Put multi modal paths on Morse Blvd
 

After reading another article of someone being killed on Morse Blvd shouldn't something be done regarding the lack of multi modal trails in that area. All the rest of Morse Blvd and all of Buena Vista have multi modal trails. There should be an attempt to have the trails built from 466 north to Hacienda Hills Country Club. There are too many accidents or near misses between golf carts and cars. Just my two cents on the fatality that happened today.

Multi-modal paths could be a good idea but explain how a person going either way would cross safely to the other side...think if they needed to cross both lanes of traffic. With the neighborhood's on both sides of Morse to get to, it might not be feasible from a cost factor (millions upon millions). I would think that at a meeting somewhere, the "powers that be" discussed this!

The Developer never invisioned the quantity of vehicular and cart traffic that Morse Blvd would have to handle as The Villages developed over the years. I believe in most cases the Developer has addressed traffic issues in a very responsible manner. They have attempted to make Morse Blvd. (from 466 to Hacienda GC) a safe passage way for cars and carts, but in my opinion it falls short. I would hope the Developer would easily recognize the growing safety issues here and do the necessary improvements regardless of cost. As for myself, I avoid that stretch of road as often as possible.

First let me state I o not have a dog in this fight, I live south of 466a.
However, I recently had the opportunity to travel this section of Morse Blvd, going to and from the hospital. I can see there are many valid concerns. I took a look at Google maps, and it appears that the golf cart lanes could POSSIBLY be moved to the left and right sides of Morse Blvd. This would solve the first problem, getting the golf carts away from the cars. The second one, how the get across Morse Blvd. will probably require the installation of at least 2 possibly as many as 4 traffic lights at suitable locations to allow safe crossing of Morse Blvd. This would also slow down the traffic significantly.

I present the above ideas as a possible basis for discussion with the parties interested in solving the problems in this area. There are several points to keep in mind: This portion of TV was built way before the parts to the south, and was probably more than suitable at the time. There are probably existing right of ways that will either help or hinder this possible solution. I am certain, that this will not be looked on kindly by all of the people that have property adjacent to Morse Blvd.

Please do not shoot the messenger, these are just my humble ideas.

Very difficult problem, and very costly engineering project to solve. Major issues include maintenance of drainage patterns, accommodation of traffic, and much more. Tunnels would be an option to traffic signals, but again, enormous expense. Extensive permitting requirements also. And best case scenario would take years before completion of construction. It's much easier and cheaper to design something like this during concept development than it is to retrofit.

None of this is intended to discourage attempts to deal with the situation. But there are no quick and easy solutions.

What some folks are missing is that Morse Blvd is not the developer's responsibility. It is a County road and all improvements such as the ones done awhile back which included widening of road, re-striping lanes, turn lanes and traffic signals at Rio Grande and San Marino came after much study and the appropriation of funds by Sumter County. I think most will agree that during the peak season there is much more traffic being carried on this road then was ever anticipated by the developer and Sumter County. Unfortunately none of the improvements did anything to remedy the problem with golf carts traveling on Morse having to cross multiple lanes of traffic to make turns or to get to tunnel that runs under CR 466. The problem is somewhat lessened between the peak seasons but still has worsened with population increase and more vehicles and golf carts being driven at higher speeds by folks who are always in a rush. Bottom line if you have a suggestion for fixing the problem, take it to the Sumter County Commissioners. They do listen to voters.

Scary!
 

from the get go Morse scared me. And why is everyone in a hurry? I thought that seniors slowed up in the aging process. People in a hurry to get somewhere and then don't know what to do with themselves..amen

You are one of the few people in The Villages qualified to give a solution for this problem.


Also, not all vehicles are villager residents.

And then you have to solve the problem of someone in a golf cart, making a left turn in front of a automobile........................

As pointed out above, this is a county road, so maybe the villagers living in this area could approach the county to look into the problems.

My previous suggestions did not address water drainage, which will be impacted if the golf cart lanes are moved. The installation of traffic lights was to eliminate the cost of tunnels or bridges, and also would tend to slow the traffic.

There is no doubt this will be a long process, probably very expensive. If I think of any other ideas, I will post these.

Aside from the southbound cart crossing near 466, how is Morse north of 466 different from other roads within TV? Bailey Trail, cart path on the street, car speed limit 30. Stillwater Trail east of Morse, cart path on the street, car speed limit 30. Odell Circle, cart path on the street, car speed limit 30. Canal Street, cart path on the street, car speed limit 30. And many others match that description. Morse north of 466, cart path on the street, car speed limit 30. All these roads have neighborhood streets entering them. All have mail stations along them. Morse even has traffic lights at the major intersections of San Marino and Rio Grande.

