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Speed To Stay Same in Safety Harbor

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: December 15, 2007

SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. - SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. - City commissioners put the brakes on an attempt by some motorists to raise the speed limit on Main Street between 12th Avenue and McMullen Booth Road.

Motorists who received speeding tickets along this section of Main Street recently lobbied the city to consider raising the limit.

A recently conducted traffic study revealed most motorists are not obeying the 25 mph speed limit on the residential section of Main Street. Less than 10 percent of motorists aren't speeding, City Engineer Bill Baker said the study showed.

On the other hand, about 85 percent of vehicles were traveling at less than 40 mph, Baker said.

Brad Purdy, city communications manager, said the traffic study did not encompass the city's main downtown commercial district, between 12th Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard. The speed limit is 25 mph there as well.

The traffic study report from the city's engineering division said a factor supporting the 25 mph limit is this residential section of Main Street has only two lanes accommodating 10,000 vehicle trips per day.

On the other hand, the city's land development code designates this section of Main Street as a major collector road, which should have a higher speed limit, Baker said.

At a City Commission meeting, Baker said he would not recommend setting the speed limit on the section of Main Street higher than 30 mph. Many motorists drive 10 mph over the posted speed limits, so setting a 35 mph speed limit would see much of this Main Street traffic flowing around 45 mph, Baker predicted.

Mayor Andy Steingold asked for the issue to be continued until residents living along the affected section of Main Street could be notified and have a chance to comment.

A majority of residents along that stretch of Main Street are not in favor of increasing the speed limit, Baker said.

Commissioner Joe Ayoub argued against delaying a vote on raising the speed limit. He was in favor or raising the speed limit to 30 mph, as the city staff has recommended.

Commissioner Kathleen Earle said she does not believe the 25 mph speed limit on this section of Main Street constitutes a speed trap, so she rejected raising it.

An attempt to raise the speed limit 5 mph failed by a 3-2 vote. Steingold, Earle and Commissioners Keith Zayac voted against a change, while Ayoub and Commissioner Nadine Nickeson were in favor of the proposed speed limit increase.

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