[tophcfa]

As a resident of CDD1 who frequently travels Morse Blvd (especially between the intersections with San Marino and 466) I have a strong interest in this issue. I just finished an exhaustive review of the Kimberly Horn Report outlining the situation as well as the two proposed modifications to the current traffic system. My conclusions are as follows, from the prospective of a golf cart driver:

- Unlike many others, I don’t find the current system to be that bad. The only part of the existing system I really dislike is the crossover for south bound cart traffic just north of the gate leading to 466.
- The benefits of the two proposed traffic modifications (separating golf carts from automobile traffic and bicycle traffic (under one alternative), and eliminating the crossover north of the 466 gate), are far outweighed by the disadvantages (multiple stops created at road crossings as well as a nightmarish crossover of Morse south of San Marino and north of the Postal Station).
- The work required for either alternative will be very disruptive for an extended period of time and significantly change the character of the existing mature area.
- The modifications required under either alternative would be very disruptive to many unfortunate abutters to the involved areas (it wouldn’t affect me).
-Sumter County wants nothing to do with the project, making permitting and cost sharing a very difficult task.
- Both of the proposed traffic modifications are expensive and it appears the cost burden would be solely that of the 3,400 CDD1 residents at a cost of roughly $4,500 per residency. And that’s before the typical cost overruns.

Based on these observations/conclusions, I say leave things the way they currently are, or significantly downsize the project and try to find a way to improve the crossover for southbound traffic just north of the 466 gate.

That’s one persons opinion, I’m sure others will be different.

[ureout]

I travel mainly by golf cart and I avoid traveling on the N end of Morse blvd. .. from trying to get around the round about near 27/441 all the way to 466 is just an accident waitng to happen..

[Laker14]

Three of my favorite golf courses are Tierra, Hacienda, and Mira Mesa, so although I live between the 6s, I travel the stretch fairly often.
It seems to me the safety issues could be addressed in a much more cost effective manor with a couple of changes.
#1. Strictly enforce the speed limit. Very likely this would provide a positive cash flow until cars learn to slow down.
#2. Alter the crossover southbound at the 466 gate. I can think of a few ways this might be accomplished, but a traffic study examining the best possible solutions could arrive at something at a much lower cost than making the entire run a separate MMP.
A tunnel would be expensive, but far more manageable than changing the whole stretch over to a MMP.

[HIgolfers]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

As a resident of CDD1 who frequently travels Morse Blvd (especially between the intersections with San Marino and 466) I have a strong interest in this issue. I just finished an exhaustive review of the Kimberly Horn Report outlining the situation as well as the two proposed modifications to the current traffic system. My conclusions are as follows, from the prospective of a golf cart driver:

- Unlike many others, I don’t find the current system to be that bad. The only part of the existing system I really dislike is the crossover for south bound cart traffic just north of the gate leading to 466.
- The benefits of the two proposed traffic modifications (separating golf carts from automobile traffic and bicycle traffic (under one alternative), and eliminating the crossover north of the 466 gate), are far outweighed by the disadvantages (multiple stops created at road crossings as well as a nightmarish crossover of Morse south of San Marino and north of the Postal Station).
- The work required for either alternative will be very disruptive for an extended period of time and significantly change the character of the existing mature area.
- The modifications required under either alternative would be very disruptive to many unfortunate abutters to the involved areas (it wouldn’t affect me).
-Sumter County wants nothing to do with the project, making permitting and cost sharing a very difficult task.
- Both of the proposed traffic modifications are expensive and it appears the cost burden would be solely that of the 3,400 CDD1 residents at a cost of roughly $4,500 per residency. And that’s before the typical cost overruns.

Based on these observations/conclusions, I say leave things the way they currently are, or significantly downsize the project and try to find a way to improve the crossover for southbound traffic just north of the 466 gate.

That’s one persons opinion, I’m sure others will be different.