You can argue that there is more traffic on Morse than the others mentioned, but the risks are the same if the cart driver is not paying attention, or adhering to the rules of the road, or assumes right of way that is not his/hers.

Aside from the southbound cart crossing near 466, how is Morse north of 466 different from other roads within TV? Bailey Trail, cart path on the street, car speed limit 30. Stillwater Trail east of Morse, cart path on the street, car speed limit 30. Odell Circle, cart path on the street, car speed limit 30. Canal Street, cart path on the street, car speed limit 30. And many others match that description. Morse north of 466, cart path on the street, car speed limit 30. All these roads have neighborhood streets entering them. All have mail stations along them. Morse even has traffic lights at the major intersections of San Marino and Rio Grande.

You can argue that there is more traffic on Morse than the others mentioned, but the risks are the same if the cart driver is not paying attention, or adhering to the rules of the road, or assumes right of way that is not his/hers.

I agree. Why should Morse Blvd be singled out?

The fact that there is much more traffic on Morse is a huge deal. As you say, the risks are the same, but when the are more cars and more golf carts the possibility of something bad happening is increased.

Morse and Buena Vista are the two main north and south roads in The Villages. No other road really compares to them.

By the way, I agree that this was strictly the fault of the poor gentleman that lost his life. We all need to be responsible for ourselves. But the fact that there is a lot more traffic makes an road more dangerous.

Tee times/meetings
 

Active adults have all kinds of time?? Nope! However, I do get your point.

Unfortunately, this problem occurred because of the expansion of TV. This section of Morse was never designed for the amount of traffic that currently uses the road (including cars and golf carts). The problem could be solved but it will be costly. TV has made Sumter County---maybe Sumter County should do something for TV---lots and lots of taxes paid to the county by residents of The Villages.

A lower speed limit on this section of Morse won't solve the entire problem but it might help.

bingo! everyone seems to miss this fact.

Lots of good points and suggestions, IMHO, I would suggest this:
1. Lower the speed limits, and work with the police for enforcement of the new lower speed limit. At a minimum, radar speed signs 24/7 for several weeks or more.
2. Actively engage the Sumter County officials to point out the differences between this section of Morse Blvd, versus several of the other similar roads, so they understand the local residents concerns.
3. Perhaps install additional signage (the developer??) indicating this is potentially a hazardous area, and to SLOW DOWN.
4. Get a suitable group of people together that well represents the affected villagers, and work with the developer and the county for a permanent solution.
I think you have an excellent start here with various options and opinions, all of which seem to be very supportive of a fix being required.

I live in this area and I have no desire for the speed limit to be lowered. a single accident of a golf cart turning in front of an oncoming vehicle does not make a road dangerous. armchair recommendations are not wanted or necessary, particularly from people who do not live in this area.

Well said.

Do you think speed limits are obeyed elsewhere in TV?
More signs? Really, people don't read the signs when entering a roundabout. And a SLOW DOWN sign will change driver behavior?
As mentioned earlier, the developer has nothing to do with this road, it belongs to the County.

And the county has not advertised that it is studying the road to make any improvements. When the traffic light was added at San Marino (a no-brainer), it took the county two years to study the situation, which involved a lot of car counting.

Man, I am so sick and tired of hearing this. "What's the rush? You're all retired."

Really? we're all sitting around with nothing to do? We're all just hanging out joy riding in our golf carts waiting to die?

First of all, what business is it of anyone's whether someone in in a hurry or not?

Don't we have doctor's appointments, tee times, clubs to go to, guests arriving?

Then, who's to say that someone being in a hurry had anything to do with this accident. It sounds to me that Mr Hughes simply made a tragic and fatal mistake. He wasn't paying attention for some reason and he turned into an oncoming vehicle.

It's always surprising to me that every time something like this happens, (and they're pretty rare occurrences in The Villages) that every one uses it as an excuse to tout their own little pet peeve. "We need cart paths, we need more signs, seat belts on golf carts, bigger directional lights, stripes painted on the ground, lower speed limits, ban all golf carts."

We need to accept the fact that as long as there are cars, there are going to be accidents. As long as there are golf carts there are going to be accidents. If cars and golf carts are allowed on the same streets, eventually, there will be accidents involving the two of them. A woman on a bicycle was hit by a car a few months ago. Should we not allow bicycles on the roads? If you want a completely vehicle accident free community, ban all vehicles. Even at that, people would twist and ankle walking or fall down and break a hip.

