Agenda 06/12/2012 Item #16A276/1212012 Item
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to adopt a Resolution authorizing a speed limit increase from forty -five miles per
hour (45 mph) to fifty miles per hour (50 mph) on Oil Well Road from one -half mile west of Oil
Well Grade Road to one -half mile east of Ave Maria Boulevard, County Project No. 60044, approve
reducing the roadway from six -lane striped section to a four -lane striped section.
OBJECTIVE: To obtain approval from the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) to set the speed limit on
a recently to be completed parrtion of Oil Well Road.
CONSIDERATIONS: The Collier County Growth Management Division will soon be completing the multi -
laning of Oil Well Road between Oil Well Grade Road and Ave Maria Boulevard. The project, as per
County Project No. 60044 was designed and built as an urban cross - section with curb and gutter, which
by standards limits the posted speed limit to 45 mph. The roadway is located within the rural area of
the county and it is anticipated that the operating speed will be in excess of 45 mph. Safe vehicle
operation on roadways is a factor of alignment, travel way width, clear recovery zone, and use of curb
and gutter. An evaluation was completed on the roadway to determine if factors affecting the safe
operational speed can be modified so that the posted speed limit can be raised. The engineering and
traffic investigation found that the speed limit could be increased to 50 mph if the pavement markings
are installed to reduce the roadway from a six -lane striped section to a four -lane striped section. When
traffic volumes increase to require 6 lanes, the striping can be modified from 4 lanes back to 6 lanes.
Upon completing an engineering and traffic investigation, Florida Statutes Section 316.189 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 (FDOT). The completed engineering and traffic investigation found that an increased
speed limit of 50 mph on the designated modified four -lane section of Oil Well Road from one -half mile
west of Oil Well Grade Road to one -half mile east of Ave Maria Boulevard is warranted; and that the
change is reasonable and in general conformity with the defined criteria.
FISCAL IMPACT: None. The necessary speed limit signs and the pavement markings are part of the
project construction cost.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This Resolution is consistent with the County's Growth
Management Plan.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney's Office,
is legally sufficient for Board action and only requires a majority vote for approval —SRT.
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 established at 50 mph on Oil Well
Road from one -half mile west of Oil Well Grade Road to one -half mile east of Ave Maria Boulevard,
approve reducing the roadway from six -lane striped section to four -lane striped section, authorize the
Chairman to execute the Resolution, and authorize staff to erect the appropriate traffic control signs.
Prepared by: Anthony Khawaja, PE – Traffic Operations, Growth Management Division
Attachments: (1) Resolution, (2) Design Variance Recommendation
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6/12/2012 Item 16.k..2_ .
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.A.27.
Item Summary: Recommendation to adopt a Resolution authorizing a speed limit
increase from forty -five miles per hour (45 mph) to fifty miles per hour (50 mph) on Oil Well
Road from one -half mile west of Oil Well Grade Road to one -half mile east of Ave Maria
Boulevard, County Project No. 60044, approve reducing the roadway from six -lane striped
section to a four -lane striped section.
Meeting Date: 6/12/2012
Prepared By
Name: BetancurNatali
Title: Executive Secretary,Transportation Engineering & C
6/4/2012 4:01:19 PM
Submitted by
Title: Project Manager, Principal,Transportation Engineering & Construction Management
Name: CalvertEugene
6/4/2012 4:01:21 PM
Approved By
Name: ShueGene
Date: 6/4/2012 4:24:44 PM
Name: AhmadJay
Title: Director - Transportation Engineering,Transportation Engineering & Construction Management
Date: 6/5/2012 7:33:02 AM
Name: BetancurNatali
Title: Executive Secretary,Transportation Engineering & C
Date: 6/5/2012 8:22:33 AM
Name: TaylorLisa
Title: Management /Budget Analyst,Transportation Administr
Date: 6/5/2012 9:13:17 AM
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6/12/2012 Item 16.,-
Name: BetancurNatali
Title: Executive Secretary,Transportation Engineering & C
Date: 6/5/2012 9:55:05 AM
Name: KhawajaAnthony
Title: Engineer - Traffic Operations,Transportation Engineering & Construction Management
Date: 6/5/2012 10:01:38 AM
Name: MarcellaJeanne
Title: Executive Secretary,Transportation Planning
Date: 6/5/2012 10:30:53 AM
Name: TeachScott
Title: Deputy County Attomey,County Attorney
Date: 6/6/2012 8:29:28 AM
Name: KlatzkowJeff
Title: County Attorney
Date: 6/6/2012 9:10:42 AM
Name: FinnEd
Title: Senior Budget Analyst, OMB
Date: 6/6/2012 9:56:27 AM
Name: OchsLeo
Title: County Manager
Date: 6/6/2012 11:25:24 AM
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6!12/2012 Item 1E..4,.'_'_7
Engineering and Traffic Investigation
Oil Well Road (CR 858)
From Oil Well Grade Road to Ave Maria Boulevard
Roadway characteristics: The study section is a newly constructed urban cross - section divided
roadway of six lanes from one -half mile west of Oil Well Grade Road to one -half mile east of
Ave Maria Boulevard. Other than curb and gutter and clear recovery zone on the south side of
the roadway, the design speed for the roadway was 50 mph.