Strongly agree with your first bullet. It’s especially problematic when the Guest gate remains open. I don’t know why the gate guards do this but I see it at other manned gates as well.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

As a resident of CDD1 who frequently travels Morse Blvd (especially between the intersections with San Marino and 466) I have a strong interest in this issue. I just finished an exhaustive review of the Kimberly Horn Report outlining the situation as well as the two proposed modifications to the current traffic system. My conclusions are as follows, from the prospective of a golf cart driver:

- Unlike many others, I don’t find the current system to be that bad. The only part of the existing system I really dislike is the crossover for south bound cart traffic just north of the gate leading to 466.
- The benefits of the two proposed traffic modifications (separating golf carts from automobile traffic and bicycle traffic (under one alternative), and eliminating the crossover north of the 466 gate), are far outweighed by the disadvantages (multiple stops created at road crossings as well as a nightmarish crossover of Morse south of San Marino and north of the Postal Station).
- The work required for either alternative will be very disruptive for an extended period of time and significantly change the character of the existing mature area.
- The modifications required under either alternative would be very disruptive to many unfortunate abutters to the involved areas (it wouldn’t affect me).
-Sumter County wants nothing to do with the project, making permitting and cost sharing a very difficult task.
- Both of the proposed traffic modifications are expensive and it appears the cost burden would be solely that of the 3,400 CDD1 residents at a cost of roughly $4,500 per residency. And that’s before the typical cost overruns.

Based on these observations/conclusions, I say leave things the way they currently are, or significantly downsize the project and try to find a way to improve the crossover for southbound traffic just north of the 466 gate.

That’s one persons opinion, I’m sure others will be different.

I also agree with the OP. Wherever you drive, either in a car or cart, there are places that pose some difficulty navigating and others that are a breeze. The solution to difficult situations is to be aware of your surroundings, assume the other idiot is out to kill you and above all, possess some driving skills. I’m not a fan of playing to the lowest common denominator, spending millions to accommodate the stupidest, least skilled drivers out there. No different in the classroom where the curriculum is designed around the class idiot at the expense of the majority of students

[deano_hoosier]

From Table 1, page 9 of the study -- I guess I was surprised to see the traffic volume over the 2017-23 period had not grown. I was under the assumption that it surely had. Also found curious the difference volumes between northbound on Morse from 466 and southbound from El Camino Real. Could that be explained by the number of northbound vehicles that head east on Rio Grande from the northbound flow? The biggest problem I have is getting out of the postal station to head north on Morse. You really need luck to make that move - or wait till the evening hours to make the postal station run.


Existing Traffic Patterns
Sumter County collects annual traffic counts along County maintained roadways. The five-year traffic trends along Morse Boulevard show a daily traffic volume of approximately 11,000 vehicles per day south of El Camino Real and
approximately 20,000 vehicles per day north of C 466. The recorded traffic volumes are relatively consistent with no growth between years 2017 and 2020. The recorded traffic volumes in year 2022 showed a decrease in traffic over the prior years. Traffic volumes recorded in 2023 were consistent with the 2017 to 2020 recorded volumes.
The peak travel periods of the day are between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Sumter County recorded golf cart volumes along Morse Boulevard between the years of 2017 and 2020, which showed between 2,000 and 2,200 golf carts per day in addition to the automobile traffic volumes.

Table 1 - Traffic Volumes on Morse Boulevard
Location 2017 Auto Volume 2023 Auto Volume 2020 Golf Cart Volume
South of El Camino Real 12,551 vpd 11,329 vpd n/a
North of C 466 19,506 vpd 16,966 vpd (2022) 2,040 vp

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I also agree with the OP. Wherever you drive, either in a car or cart, there are places that pose some difficulty navigating and others that are a breeze. The solution to difficult situations is to be aware of your surroundings, assume the other idiot is out to kill you and above all, possess some driving skills. I’m not a fan of playing to the lowest common denominator, spending millions to accommodate the stupidest, least skilled drivers out there. No different in the classroom where the curriculum is designed around the class idiot at the expense of the majority of students

I agree with you. However, sometimes traffic patterns are either stupidly and dangerously designed, or, as in the case of the crossover southbound at 466, have become more dangerous than necessary due to changes in volume over time.

So while I agree that we shouldn't over-react in order to try to make it safe for the complete idiot (who always seems to defeat those efforts anyway) there may be some reasonable action to make that area safer.

In the meantime, I'm with you. Go slowly, keep your head on a swivel, and watch out for the idiots.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by deano_hoosier

From Table 1, page 9 of the study -- I guess I was surprised to see the traffic volume over the 2017-23 period had not grown. I was under the assumption that it surely had. ...

It seems that most of those who cry out for a change blame the 'higher traffic volume' and the expansion of The Villages. I commend you for reading the study.