Vehicles, roads, signs (or lack thereof) high speed limits do not cause accidents. Accidents are caused by people being careless. Accidents are caused by people because people are imperfect. If you really want to eliminate all accidents, you'll have to eliminate people.

good post...couldn't say it any better!!!

Ok I don't live up there but from what I have seen there is no room to add the paths. I don't like driving my car on Morse up there and no way would I drive a cart on Morse!

I agree as well.... Accidents happen because someone screwed up!

Really? Drivers in a rush are careless drivers. Slow down, whether you're driving a golf cart or a car. Everyone is in a rush, slow down already. you're rushing to your death!

great post...pinelas and Hillsborough also have paths on the street

Bogie,

Folks try to change everything except the actions of the driver. Don't blame the highway.

I had one today coming up behind me pass me as I was stopping for the stop sign at the new building by freedom point coming off El Camino. The way he's driving that cart it won't be to long before the ground hogs will be delivering his mail. I really believe people who act this way never learned to manage time or their lives for that manner.

The traffic on Morse will get even heavier once they start widening 466A .

Wondering why?

Me too!!

Speed bumps with a lowered speed limit.

some of the problem is driving a golf cart in some respects is being anonymous.
There is no way to identify, except color shape or make.

Sort of tongue in cheek but if every golf cart had a number (I hate to say registration as that would bring a rain of posts!) like a golf ID number is assigned, then there would be an identifier. A way of reporting, tracking down violators.

Just as a few years ago all resident ID cards were re-issued over a year or so span, golf cart ID numbers could be mad available something like that.

Yes there would be additional costs for materials and administration.

Another would be to make it illegal for low speed vehicles to use MMPs....keep them on the streets only. And carts that are golf course speed only allowed on the MMPs.

I just do not understand the concept of needing to go 2-5 mph faster. How many of us have been passed by some whacko going too fast on the MMP only to be right behind them at the next stop sign!!!

19.9 mph carts only in TV!

If you don't like the idea above feel free to offer a potential solution.

As often as this subject is discussed here or in various functions in TV the end result, week after week and year after year is always the same....nothing gets done to change the current mode of operating. Hence, no surprise....accidents and deaths continue!!!

As I live south of 466a, I tend to use Micro Racetrack and Rolling Acres roads to get to Spanish Springs area. If the existing construction to widen 466a in this area starts to backup traffic I was looking to use Morse, at least to 466, then possibly to Rolling Acres. Based on all of the above comments, I think I will be avoiding Morse blvd above 466.

I would not let the actions of the few who are involved in or create an accident change how I live. If you are a capable, conscious, safe cart driver there is not problem. That is the reason why the other 99% of us make it through the day on the MMPs, where ever they may be.

Ho Polar Bear: You are spot on. However what is a life worth? How many more people have to be killed or seriously injured on this stretch of road before the county does something. Let just one of these mishaps cost the county thousands of dollars in a lawsuit settlement and they will act.

The design of this road is plain frightening. As i stated in another thread we have in The Villages many multi=modal roads and cart paths for a demographic that is slow and each year gets slower reaction times coupled with county controlled roads that are traveled by every age placing a convergence of different age groups experiences and vehicles all on the same road . This is not very good visionary thinking or planning in my view

Morse, Rio Grande and streets along that area are not well suited for golf cart travel as the diamond lanes are not level in many places and far too narrow.

[QUOTE=billethkid;995814]some of the problem is driving a golf cart in some respects is being anonymous.
There is no way to identify, except color shape or make.

Sort of tongue in cheek but if every golf cart had a number (I hate to say registration as that would bring a rain of posts!) like a golf ID number is assigned, then there would be an identifier. A way of reporting, tracking down violators.

Cart ID's were discussed months ago. I think it is a wonderful idea. When people feel invisible, knowing that there are so many people in TV with grey hair driving a gold colored golf cart, they might be more apt to try to "get away" with things. (Speeding, driving stupid, hitting someones parked car or cart, letting 9 years olds drive grandma's cart, etc...)

My friend and I just had a very interesting experience on the "multi-modul path" over by 466 and Belevedere. Two bicyclists
(man and women) were riding in front of us. My friend passed them as they were the slower traffic. When we came to the stop the man intentionally hit her from behind and the woman yelled at her. My friend did nothing wrong. There was plenty of time to pass. No wonder no one wants to share the road with these so called "jerks". I told the lady we passed her because she was the slower traffic and she flipped us off and yelled "go to h---". NICE, real class!