City of Palm Coast Completes Residential Speed Study

The City of Palm Coast has recently completed a detailed Residential Speed Study aimed at assessing the potential of lowering speed limits in local neighborhoods to enhance safety and livability. Conducted by the well-respected consulting firm Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., the study was presented by Emanuelle D “Mani” Rodríguez, P.E. of said consulting firm, who shared the findings and recommendations with city officials and the public.

The study also included two focus corridors: Florida Park Drive and Cimmaron Drive. As per state statute, residential roads must have a speed limit of 30 mph unless a formal study is conducted and certain conditions are met, allowing the city to lower the speed limit to 25 mph.

Key highlights of the study include:

• The study encompassed 48 neighborhoods and collected speed data from 109 locations.
• Out of these, 17 roads met the necessary conditions to have their speed limits reduced to 25 mph.
• On Florida Park Drive, 85% of drivers were traveling at 37 mph or lower, with an average of 9 crashes per year. Traffic calming measures are recommended here.
• On Cimmaron Drive, 85% of drivers were traveling at 39 mph or lower, with 2 crashes per year, also prompting the recommendation of traffic calming interventions.

The traffic calming measures suggested for Florida Park Drive involve narrowing the lane width from 12 feet to 10 feet, which is expected to reduce speeds by 2-3 mph. For both Florida Park Drive and Cimmaron Drive, further traffic calming measures were proposed, including dynamic speed display signs, speed humps, raised pavement markers, and raised intersections.

The city is now considering three options based on the study's findings:

1. Maintain the 30 mph Speed Limit: Implement a Traffic Calming Plan, estimated to cost between $30,000 and $50,000.
2. Reduce Speed Limits to 25 mph: This would apply to residential local roads, with an estimated cost of $1.6 million.
3. Option 2 plus Traffic Calming: This would incorporate both reducing resident local roads to 25 mph and installing traffic calming treatments where necessary.

The consensus from City Council during the study presentation favored option 1, to develop a comprehensive citywide traffic calming plan that can be applied to any residential road, as needed. This plan aims to address safety concerns and improve the overall quality of life for Palm Coast residents.

City officials are now reviewing these recommendations and will soon decide on the most effective strategy to implement. Public input and feedback will be crucial in shaping the final approach to ensure that the solutions meet community needs and enhance safety across all neighborhoods.

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