What is the Appropriate Speed Limit to set for Frank Reeder Road in Beulah from Bridlewood to Beulah Road?

A thorough, scientific, best practice and fact-based analysis that comports with state standards  was utilized in looking to answer this question:  What is the Appropriate Speed limit to set for Frank Reeder Road in Beulah from Bridelwood to Beulah Road?

After a number of residents asked about speeders on Frank Reeder Road recently and requested information about the current speed limit there, I said I would have professional engineering staff go out and evaluate that road on the area of concern, from Bridlewood to Beulah Road.  Yesterday afternoon, staff completed the analysis of the data collected, and provided the below analysis, discussion, and recommendation based upon State Law, best practices, and scientific facts gleaned from the associated field study they conducted.  It was a very thorough, yet succinct explanation, which I am posting, below:

"Commissioner,

 As requested, we commissioned a speed study in the 45 mph portion of Frank Reeder from Bridlewood to Beulah Road to see what speed vehicles were going. 

It is important to remember that driver behavior is influenced by road conditions and environment more than speed limit signs.  Drivers tend to pay less attention to speed limit signs, which they consider unreasonable unless there is an inordinate degree of enforcement. On the other hand, unreasonably low posted speed limits are commonly violated by drivers making enforcement difficult and operating speeds higher than what would exist with proper realistic posted speed limits.  This is why appropriate speed zoning methodology is needed (and required in Florida) to set speed limits to realistic, enforceable regulations.

Data was collected on Jan 25^th and 26^th over the course of 24 hours in both the east bound and west bound directions near 6626 Frank Reeder Road which is 1,000 feet east of Bridlewood.

We found the following:

               85^th% Speed       Avg Speed          15^th % Speed   10 mph pace      # over 50mph    Total Vehicles

Day 1

EB           45.6 mph             39 mph                31.6 mph       35-44 mph          8 vehicles            437 vehicles

WB         47.8 mph             41 mph                35.7 mph       35-44 mph          33 vehicles          417 vehicles

 

Day 2

EB           44 mph                38.9 mph             31.8 mph       35-44 mph          10 vehicles          423 vehicles

WB         48 mph                41.8 mph             35.4 mph       35-44 mph          38 vehicles          402 vehicles

 

Rationale for a speed zoning determination from the FDOT Speed Zoning Manual indicates the following:  The 85th percentile speed is defined as the speed at or below which 85 percent of the

observed free-flowing vehicles are traveling. The 10 mph pace is defined as the 10 mph range containing the highest number of such vehicles in the study area.  If the observed 85th percentile speed falls above the upper limit of the 10 mph pace, the speed limit shall be posted at or near the upper limit of the 10 mph pace.

As shown in the data above, the observed 85^th percentile speed is at or just above the upper limit of the 10 mph pace, therefore the speed limit should be set at the upper limit of the pace which is 44 mph.

Guidance also states:  The existing speed limit within a speed zone will not be changed if the 85^th percentile speed or upper limit of the 10 mph pace is within +/- 3 mph of the posted speed limit, unless a supplemental investigation identifies the need for a change. (A supplemental investigation accounts for curves, sight distance, high volumes, excessive crashes, signals, etc… none of which exists here).  Therefore, since the 85^th percentile speed and upper limit of the 10 mph pace are all within the posted 45 mph, a change is not warranted. 

We also looked at vehicular accidents in that area from Bridlewood to Beulah… the 45 mph zone.  Over the last 10 years, there have been 4, two of which involved a pedestrian at night.  The other two were a crash into a parked car and a roadway departure.  Three of those happened on the weekend.  There were no fatalities.

Conclusion/recommendation:

The conducted speed analysis and speed zoning criteria indicates a posted speed limit of 45 mph is warranted.  We recommend increased traffic enforcement in the area for those that are exceeding the posted speed limit.

Feel free to reply or call with any questions."