PLACEMENT: Consent
TITLE:
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ADOPT RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON NW GREEN RIVER PARKWAY, SE WILLOUGHBY BOULEVARD, AND CR-A1A (SE DIXIE HIGHWAY)
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
The Board is asked to consider adopting resolutions to authorize the installation of an emergency traffic signal on NW Green River Parkway at the entrance to the City of Stuart’s new Fire Station #3, a traffic signal on SE Willoughby Boulevard at the entrance to Martin County High School, and a traffic signal on CR-A1A (SE Dixie Highway) at SE Cross Rip Street.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PREPARED BY: Name: Lisa A. Wichser, PE., CFM
Title: Chief Project Engineer
REQUESTED BY: Michael J. Grzelka, P.E., County Engineer
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
1) The City of Stuart constructed a new Fire Station #3 on NW Green River Parkway south of CR-732 (NW/NE Jensen Beach Boulevard). NW Green River Parkway is a County roadway with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. As a condition of the Right-of-way Use Permit for the driveway connection to NW Green River Parkway, the County Engineer required an emergency-vehicle traffic control signal (emergency traffic signal) at the entrance. An emergency traffic signal is defined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) as, “a special traffic control signal that directs all conflicting traffic to stop in order to permit the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle to proceed into the roadway or intersection.”
2) The City of Stuart recently approved a Major Development Site Plan consisting of 135 single-story flex warehouse units, with a total of 23,522 square feet of office and 211,683 square feet of warehouse space for the project known as Baron Business Park, which is located at 2601 SE Willoughby Boulevard. The project’s entrance on SE Willoughby Boulevard is aligned with the entrance to the Martin County High School. As a condition of the approval, the applicant is required to construct left and right turn lanes and a traffic signal at the entrance on SE Willoughby Boulevard. As a condition of the Right-of-way Use Permit for the traffic signal and turn lanes, the County Engineer is requiring the removal of the existing school zone on SE Willoughby Boulevard. The County Engineer’s longstanding policy is to deploy school zone speed limits only at non-signalized, midblock crosswalks where a crossing guard must enter into oncoming traffic to assist students across the roadway. The rationale for this policy includes:
• Lack of benefit at signalized intersections: At a traffic signal-controlled crossing, motorists are required to come to a full stop on red indication before the crossing guard will allow students, pedestrians, and cyclists to cross the road. A reduced school speed limit does not provide additional operational or safety benefits at the controlled crossing.
• Driver-focus and sign clutter: The addition of school zone speed reduction signage and flashing beacons at a signalized intersection may contribute to sign clutter and potentially reduce driver focus on the primary traffic control device, the traffic signal.
• Cost considerations: Implementation of a school zone speed reduction requires installation of flashing beacons and associated electrical or solar infrastructure. There are ongoing costs for maintenance, repair, and timing adjustments consistent with school schedules.
In addition, Chapter 15 (Establishing School Zones and School Crossings) of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Speed Zoning for Highways, Roads, and Streets in Florida reserves school zones for elementary and middle schools and encourages school zones at high schools be addressed on a case-by-case basis and justified by an engineering study.
3) The staff recently installed northbound and southbound left turn lanes on CR-AA (SE Dixie Highway) at SE Cross Rip Street and staff has analyzed the traffic conditions, pedestrian characteristics, and physical characteristics at this intersection to determine whether installation of a traffic control signal is justified. The analysis revealed that four of the nine warrants identified in the MUTCD are satisfied and therefore the traffic signal is necessary
For the record, the Board is asked to adopt resolutions authorizing the installation of the emergency traffic signal on NW Green River Parkway at the entrance to the City of Stuart’s new Fire Station #3, the traffic signal on SE Willoughby Boulevard at the entrance to Martin County High School, and the traffic signal on CR-A1A (SE Dixie Highway) at SE Cross Rip Street.
ISSUES:
This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law, has identified and addressed legal risks, and has developed strategies for legal defensibility.
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
None
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
Move that the Board adopt resolutions to authorize the installation of an emergency traffic signal on NW Green River Parkway at the entrance to the City’s Fire Station #3, the traffic signal on SE Willoughby Boulevard at the entrance to Martin County High School, and the traffic signal on CR-A1A (SE Dixie Highway) at SE Cross Rip Street.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Pull this item from the Consent Agenda and provide staff direction.
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
Procurement and installation of the traffic signal on CR-A1A (SE Dixie Highway) at its intersection with SE Cross Rip Street is anticipated to be $1,000,000 and will be funded with the gas taxes and road municipal service taxing units (MSTUs) from on-going intersection improvement and rail safety funds.
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Funding Source |
County Funds |
Non-County Funds |
|
Gas Tax from Intersection Improvements (3302-1323-XXXX-1016) |
$700,000 |
|
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Road MSTU from Rail Safety Improvements (3102-1323-XXXX-101901) |
$300,000 |
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|
|
|
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Project Total |
$1.000.000 |
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☐ Chair Letter ☐Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☒Resolution
☐Other:3 Resolutions total