Agenda 03/09/2010 Item #10E
Agenda Item No. 10E
March 9. 2010
Page 1 of 10
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to accept the fmdings of the Safety Evaluation of Proposed Golf Cart
Crossing at the Intersection of Airport-Pulling Road at Estuary Drive / Halstatt Drive and
not authorize golf carts crossing Airport Road.
OBJECTIVE: That the Board of County Commissioners ("Board") accepts the findings of the
report evaluating the safety of golf carts crossing Airport-Pulling Road utilizing the intersection
at Estuary Drive and Halstatt Drive between the communities of Grey Oaks and The Estuary at
Grey Oaks. The report finds that golf carts cannot safely cross Airport-Pulling Road.
CONSIDERATIONS: A public petition was presented by Mr. Sam J. Saad, Jr. during the
Board meeting of February 9, 2010, under Agenda Item 6.B, requesting the Board to approve
golf cart and motorized wheel chair crossing across Airport-Pulling Road at Halstatt between
Grey Oaks and The Estuary at Grey Oaks. Florida Statute S 316.212 prohibits the operation of
golf carts on county roads or streets unless the street has been designated by the county for use
by golf carts. Prior to making such a designation, the county must first determine that golf carts
may safely travel on or cross the street, considering such factors including the speed, volume,
and character of motor vehicle traffic using the street.
- A road safety review was completed by staff of the Collier County Transportation Services
Division to evaluate the proposed operation of golf carts to cross Airport-Pulling Road utilizing
the intersection at Estuary Drive and Halstatt Drive. This also includes a legal review by the
County Attorney's Office and assessment by the County Risk Management Department and the
Sherriff's Office. It is the findings of the report that golf carts cannot safely cross Airport-Pulling
Road due to the speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle traffic using the street and that a
recommendation is made that no ordinance be enacted by the County to allow such operation.
Airport-Pulling is a major six-lane arterial roadway with a design speed of 45 miles per hour,
with the average daily traffic (ADT) of 32,267 vehicles a day. Golf carts have a maximum speed
of 20 mile per hour and are not intended or designed to use public roads; and they do not meet
federal safety requirements for vehicles traveling on the public roadway system.
FISCAL IMPACT: Allowing golf carts to cross Airport-Pulling Road could ultimately increase
liability program costs related to the defense of claims and lawsuits from crashes that may occur.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: The safety evaluation report has been reviewed and approved
by the County Attomey's Office and is legally sufficient for Board action-SRT.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no growth management impact associated
with this Executive Summary.
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Agenda Item NO.1 OE
March 9. 2010
Page 2 of 10
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners ("Board") accepts the
findings of the report evaluating the safety of golf carts crossing Airport-Pulling Road utilizing
the intersection at Estuary Drive and Halstatt Drive between the communities of Grey Oaks and
The Estuary at Grey Oaks and in doing so will not authorize golf carts crossing Airport Rd.
Prepared by: Eugene Calvert, PE, PTOE, Traffic Operations, Collier County Transportation
Services Division
Attachments: (1) Report - Safety Evaluation of Proposed Golf Cart Crossing at the Intersection
of Airport-Pulling Road @ Estuary Drive / Halstatt Drive. (2) Photo of Golf Cart Violating
Florida Statute S 316.212 @Grey Oaks.
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Agenda Item No.1 OE
March 9, 2010
Page 3 of 10
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COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Item Number:
Item Summary:
10E
Recommendation to accept the findings of the Safety Evaluation of Proposed Golf Cart
Crossin9 at the Intersection of Airport-Pulling Road at Estuary Drive / Halstatt Drive and not
authorize golf carts crossing Airport Road. (Norman Feder. Transportation SeNices
Administrator)
3/9/2010 9:00:00 AM
Meeting Date:
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Agenda Item No. 10E
March 9, 2010
Page 4 of 10
Jeff Klatzkow
County Attorney
Date
2126/2010 1 :38 PM
Approved By
Mark Isackson
Management/Budget Analyst, Senior
Date
Office of Management &
Budget
Office of Management & Budget
2/27/20101:46 PM
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Agenda Item No. 10E
March 9, 2010
Page 5 of 10
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Co _leT County
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Transportation Services DMsion
Safety Evaluation of Proposed Golf Cart Crossing at the Intersection of
Airport-Pulling Road @ Estuary Drive I Halstatt Drive
Prepared by: Eugene Calvert, PE, PTOE
Traffic Operations
Collier County Transportation Services Division
Date: February 23, 2010
This road safety review was completed to evaluate a proposal to allow golf carts to cross Airport-Pulling
Road utilizing the intersection at Estuary Drive and Halstatt Drive in Collier County, Florida.
