Exh 3AAGENDA ITEM #3A
MAY 14, 2001
Memorandum
To: Jim Hanson, City Manager
CC:
O -t
From: David E. Thompso~ hief of Police/DPS
Date: 04/30/01
Re: Speed Bump Request on Magnolia Street..
I have reviewed the petition from the residents on Magnolia Street, and
the Police Department does not support the installation of speed bumps
at that location.
. 1; Data.
The Department placed a traffic counter on that section of roadway
recently, and neither the volume of traffic nor the speeds appear to
substantiate that there is a traffic danger or problem. During the period
from 3/27/01 to 4/2/01 (approximately 6 days), the total number of cars
was 1612, or 269 cars per day. The average speed was 15 MPH, with
only 31 cars between 26-30 MPH, and no vehicles above 30 MPH
(keeping in mind the limitations of the equipment).
There is no evidence of any special traffic hazard on Magnolia Street
relative to the collection of traffic data, including traffic crash data.
2. Nature of the Street
The Magnolia Street area was developed without sidewalks.
Consequently, pedestrians and bicyclists do not have anywhere to go
except for the roadway. Any time pedestrians and bicycles share the
roadway with cars, it creates a higher potential for accidents. This is a
common problem in numerous areas of the city. However,. it would not
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AGENDA ITEM #3A
MAY 14, 2001
Apri130, 2001
be advisable to add speed bumps to every street that does. not have
sidewalks.
3. General Use of Speed Bumps
In general, speed bumps create more problems than they solve. They
are a daily aggravation to some people who must drive across them, and
they are not effective at preventing speeding.
When speed bumps 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.
Motorists who oppose the speed bumps have been known to blow their
horns or find other ways to show their objections to the speed bumps.
Once speed bumps are installed, some citizens will call and ask that the
speed bumps be enlarged, while others will call to recommend that. the
speed bumps should be smaller,
Even if speed bumps are installed, it will not make the streets a safe
place for children to play.
4. Petitions
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. We know that people who oppose having speed bumps will still
sign a petition to avoid conflicts with neighbors. We have had
experience with citizens who signed petitions advocating speed bumps,
and they later called and complained about the speed bumps.
Petitions show the names of advocates the speed bumps, but they do not
represent the rest of the people who maybe affected by the speed
bumps. They do not take into account the people who bicycle, walk,
stroll, skate, or otherwise pass through the neighborhood. They also do
not identify the neighbors who decline to sign the petition.
AGENDA ITEM #3A
MAY 14, 2001
Apri/30, 2001
5. Impact on other Roadways
When speed bumps are installed at one location, they have a significant
impact on the roadways nearby. When speed bumps are 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.
6. Historical Information
The only existing Atlantic Beach speed bumps that the Police
Department has recommended are the strips at Royal Palms and Plaza
Road. This was a location that had numerous traffic crashes, and none
of the other traffic control mechanisms were effective.
When faced with a request for speed bumps, the Police Department
conducts a traffic study to determine the volume of traffic and the
frequency of speeding. If there is an excessive frequency of speeding,
then enforcement activities are initiated to reduce it.
If traffic crash data suggests that there is a problem at the location, then
the Police Department utilizes resources to seek solutions to design
flaws.
In some cases, the City Commission has directed the City to install
speed bumps in the past, even when the Police Department did not
recommend them.
Summary:
The Police Department does not recommend the installation of speed
bumps on Magnolia Street.
~~~~~
Attention City Manager Atlagtic Beach Florida AGENDA ITEM #3A
MAY 14, 2001
We the undersigned residents of the 100 block of Magnolia street Atlantic beach do hereby make this
formal request for consideration of speed control bumps to be installed as soon as possible to assure the safety of
our residents and their children. The speeding problem has recently taken a noticeable increase as has the amount
of traE&c in this block.Unfortunately for its residents, the block offers a bypass for motorists attempting to avoid the
congestion of the Seminole road and Atlantic blvd. exchange. Motorists are racing through magnolia street at
alarming speeds with no consideration to the attempts made by residents asking them to please slow down.We
have no less than ~ children under 6 years old who currently reside in the 100 block of magnolia street. We would
)ike to request the city of Atlantic Beach install no less than 3 speed bumps in this block .Due to the length of the
100 block we feel that any le8s than 3 will create an even more dangerous situation where motorists slow down and
then race to the t~xt bump .Thank you for your consideration to this safety matter. We the residents of Magnolia
sweet await your resp~e with anticipation . Please respond to R..L. Ewart ; 160 Magnolia Street ;Atlantic
Beach F1a.32233
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Attention City Manager Atlantic Seach Florida
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AGENDA ITEM #3A
MAY 14, 2001
We the undersigned residents of the I OO block of lvlagnolia street Atlantic beach do hereby make this
formal request for consideration of speed control bumps to be installed as soon as possible to assure the safety of
our residents and their children. The speeding problem bac recently taken a noticeable increase as has the aznounf
of traffic in this block.Unfortunately for its residents, the block offers a bypass for motorists attempting to avoid the
congestion of the Seminole road and Atlantic blvd. exchange. Motorists aze racing through magnolia street at
alarming speeds with no consideration to the attempts made by residents asking them to please stow down.We
have noless than ~ children under 6 years old who currently reside in the 100 block of magnolia street. We would
like to request the city ofAtlantic.Beach install noless than 3 speed bumps in this block .Due to the length of the
100 block we feel that any less than 3 will create an even more dangerous situation where motorists slow down and
then race to the next bump .Thank you for your consideration to this safety matter. We the residents of Magnolia
street await your response with anticipation . Please respond to R..L. Ewan ; 160 Magnolia Street ;Atlantic
Beach Fla. 32233
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