[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Aces4

Nice reporting, Bogie, I’m impressed.

Stay tuned…….

[lawgolfer]

A. The first problem is the crossover for S/B carts at Morse and 466. The best solution, and what should have been done initially, is to replace the S/B crossover with a tunnel. If a tunnel is not built, there are three lesser solution.

1. If a tunnel is not built, the guards should never leave either the N/B or S/B gates up. Crossing over S/B when the guard has the N/B gate up is scary as there is a long space between the guard shack and the crossover and autos are at a high speed when they reach the crossover. When the guard has the S/B gate up, auto drivers know they do not have to slow in preparation for stopping at the gate. Unfortunately, the guards leave both gates up when auto traffic is heavy, which is the worst time to do so.

2. If a tunnel is not built, change the placement of the S/B gate so it is before the cross-over and move the cross-over closer to the guard shack. This would cause S/B autos to stop at the gate and allow a cart to cross in front of an auto while the gate is down. It would also leave room for 1-2 S/B carts to safely stop in a median between the N/B and S/B traffic lanes before crossing the N/B auto lane. Of course, the crossover has to be after the two N/B lanes have merged.

3. A better alternative to moving the S/B gate and never leaving either gate up is to install a traffic signal light at the crossover with an embedded sensor to activate a "red" signal for both N/B and S/B autos when a S/B cart is in place and ready to cross over both lanes of Morse .


B. The second problem is interference between autos and carts on the several miles of Morse between 466 and 441. It is unlikely there is sufficient room to install a dedicated multi-modal path separate from Morse. If a dedicated path is installed there would need to be multiple tunnels along the route, which would make the paths cost-prohibitive. The simpler solution is to widen both the N/B and S/B cart paths by 1-2 feet and add Botts Dots or "rumble" strips to the asphalt surface between the auto and cart lanes to warn both auto and cart drivers that they are intruding on the other's lane. The Botts Dots need to be of the reflective type so they show up clearly at night. If "rumble strips" are installed in the asphalt, reflective markers need to be added at regular intervals.

Although I do not perceive there to be a problem with carts entering the auto lanes to make turns onto/off of Morse at the intersections between 446 and 441, separate traffic signals can be installed for autos and for carts. These would give separate signals to autos and carts and would give a red signal to autos while giving a green "arrow" signal to carts to allow them to make a left turn or a red "arrow" to prevent carts from making a turn. There are "directional lens" which can only be seen by drivers in their respective lanes.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by lawgolfer

A. The first problem is the crossover for S/B carts at Morse and 466. The best solution, and what should have been done initially, is to replace the S/B crossover with a tunnel. If a tunnel is not built, there are three lesser solution.

1. If a tunnel is not built, the guards should never leave either the N/B or S/B gates up. Crossing over S/B when the guard has the N/B gate up is scary as there is a long space between the guard shack and the crossover and autos are at a high speed when they reach the crossover. When the guard has the S/B gate up, auto drivers know they do not have to slow in preparation for stopping at the gate. Unfortunately, the guards leave both gates up when auto traffic is heavy, which is the worst time to do so.

2. If a tunnel is not built, change the placement of the S/B gate so it is before the cross-over and move the cross-over closer to the guard shack. This would cause S/B autos to stop at the gate and allow a cart to cross in front of an auto while the gate is down. It would also leave room for 1-2 S/B carts to safely stop in a median between the N/B and S/B traffic lanes before crossing the N/B auto lane. Of course, the crossover has to be after the two N/B lanes have merged.

3. A better alternative to moving the S/B gate and never leaving either gate up is to install a traffic signal light at the crossover with an embedded sensor to activate a "red" signal for both N/B and S/B autos when a S/B cart is in place and ready to cross over both lanes of Morse .


B. The second problem is interference between autos and carts on the several miles of Morse between 466 and 441. It is unlikely there is sufficient room to install a dedicated multi-modal path separate from Morse. If a dedicated path is installed there would need to be multiple tunnels along the route, which would make the paths cost-prohibitive. The simpler solution is to widen both the N/B and S/B cart paths by 1-2 feet and add Botts Dots or "rumble" strips to the asphalt surface between the auto and cart lanes to warn both auto and cart drivers that they are intruding on the other's lane. The Botts Dots need to be of the reflective type so they show up clearly at night. If "rumble strips" are installed in the asphalt, reflective markers need to be added at regular intervals.

Although I do not perceive there to be a problem with carts entering the auto lanes to make turns onto/off of Morse at the intersections between 446 and 441, separate traffic signals can be installed for autos and for carts. These would give separate signals to autos and carts and would give a red signal to autos while giving a green "arrow" signal to carts to allow them to make a left turn or a red "arrow" to prevent carts from making a turn. There are "directional lens" which can only be seen by drivers in their respective lanes.

The meeting is 2/10.

[lawgolfer]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

The meeting is 2/10.

I'll be skiing in Colorado. If you agree with my comments, feel free to make them known at the meeting. Any decent traffic engineer will think of the same solutions and, probably, several more.

The S/B crossover is scary. In addition, until you have passed through it several times, it comes up quickly. On two occasions, I have seen a cart go past the crossover, through the gate and end up at the 466/Morse intersection. Now that is a scary thought.

Another time I was on the tee box of the Tierra Del Sol hole that parallels Morse on the East. There was a loud "thump" and a screech of brakes. One player laughed and said some fool forgot to strap in his golf bag. All of us peeked through the bushes and saw a man jump out of the cart and run around the back. At the same time, a woman stood up from the pavement and started screaming at him. What happened was that he went past the turn for the crossover and made a sharp left, throwing the woman from the cart. All in all, a condemnation of both the roadway design and a failure to wear a seat belt.

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by jimdecastro

Anyone in the Sawgrass area will tell you the dangers of Meggison Rd - which will be a route to the Florida Turnpike. One lane (and golf cart lane), no lights, no stop signs, and no traffic circles for miles - and no MMTP.

I'm glad you brought that up.

We played golf at MickeyLee (a very nice golf course) on Monday and drove home along Meggison Road. I was going the speed limit 30 mph and a truck followed about a foot behind me. I kept going the same speed until I reached the Sawgrass roundabout, when he went to the inside lane and whizzed past me.

Before we moved here in 2016, I had read about the difficulties driving on Morse north of 466, so we never considered buying a house that would lead to us driving on that road.

Maybe some people will heed your warning about Meggison Road and not buy a house along the 2-lane section of that road.