Traffic management program tops Beach agenda

A St. Augustine Beach neighborhood traffic management program could be a solution to handling traffic complaints on residential streets.

The traffic management program, drafted by Public Works Director Joe Howell, is designed to give the Commission a uniform way of addressing speed and other traffic issues. It also sets guidelines for traffic calming measures like speed humps and speed tables.

As per the proposal, after a resident brings a traffic concern to the Commission, the first step to addressing it would be to conduct a field study in that area to collect traffic speed and volume data and "assess the severity of the problem."

If there are any obvious safety issues, the city will take immediate action. If the study finds there is a continuing problem, the St. Augustine Beach Police Department will be called to enforce the existing traffic calming measures, the proposal states.

"The traffic calming process begins with a combination of education, enforcement and passive engineering techniques," according to the proposal.

Beach Commissioners are expected to adopt the program Monday by resolution.

The program is a result of Commissioner Margaret England's suggestion that the city establish traffic calming policies and procedures after Lee Drive resident Richard Backlund expressed concerns about speeders.

He said while the posted speed limit on Lee Drive is 20 mph, people were driving through the neighborhood at about twice that speed.

Backlund suggested the city install speed bumps on the road. He was met with neighborhood opposition, and the commission voted against it.

The traffic management program will help the city evaluate and make decisions on future requests because it requires a petition of support from residents before a project can begin, the proposal states.

If the survey is not turned in to the city, the project will end, "at the discretion of the city commission."

The survey must reflect a 50 percent consensus, the proposal said.

At last month's meeting, Commissioners were pleased with the program, but made minor changes regarding wording and other procedures.

Other items on Monday's agenda are:

¦ Consideration of requiring 70 percent owner approval to vacate alleys and streets

¦ Comprehensive land use change in the Chautauqua Beach Subdivision

¦ Appointment of the city's delegate to the Florida League of Cities' Annual Conference

if you go

What: St. Augustine Beach Commission meeting

When: 7 p.m. Monday

Where: St. Augustine Beach City Hall

Info: To see meeting agenda, go to staugbch.com