Roadway Characteristics
Airport-Pulling Road is a six-lane roadway functionally classified as an urban arterial highway providing a
major north-south transportation link. The average two-way traffic volume on this roadway is 32,267
vehicles a day (ADT) with an in-season ADT of 36,735. The roadway has a posted speed limit of 45 miles
per hour (mph); however the prevailing speed on the road is over 50 miles per hour. The study location
is a signalized intersection providing access to the gated communities of Grey Oaks Country Club to the
east and The Estuary at Grey Oaks to the west. Access to Grey Oaks and to The Estuary is provided by
the private roadways of Halstatt Drive, providing access to Grey Oaks; and into the Estuary it is the
private roadway of Estuary Drive. The intersection provides a pedestrian crosswalk across Airport-
Pulling Road on the south side of the intersection. The distance across Airport-Pulling Road is
approximately 135 feet. This intersection is located approximately 3/8 miles north of the Airport-Pulling
Road / Golden Gate Parkway intersection. A crash history review of the intersection shows that from
2005 to 2009, there were a total of 23 crashes that occurred at this intersection.
Purpose of Request to Allow Golf Carts
Grey Oaks and The Estuary are golf course communities, each having a separate golf course within their
respective communities. Each community enjoys the privilege of being able to golf at both golf courses.
Those residents that own their own golf cart are not currently allowed to drive their golf cart across
Airport-Pulling Road. Residents that wish to partake in the neighboring golf course typically drive their
personal vehicle from their community, crossing Airport-Pulling Road. Allowing golf carts to cross
Airport-Pulling Road would allow the residents of the communities more convenience in using the
neighboring facilities. It has been observed that golf carts are currently using the pedestrian crosswalk
facilities at the intersection to cross Airport-Pulling Road.
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Agenda Item No. 10E
March 9, 2010
Page 6 of 10
State Law
Florida Statute !i 316.212 prohibits the operation of golf carts on county roads or streets unless the
street has been designated by the county for use by golf carts. The relevant portions of F.s. 9 is 316.212
is attached hereto at the end of staff's report. Before allowing golf carts to cross Airport-Pulling Road,
the County must first determine that golf carts may safely travel on or cross the public street,
considering factors including the speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle traffic using the street.
The statute outlines minimum operation and equipment requirements if the County allows such use, as
well as age restrictions and the hours of operation when operating golf carts on approved designated
public roads, but it also allows the County to enact an ordinance regarding golf cart operation and
equipment which is more restrictive than enumerated in the statutes. See F.S. !i 316.212 (8)
Florida Statute !i 316.1995 prohibits the use of motorized vehicles including golf carts on sidewalks.
Motorized vehicles exclude motorized wheel chairs and motorized bicycles as defined by Florida Statute
!i 322.01. Motorized wheel chairs are allowed to use pedestrian crosswalks. Florida Statute !i 320.01
also defines golf carts as being designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course that is not
capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.
Florida Statute !i 316.2122(1) restricts the use of low speed vehicles on streets where the posted speed
limit is 35 miles per hour or less. A low speed vehicle is defined as a vehicle whose top speed is greater
than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour. Golf carts, with a maximum speed on 20
miles per hour, do not meet the definition of a low speed vehicle. It is reasonable that if state law does
not allow "low-speed" vehicles on roadway with a speed limit greater than 35 miie per hour, then
vehicles that are slower than "low-speed" vehicles are not allowed on those streets as well.
County Ordinances
Collier County Ordinance No. 2006-57 allows the use of golf carts upon certain designated public roads
and streets in Goodland, Florida. A road safety review was conducted on the roads of Goodland and the
Board determined that due to the low vehicle volumes and speeds that golf carts could safely operate
on the local streets within a defined area. It was only after the Board reached that conclusion, relying
on staff's traffic study, that it imposed additional safety requirements including but not limited to, a
minimum driving age, the number of occupants that can ride on golf carts, a maximum attainable speed
limit, required safety equipment such as efficient brakes, reliable steering, safe tires, a rearview mirror,
red reflectorized warning devices in both the front and rear, limited daylight hours of operation, and the
procurement of liability insurance. Absent a determination that golf carts can safely travel across
Airport Road, however, these additionai safety requirements are not relevant.
The use of golf carts on public roads is very limited in neighboring counties. Charlotte County allows the
use of golf carts only on bridgeless barrier islands. Golf carts are allowed in Lee County only on certain
roads on Captiva Island.
Impact on Signal Progression
The proposed golf cart crossing will not result in a major impact on the signal progression. A golf cart
will be able to cross Airport Pulling Road in approximately 10 seconds. Adjustments to the signal timing
may be required.
