[HandyGrandpap]

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.

Your post is great, a comment to all of us in Sumter County. This is a County road, do we have any factual basis to confirm CDD1 will pay, as oppossed to County residents?

[randykw]

#11 in line
Mar. 1, 2022, 1430 hrs

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by I'm Popeye!

Why? Would you rather see them going 15 MPH....
I'm on that road most of the time, but I will not exaggerate by saying vehicles going 45 MPH on it...

Bingo. Unless it's the middle of the night or 7 am on Sunday, that road is way too congested for people to go 45 mph. During snowbird season, forget it.

[Jerseybob]

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.

Thank you for the review and spot on, objective comments. I also have reviewed this study and agree the engineering firm did what they were contracted to do.
Your recommendations are true to form, design and allow for a potential working relationship on all levels in identification for a potentially safer and affordable solution.

[Jerseybob]

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. 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

I opine the drop in traffic count could be due to the Covid-19 timeline. Another resource for "gate count" may be identifiable to determine the accuracy of the data collection used in this study, the old "tube" method.
Sadly, in this CDD-1 funded study, the tubes were not monitored frequently enough to determine displacement or proper alignment on the roadways.
That said, it is the final work product that we paid for. With that information, a +/- % would allow for a more accurate number to work with as the study is reviewed by all.

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by jmaccallum

There hasn’t been any traffic increase over the years as shown in the study. In fact there was a decrease in one year. Sheesh! Read the report! Let go of the false traffic increase narrative.

I did not look at the years the study covered, but I thought it was well less than 10 years, may comment was for 20 years ago, so yes I agree there has not been a significant increase in the last several years, but the problems have existing for all of those years. This section of road was designed for a much lower amount of traffic (both cars and golf carts) and as the villages has grown, it is now overloaded.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by I'm Popeye!

Why? Would you rather see them going 15 MPH....
I'm on that road most of the time, but I will not exaggerate by saying vehicles going 45 MPH on it...

Can you explain how enforcing a 30 mph speed limit will cause cars to go 15mph?

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by npwalters

sadly this is was a dead issue when Sumter county refused to share any part of the cost. The basic problem, however, was the poor vision by the developers that put cars and carts on the same major thoroughfare. Fortunately they learned that lesson south of 466,

Live in this area. Could not imagine complaints if this was paid for by Sumter County when this "problem" only affects golf carts in this section of Morse.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by wfp113

The speed limit on Morse Blvd north of 466 is 30 mph and has a golf cart lane. Seldom do you ever see any vehicle going below 35-45 mph and if law enforcement would happen to pull the vehicle over they usually only warn them. The Sumter Co. Sherrifis deputies need to patrol the area and enforce the speed limit.

wfp113

On this road 2-3 times a week and most people do go near the speed limit. Speed does not cause accidents but does exacerbate the impact.

[I'm Popeye!]

Originally Posted by jmaccallum

There hasn’t been any traffic increase over the years as shown in the study. In fact there was a decrease in one year. Sheesh! Read the report! Let go of the false traffic increase narrative.

When was the last time you have been to the Villages...

[I'm Popeye!]

Originally Posted by Laker14

Can you explain how enforcing a 30 mph speed limit will cause cars to go 15mph?

Well, I'll tell YOU...
To enforce a 30 mph zone, you need a law-enforcing officer to watch out. Do we agree?
Most drivers seeing a law-enforcing officer up ahead will slow down even if they are going 30 mph. Cars in the same lane will start to slow down behind each other until, eventually, the one in the back is going a lot less than 30 MPH....

[Papa_lecki]

Make Morse Blvd one way north - expand the buffer for the golf carts.

Find another route south.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Make Morse Blvd one way north - expand the buffer for the golf carts.

Find another route south.

??????, where are you going to magically find another southbound route? Perhaps you should suggest that to Kimberly Horn, the Engineering firm that produced the traffic study. Let them know they totally screwed up the study by not identifying a non-existing route and proposing your fairy tale idea.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by I'm Popeye!

Well, I'll tell YOU...
To enforce a 30 mph zone, you need a law-enforcing officer to watch out. Do we agree?
Most drivers seeing a law-enforcing officer up ahead will slow down even if they are going 30 mph. Cars in the same lane will start to slow down behind each other until, eventually, the one in the back is going a lot less than 30 MPH....

Excellent explanation. Ergo, no speed limits should ever be enforced.

Is that your position?

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Make Morse Blvd one way north - expand the buffer for the golf carts.

Find another route south.

So, basically, you offer half a plan.