Agenda 05/13/2008 Item #16B 6
Agenda Item No. 16B6
May 13, 2008
Page 1 of 8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to adopt a Resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of ColIier
County authorizing a speed limit increase from forty-five miles per hour (45 mph) to fifty
miles per hour (50 mph) on Immokalee Road for the eastbound section from ColIier
Boulevard to one-half mile west of Wilson Boulevard and for the westbound section from
Wilson Boulevard to one-half mile east of ColIier Boulevard.
OBJECTIVE: To obtain approval from the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) to increase
the speed limit on a recently six-Ianed portion of lmmokalee Road.
CONSIDERATIONS: The Collier County Transportation Services Division has recently
completed the multi-Ianing of lmmokalee Road between Collier Boulevard and Wilson
Boulevard. The project, as directed by BCC Resolution 2000-77, was designed and built as an
urban cross-section with curb and gutter, which by standards limits the posted speed limit to 45
mph. Upon opening of the six-lane section between Collier Boulevard and Wilson Boulevard to
traffic a speed study was performed, which indicated that the roadway segment's posted 45 mph
speed limit should be increased. Recommendation of the speed study was to increase the speed
limit to 50 mph on lmmokalee Road for the eastbound section from Collier Boulevard to one-
half mile west of Wilson Boulevard and for the westbound section from Wilson Boulevard to
one-half mile east of Collier Boulevard. As the roadway's Design Speed for features other than
the curbing match a 50 mph Design Speed for this segment, a Design Variance for exceeding the
45 mph limit imposed by standards for curbing was recommended by the Directors of the
Transportation Engineering and Construction Management Department and the Traffic
Operations Department.
Upon completing an engineering and traffic investigation, Florida Statutes Section 3 I 6.189
provides that the Board of County Commissioners may set speed zones after the investigation
determines such a change is reasonable and in conformity to criteria promulgated by the Florida
Department of Transportation. The completed engineering and traffic investigation found that an
increased speed limit of 50 mph on the designated section of lmmokalee Road for the eastbound
section from Collier Boulevard to one-half mile west of Wilson Boulevard and for the westbound
section from Wilson Boulevard to one-half mile east of Collier Boulevard is warranted; and that
the change is reasonable and in conformity with the defined criteria.
FISCAL IMPACT: The estimated cost of installing the necessary speed limit signs IS
approximately $800,00 and is budgeted with the Traffic Operations budget Fund 101.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This Resolution is consistent with the County's
Growth Management Plan.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida
approve the Resolution to grant a Design Variance to allow the speed limit to be raised above 45
mph and increase the speed limit to 50 mph on lmmokalee Road for the eastbound section from
Collier Boulevard to one-half mile west of Wilson Boulevard and for the westbound section from
Agenda Item No. 16B6
May 13, 2008
Page 2 of 8
Wilson Boulevard to one-half mile east of Collier Boulevard, authorize the Chairman to execute
the Resolution, and authorize staff to erect the appropriate traffic control signs.
Prepared By: Robert W. Tipton, PE, PTOE - Director, Traffic Operations Department
Attachments: (I) Resolution; (2) Speed Zone Study; (3) Design Variance Recommendation
Page lof2
Agenda Item No. 16B6
May 13, 2008
Page 3 of 8
COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Item Number:
Item Summary:
1686
Recommendation to adopt a Resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Collier
County authorizing a speed limit increase from forty-five miles per hour (45 mph) to fifty miles
per hour (50 mph) on Jmmokalee Road for the eastbound section from Collier Boulevard to
one-half mile west of Wilson Boulevard and for the westbound section from Wilson Boulevard
to one-half mile east of Collier Boulevard.
Meeting Date:
5/13/2008 900:00 AM
Approved By
Robert W. Tipton, P .E.
Traffic Operations Director
Date
Transportation Services
Traffic Operations
4/29/2008 2:14 PM
Approved By
Barbara LaPierre
ManagemenUBudget Analyst
Date
Transportation Services
Traffic Operations
4/29/20084:19 PM
Approved By
Scott R. Teach
Assistant County Attorney
Date
County Attorney
County Attorney Office
4/30/200810:28 AM
Approved By
Lisa Taylor
ManagemenUBudget Analyst
Date
Transportation Services
Transportation Administration
4/30/200811 :30 AM
Approved By
Najeh Ahmad
Director
Date
Transportation Services
Transportation Engineering &
Construction Management
5/1/20088:23 AM
Approved By
Norm E. Feder, AICP
Transportation Division Administrator
Date
Transportation Services
Transportation Services Admin.