The segment is a straight 4.1 miles segment currently rural in nature, with no traffic signals and
few intersecting roadways. Oil Well Road (Cr 858) is an east -west corridor connecting
Immokalee Road (CR 846) on the west to SR -29 on the east. On the eastern end of this study
segment, access is provided to the community of Ave Maria at Ave Maria Boulevard. Oil Well
Road reduces to a two lane roadway at the west end of this segment.
Traffic volumes: The average 2011 ADT traffic counts for Oil Well Road, east of Everglades
Boulevard was 2,141 vehicles per day. The roadway was designed for a 2028 traffic volume of
65,000 ADT. Current traffic volumes do not warrant a six -lane roadway.
Design considerations -" This 4.1 mile roadway traverses through critical wet lands and wildlife
habitat. The design of the six -lane roadway typically includes six 12 -foot wide lanes, a 4 -foot
wide bike lane on both sides of the roadway, a 12 -foot wide pathway on the north side and a 30-
foot wide median. To minimize the required right -of -way and to facilitate drainage, Type F curb
and gutter was used. To adequately elevate the roadway, relatively steep embankments were
also utilized. The steep embankment along the south side of the six -lane roadway minimizes the
clear. recovery zone to a maximum of 12 feet.
Due to the use of curb and gutter, and the minimal clear recovery zone on the south side of the
roadway, the design speed for the improvements is 45 mph. All other design criteria including
alignment, sight distance, turn lane length and other criteria meet the requirements for a 50 mph
design speed
Recommendation: The prevailing vehicular speed on this 6 -lane roadway is anticipated to be in
excess 50 mph due to the straight alignment and minimal traffic volumes. However, to post the
speed limit higher than 45 mph would violate the current design speed for .the roadway. An
alternative to meet the clear recovery zone standards for a 50 mph roadway is to stripe out the
outside lane to provide an adequate clear recovery zone. The six -lane cross section could be
preserved but the use of the outside lane restricted as a shoulder until such time as traffic
volumes warrant a six -lane section. When the six -lane is warranted, the outside lane could be
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6/12/2012 Item
restriped as a travel lane. At that point in time, the speed limit would then have to be reduced to
45 mph due to the restricted clear recovery zone.
In consideration that if the outside lane is stripped out and used as a shoulder, then there would
be no obstacles within what would be the clear recovery zone, it is recommended that a Design
Variance be attained for increasing the speed limit above the 45 mph dictated by curbing
standards and set the speed limit at 50 mph.
Approved
Anthony Khaw�a, P.E.
Collier County Traffic 1
Date: 7 _r
4
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6/12/2012 Item 1 S.4,..27.
Collier County Growth Management Division
Roadway Design Variance
Roadway: Oil Well Road — County Project 60044
Segment: Oil Well Grade Road to Ave Maria Boulevard
Subject Feature: Curb and gutter
Requested Variance: To increase the posted speed to greater than 45 mph
Reason for variance request: This roadway segment was designed as an urban cross - section with
curb and gutter, as per County Project No. 60044. By normal standards as set forth in the
Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for Streets
and Highways (Florida Green Book) the use of curbing requires that the posted speed limit be no
more than 45 mph. However, by reducing the six -lane design section to a four -lane section, all
other features on the roadway comply with a Design Speed of 50 mph.