Too many people allow their emotions to block reason, and then become angry at those who use reason to reach a different conclusion.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by deano_hoosier

The biggest problem I have is getting out of the postal station to head north on Morse. You really need luck to make that move - or wait till the evening hours to make the postal station run.

That turn is a bitch, especially on weekdays before about 6 PM. I either get the mail at night or pick it up when heading southbound anyways so I am taking a right out of the postal station. The proposed traffic modifications both have crossovers before the postal station and are unclear how one would get to the postal station going in either direction on Morse. I didn’t get into that in my summary because it only affects local residents who use that particular station, but it’s another reason I’m against the proposed modifications.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I also agree with the OP. Wherever you drive, either in a car or cart, there are places that pose some difficulty navigating and others that are a breeze. The solution to difficult situations is to be aware of your surroundings, assume the other idiot is out to kill you and above all, possess some driving skills. I’m not a fan of playing to the lowest common denominator, spending millions to accommodate the stupidest, least skilled drivers out there. No different in the classroom where the curriculum is designed around the class idiot at the expense of the majority of students

Totally agree! The Village’s has the absolute worst drivers I have ever seen in my long life, whether it be by automobile, bicycle, or golf cart. And that’s coming from someone whose northern home is Massachusetts, where drivers in the eastern part of the state are referred to as Massholes! I always assume all other drivers are complete idiots and are going to do the absolutely most stupid thing possible. The last thing I want to do is get into an accident and wind up in what is probably the worst Emergency Room in the entire country.

[I'm Popeye!]

Originally Posted by Laker14

Three of my favorite golf courses are Tierra, Hacienda, and Mira Mesa, so although I live between the 6s, I travel the stretch fairly often.
It seems to me the safety issues could be addressed in a much more cost effective manor with a couple of changes.
#1. Strictly enforce the speed limit. Very likely this would provide a positive cash flow until cars learn to slow down.
#2. Alter the crossover southbound at the 466 gate. I can think of a few ways this might be accomplished, but a traffic study examining the best possible solutions could arrive at something at a much lower cost than making the entire run a separate MMP.
A tunnel would be expensive, but far more manageable than changing the whole stretch over to a MMP.

From my experience, slow-driving traffic creates more traffic...
Golf cart speeding over 20 MPH from 441 to 466 has nothing to do with traffic on Morse Blvd...
Maybe fixing the golf cart cross-over at 466 would help...

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I also agree with the OP. Wherever you drive, either in a car or cart, there are places that pose some difficulty navigating and others that are a breeze. The solution to difficult situations is to be aware of your surroundings, assume the other idiot is out to kill you and above all, possess some driving skills. I’m not a fan of playing to the lowest common denominator, spending millions to accommodate the stupidest, least skilled drivers out there. No different in the classroom where the curriculum is designed around the class idiot at the expense of the majority of students

I totally agree. Every accident that has happened on Morse has been caused by a failure to yield right of way. Golf carts turning in front of cars, cars turning right before checking for a golf cart.... The worst is the people in golf carts who approach the 466 gate and even though there are cars coming, they throw that left hand out to tell everyone else to give them the right away. They are wrong. In some cases, dead wrong. I don't care how much money you throw at traffic design, people are going to do stupid things.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by I'm Popeye!

From my experience, slow-driving traffic creates more traffic...
Golf cart speeding over 20 MPH from 441 to 466 has nothing to do with traffic on Morse Blvd...
Maybe fixing the golf cart cross-over at 466 would help...

Absolutely true. Slow drivers cause more accidents than speeders

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I still think The Villages should consider their own Mass Transit system. Villages-specific shuttles, where people who wish to use it can pay as they go, or buy a monthly/quarterly/yearly pass. A dozen shuttle vans or open-air vehicles (sort of like an open trolley, but road-ready - they had these in Century Village in Deerfield Beach). They run continuously, so there's no "scheduled" pickup or departure. You get to a designated area (town squares, larger rec centers, Savannah, etc), and the shuttle makes stops at the medical centers, shopping centers, other town squares, other rec centers, and so on. They go within their own mapped area in a loop, and you can transfer at meeting points to other loops.

Just like the bus does in the burbs near cities, but on a smaller scale and exclusively for people with villages IDs.

The purpose for this would be to reduce traffic overall. Fewer people driving = lower risks for accidents.

[Stu from NYC]

Never understood why Morse is a two land road north of 466 and Buena Vista build as four land road.