5/1/2008 1 :22 PM
Approved By
Pat Lehnhard
Executive Secretary
Date
Transportation Services
Transportation Services Admin
5/1/20082:34 PM
Approved By
OMB Coordinator
OMS Coordinator
Date
County Manager's Office
Office of Management & Budget
5/1/20083:01 PM
Approved By
Mark Isackson
Budget Analyst
Date
file:/IC:\Agenda T est\Export\1 07 -May%20 13,%202008\ 16. %20CON SENT%20AGENDA \ I 6... 5/7/2008
Page 2of2
Agenda Item No. 16B6
May 13, 2008
Page 4 of 8
County Manager's Office
Office of Management & Budget
5/112008 6:04 PM
Approved By
James V. Mudd
Board of County
Commissioners
County Manager
Date
County Manager's Office
5/1/20086:54 PM
file:l/C:\AgendaTest\ExDort\ 1 07-Mav%20 13.%202008\ 16.%20CONSENT%20AGPNDA \ lli.. 5/7/200R
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-
Agenda Item No. 16B6
May 13, 2008
Page 5 of 8
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER
COUNTY, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING A SPEED LIMIT INCREASE FROM FORTY-
FIVE MILES PER HOUR (45 MPH) TO FIFTY MILES PER HOUR (50 MPH) ON
IMMOKALEE ROAD FOR THE EASTBOUND SECTION FROM COLLIER
BOULEVARD TO ONE-HALF MILE WEST OF WILSON BOULEVARD AND THE
WESTBOUND SECTION FROM WILSON BOULEVARD TO ONE-HALF MILE EAST
OF COLLIER BOULEVARD.
WHEREAS, Chapter 316. Florida Statutes, permits the Board of County
Commissioners (BCC) to alter established speed limits on roads under its jurisdiction;
and
WHEREAS, Immokalee Road falls under the jurisdiction of the BCC; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 316, Florida Statutes, the BCC may alter
such existing speed limits as may be appropriate upon the basis of an engineering and
traffic investigation; and
WHEREAS, the subject section of Immokalee Road was designed with a Design
Speed of 50 mph other than the roadway curbing, which wouid ordinarily limit the speed
limit to forty-five (45) miles per hour, and
WHEREAS, the County's Director of Transportation Engineering and
Construction Management and the Director of Traffic Operations have both approved a
recommendation to grant a Design Variance to increase the posted speed to greater
than forty-five (45) miles per hour based upon the Roadway Design Speed; and
WHEREAS, the results of such engineering and traffic investigations determined
that the increased speed limit is reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist
and it conforms to criteria promulgated by the Florida Department of Transportation and
Collier County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
1. The BCC does hereby grant the requested Design Variance and establish a 50
miles per hour (50 mph) speed limit on Immokalee Road for the eastbound section from
Collier Boulevard to one-half mile west of Wilson Boulevard and the westbound section
from Wilson Boulevard to one-half miie east of Collier Boulevard and does hereby direct
the County Traffic Operations Department to erect appropriate speed limit signs giving
notice thereof.
2. A copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Collier County Sheriffs Office for
proper enforcement of the established speed limits for Immokalee Road within the
designated segments.
3. The effective date of the speed limit increase shall be after written notification to
the Sheriffs Office and upon posting of the appropriate signage.
This resolution adopted after motion, second, and majority vote favoring same
this 13th day of May, 2008.
Agenda Item No. 16B6
May 13, 2008
Page 6 of 8
ATTEST:
DWIGHT E. BROCK, Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
By:
Deputy Clerk
By:
Tom Henning, Chairman
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency
By:
Scott R. Teach,
Deputy County Attorney
2
Speed Zone Study
Agenda Item No. 16B6
May 13, 2008
Page 7 of 8
Immokalee Road
From Collier Boulevard to 43rd Avenue NE
Roadwav characteristics: The study section is a newly constructed urban cross-section
divided roadway of six lanes from Collier Blvd to Oil Well Road and 4 lanes from Oil
Well Road to 43cd Ave NE. Other than curb and gutter and traffic signal support poles
the Dcsign Speed for the project was 50 mph.
The westcrn segment from Collier Blvd to Wilson Blvd is a straight five-mile segment,
currently rural in nature, with no traffic signals, few side roads, and little side street
traffic.
The three mile eastern segment from Wilson Blvd to Oil Well Road is six-lane, dropping
to four-lane to 43'd Ave NE, suburban in nature, with three traffic signals, two emergency
signals for fire/EMS stations, two entrances to major developments, and the entrance to
the Collier County Fairgrounds. Additionally, the presence of three schools on Oil Well
Road just a mile off of Immokalee Road creates additional traffic congcstion during
an'ival and dismissal hours on the eastern segment.