Roadway Safety
Golf carts are not intended or designed to use on public roads and they do not meet federal safety
requirements for vehicles traveling on the public roadway system. Most golf carts do not have lights,
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Agenda Item NO.1 OE
March 9, 2010
Page 7 of 10
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brake lights, turn signals, horns or seat belts. Golf carts are very vulnerable when hit by a vehicle and
the consequences of the crash can be very serious. Should a crash occur at the intersection of Airport-
Pulling Road, the crash will in all probability be an angle crash due to the direction of traffic. Angle
crashes typically result in more severe injuries.
Nationwide about half of all crashes and half of all injury crashes occur at intersections due to the
complex speed-distance judgments under time constraints. Intersections are planned points of conflict
that include ALL users. And each user group has their own particular needs when it comes to navigating
through an intersection. And often times these needs conflict with the needs of each other. Introducing
a separate and distinct user (golf carts) may have significant safety impacts.
A serious injury crash occurred involving a golf cart and a vehicle during the ACE Group Classic golf
tournament during the early evening hours of February 14, 2010 (see attached photograph from Naples
Daily News). The crash occurred on a road adjacent to the golf course community of the Quarry in north
Naples. The golf cart was traveling on a road that also allowed vehicular traffic. All three occupants of
the golf cart sustained serious injuries in the crash.
Airport-Pulling Road was designed to accommodate vehicular traffic with a design speed of 45 miles per
hour; it was not designed to accommodate golf cart traffic. In an email to the Grey Oaks Country Club,
Lt. Harold Minch of the Collier County Sheriffs Office stated that "Golf carts and cars should not be
comingled on the same roadway unless the crossing is well engineered and marked, and permitted by
the County. There is no doubt that it is illegal to have a non roadworthy golf cart on Airport Road."
.- liability Issues
Collier County has many golf course communities. The impact on safety and the concern of liability will
be significant if golf communities are allowed to operate golf carts on public roads. Previous
development of golf cart communities that have common property on both sides of a county roadway
have been required to construct an underpass for golf carts to cross the roadway. A separated
underpass/overpass is the most effective means to have golf carts cross a major arterial roadway such
as Airport-Pulling Road.
The Risk Management Department reviewed the findings within this report and opined that the
operation of golf carts across Airport Road would present a significant safety and liability concern. The
volume of traffic; the speeds maintained; and the vulnerability of golf cart passengers to collision
increase the potential severity of injury or death in the event of a collision. Although the decision to
permit golf carts to pass may be a planning level decision and immune from liability, staff believes it
could ultimately increase liability program costs related to the defense of claims and lawsuits even if the
County is able to ultimately prevail in a cause of action. Risk Management Staff concurs with a
preference for a separate underpass/overpass as the better alternative to traversing Airport Road.
Findings and Recommendation
Based upon safety and liability concerns, it is determined that golf carts cannot safely cross Airport-
Pulling Road and it is recommended that no ordinance be enacted by the County to allow such
operation.
Respectfully submitted:
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Agenda Item NO.1 OE
March 9, 2010
Page 8 of 10
316.212 Operation of golf c<lm on certain roadwaoa.--The operation of a golf cart upon the public
roads or streets of this state is prohibited except as provided herein:
(1) A golf cart may be operated only upon a county road that has been designated by a county, or a
municipal street that has been designated by a municipality, for use by golf carts. Prior to making such a
designation, the responsible local governmental entity must first determine that golf carts may safely
travel on or cross the public road or street, considering factors including the speed, volume, and
character of motor vehicle traffic using the road or street. Upon a determination that golf carts may be
safely operated on a designated road or street, the responsible governmental entity shall post
appropriate signs to indicate that such operation is allowed.
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(5) A golf cart may be operated only during the hours between sunrise and sunset, unless the
responsible governmental entity has determined that a golf cart may be operated during the hours
between sunset and sunrise and the golf cart is equipped with headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and
a windshield.
(6) A golf cart must be equipped with efficient brakes, reliable steering apparatus, safe tires, a rearview
mirror, and red reflectorized warning devices in both the front and rear.
(7) A golf cart may not be operated on public roads or streets by any person under the age of 14.
(8) A local governmental entity may enact an ordinance regarding golf cart operation and equipment
which is more restrictive than those enumerated in this section. Upon enactment of such ordinance, the
local governmental entity shall post appropriate signs or otherwise inform the residents that such an
ordinance exists and that it will be enforced within the local government's jurisdictional territory. An
ordinance referred to in this section must apply only to an unlicensed driver.
(9) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as a
moving violation for infractions of subsections (1)-(5) or a local ordinance corresponding thereto and
enacted pursuant to subsection (8), or punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as a nonmoving violation for
infractions of subsection (6), subsection (7), or a local ordinance corresponding thereto and enacted
pursuant to subsection (8).
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Agenda Item NO.1 OE
March 9. 2010
Page 9 of 10
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