to assess the impact. The enforcement activities should reduce
the incidence of speeding without the need for speed bumps/humps.
`°~ With respect to the request to require City vehicles to avoid using the Sandpiper /
Linkside route to Seminole Road, Staff strongly recommends against this potentially
precedent setting direction. These are public streets maintained by city forces -banning
city vehicles gives the implication these are private roads being maintained by the city for
the benefit and use of a select few. Additionally, the productivity impact resulting from
time lost, will negatively impact City Services to the rest of the City.
~.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Selva Linkside Homeowners Association (HOA) Letter Request
2. COAB Vehicle Transits of Linkside Subdivision Estimated Cost
Spreadsheet
~.
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
~,, AGEND ITEM NUMBER:
~.
,,,, November 13th, 2006 Regular Meeting
~.
Selva Linkside HOA Unit 1
Atlantic Beach, Florida
Sefva"Linfcside Unit 1 - HOA
AGENDA ITEM # 8G
NOVEMBER 13, 2006
~. Dear Mayor and Commissioners:
This is a follow up to our request for your help to resolve the traffic and speeding
,,, problem within the Selva Linkside Development.
We would like you to take immediate action on the following:
;~.
• Our petition to add Speed Humps (2 on Linkside Drive -from Sandpiper
to 11 st and 1 on Sandpiper.
~..
• Our request that Public Works stop using. our streets as scut-through. We
want all Public works vechicles to use Sandpiper out to Plaza coming and
,~ going to the Public Works Department.
Again,.the reason for our request:
• Traffic and Speeding has increase overthe last year.
• We want to increase the safety for our HOA members especially our
~" children. We have many more young children within our development.
• 76% of our members are in favor of Speed Humps. Speed Humps will
'~" deter people from using our streets. It will help stop people from speeding.
Please let me know when these actions can be started.
Thank you, Jack Robbins Selva Linkside HOA President
~. .'
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AGENDA ITEM # 8G
NOVEMBER 13, 2006
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