Since the two segments vary so greatly they were divided into two study areas.
Traffic volumes: First Quarter 2008 ADT traffic COWlts for the western segment were
24,327 and on the eastern segment were 29,886.
Measured speeds: Both segments are posted at 45 mph. Traffic speeds measured by
radar for the two se~,'ments are as follows:
Segment
85% Speed Average Speed
10 mph Pace
Western
55 mph 51.5 mph
45 - 55 mph
Eastcrn
51 mph 47 mph
43 - 53 mph
Recommendation: Measured speeds for the segments would indicate that the speed
limits should be increased by 10 mph in the western segment and 5 mph in the eastern.
However, these increases would violate the Design Speed for the roadway and the fact
that the roadway was designed and constructcd with Type F curb and gutter, which
restricts the speed limit to 45 mph by standards. In consideration that the Design Speed
for the project is 50 mph and within the western segmcnt there are no obstacles within
what would be the clear recovery zone, it is recommended that a Desit,'Il Variance be
attained for increasing the speed limit above the 45 mph dictated by curbing standards
and set the speed limit at 50 mph to match the Design Speed. For the eastern segment, in
consideration of the traffic patterns, side friction, and the occurrence of non- frangible
traffic signal supports within the clear recovery zone, it is rccommended that the speed
limit remain at 45 I h. /:
/'
Approved l- --V -:1
oberl W. Tipton. P. ., PTOE
Traffic Operations Director
Collier County Transportation Services Division
Roadway Design Variance
Agenda Item No. 16B6
May 13, 2008
Page 8 of 8
Roadway: Immokalee Road - County Project 60018
Segment: West of Wilson Blvd to east of Collier Blvd
Subject Fcature: Curb and guttcr
Rcquestcd Variance: To incrcase the posted speed to grcater than 45 mph
Reason for variance request: This roadway scgment was designcd as an urban cross-
section with curb and gutter, as pcr direction from Collicr County BCC Resolution 2000-
77. By normal standards as set forth in the Manual of Unifonn Minimum Standards for
Design, Construction and Maintenance for Streets and Highways (Florida Grecn Book)
the use of curbing requires that the posted spced limit be no more than 45 mph.
However. all other features on the roadway comply with a Design Speed of 50 mph.
A speed study was conducted for this roadway segment after all lanes were opened for
motorists' use and the 85% speed was found to be 55 mph with a 10 mph pace of 45 to 55
mph. The Speed Limit should nomla1ly be set within 3 mph of the 85% specd and the top
of the 10 mph pace. This would be bctwccn 52 mph (which would be posted as 50 mph)
and 58 mph (which would be posted as 60 mph). As the Dcsign Specd of the segment is
50 mph, and the Posted Speed cannot exceed the Dcsign Speed, the correct Speed Limit
for the segment would bc 50 mph, requiring a variance from thc normal limit of 45 mph
due to the use of curbing.
Ad\'crsc effect of \ ariance if annrovcd: The variance of a higher speed limit would limit
or negate the safcty factor affordcd by thc provision of the curbing, which is designed to
rcdirect errant vehiclcs that might otherwise leavc the roadway. The degree of safcty
actually lost is hard to quantify, as FOOT now considers Type F curbing as mountable, so
little effect will be created. Howcvcr, it does create a situation in which a normal 50 mph
clcar zonc must bc maintained in the mcdian and along the roadside. Preservation of the
clcar zonc will prohibit thc installation of any roadside obstacles and non-frangible poles,
as well as limit the size and types of plants and trccs that can be utilized for landscaping
in the mcdian and along the roadside.
Benefits of variancc if approved: The scgment's speed limit being raised to 50 mph will
allow for the majority of traffic to travel at speeds of closer proximity to the 85% spced,
thereby deducing the amount of weaving, passing, and overtaking. Keeping motorists
traveling in the same direction at approximately the same speed is a well known method
of providing vehicular safety and the basis for the use of divided multi-lane roadways.
Recommended action on the requested variance:
N Approve () Disapprove
Date 4/,2,>;' / ;;;C)(;g~
I~
/' -~
v-"'"',~ ."'' /
J ,A lad, I;. :. . --
ifSirector, Transportation Engineering
And Constmction Management
\
Y( Approve () Disapprove
Date 4- z ;g -- 06
L::( -V~
Robert W. Tipton, r.E.
Director, Traffic Operations