Roadway design criteria: Segment 4 of Oil Well Road from one -half mile west of Oil Well
Grade Road to one -half mile east of Ave Maria Boulevard was designed as a six -lane divided
roadway with a 30 -foot wide median and curb and gutter along the outside lane and along the
median. The curb and gutter was .used to minimize the necessary right -of -way width. This 4.1
mile roadwa�;traverses through critical wet lands and wildlife habitat. To further minimize the
required right -of -way, relatively steep embankments were utilized to adequately elevate the
roadway. The steep embankment along the south side of the six -lane roadway minimizes the
clear recovery zone to a maximum of 12 feet. By striping out the outside lane with pavement
markings, thereby converting the outside lane to a shoulder, the six -lane roadway will be reduced
to a four -lane roadway and it will increase the clear recovery zone to meet the requirements for
50 mph design speed. All other elements of the roadway (e.g. alignment, sight distance, turn
lane length, etc.) meet the requirements fora 50 mph design speed. A variance is required from
the normal limit of 45 mph due to the use of curbing,.
Adverse effect of variance if approved: The variance of a higher speed limit would limit the
safety factor afforded by a lower speed limit and increase the safety risk of an errant vehicle
hitting the curb and possibly losing control of their vehicle. The degree of safety actually lost is
hard to quantify, as FDOT considers Type F curbing as mountable. However, it does create a
situation in which a normal 50 mph clear recovery zone must be maintained in the median and
along the roadside. Preservation of the clear recovery zone will prohibit re- establishment of a
six -lane roadway,` prohibit the installation of any roadside obstacles and non - frangible poles, as
well as limit the size and types of plants and trees that can be utilized for landscaping in the
median and along the roadside.
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6/12/2012 Item 16.4-21-
If the traffic volumes increase to warrant a six -lane roadway, the pavement markings can be
modified and the six lane section can be re- established at minimal cost. However, when the six -
lane section is established, the speed limit will have to be reduced to 45 mph.
Benefits of variance if approved: The segment's speed limit being raised to 50 mph will allow
for the majority of traffic to'travel at speeds of closer proximity to the prevailing traffic speed,
thereby reducing 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:
Approved () Disapproved, ®} Approved () Disapproved
Date- c %"Iz.. ,�,,'., �,,� � f °: _Date
Jay Ahmad, PS Anthony Khawaja, P.E.
Director, Transportation Engineering County Traffic Engineer] "
And Construction Management
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6/1212612 Iten -, 16.A..? I .
RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -
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 OIL
WELL ROAD FROM ONE -HALF MILE WEST OF OIL WELL GRADE ROAD TO ONE -
HALF MILE EAST "OF AVE MARIA 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, Oil Well 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 Oil Well Road meets the criteria for a Design
Speed of 50 mph other than the roadway curbing and clear recovery zone on the south
side of the roadway, which would 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 Collier County Traffic Engineer have both approved
a recommendation to grant a Design Variance to increase the posted speed to greater
than forty -five (45) miles per hour; and
WHEREAS, the results of such engineering and traffic investigations determined
that the increased speed limit is reasonable and safe under the condition that the
outside travel lane be striped out and used as a shoulder and the increase speed limit
conforms to criteria promulgated by the Florida Department of Transportation and
Collier County.
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6/12/2012 Item 1...�
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 Oil Well Road from one -half mile west of Oil Well
Grade Road to one -half mile east of Ave Maria Boulevard and does hereby direct the
Growth Management Division to complete the necessary improvements thereon
including striping out the outside lanes to be used as shoulders and to erect appropriate
speed limit signs giving notice thereof.
2. The Clerk shall forward a copy of this Resolution to the Collier County Sheriff's
Office for proper enforcement of the established speed limits for Oil Well 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 12th day of June, 2012.
ATTEST:
DWIGHT E. BROCK, Clerk
M
Deputy Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA.
By:
Fred W. Coyle, Chairman
Approved as to form and legas`ufficiency
By: sf'
Scott R. Teach,'
Deputy County Attorney
!
2
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