[njbchbum]

I wonder what this means for the Shay Gate on the north side! Been using that gate for 4 yrs and there has never been a gate! We just cruise thru and smile and wave back to our "gatekeeper"! There is insufficient room between the gatehouse and the main street to permit the use of a gate! Traffic would be backed up to the hiway if every entering car had to wait for a mechanical gate! Maybe they'll move the gate down to Tarrson? I doubt that!

[bike42]

Originally Posted by villages07

The Feds set highway design standards in the MUTCD ... manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Florida has adopted the national standard.
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/2009/part2b.pdf

The language of this standard is so vague I cannot believe The Villages is spending $1 million to comply without other pressures or motives. Is there a public record of the meeting(s) where this was discussed and decided? Who raised the issue and what did they want to accomplish?

[redwitch]

ONE MILLION DOLLARS? Wouldn't it be cheaper to ask for a waiver for TV? Especially considering how often the gates will be knocked down by carts trying to squeeze through the mini-gap (or just forgetting they have changed).

Makes no sense to me.

[islandgal]

Too bad they can't spend some of that $1 mil to make each village more secure for residents.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by bike42

The language of this standard is so vague I cannot believe The Villages is spending $1 million to comply without other pressures or motives. Is there a public record of the meeting(s) where this was discussed and decided? Who raised the issue and what did they want to accomplish?

Originally Posted by redwitch

ONE MILLION DOLLARS? Wouldn't it be cheaper to ask for a waiver for TV? Especially considering how often the gates will be knocked down by carts trying to squeeze through the mini-gap (or just forgetting they have changed).

Makes no sense to me.

Excellent questions, Bike and Red is on to something. What it the world would be accomplished. If not much in the way of safety, a waiver would seem sensible. It almost seems at first blush that safety would be compromised. I hope there's more to this than meets the eye.

[villages07]

Found the comments to the notice of proposed rule making NPRM... Sveral states and agencies provided comments on this new section but nothing adverse questioning why it was being done. The only reference to the reason for the change by the Feds was to achieve uniformity with how other mandated traffic control gates (bridges and rail crossings) are used.

Paraphrasing here, it said gate arms must extend the full width to block motor vehicle and/or pedestrian traffic, as appropriate. Seems as though the "as appropriate" leaves some interpretation for applicability.

I sure hope FL, Sumter County, and the Villages property management did their due diligence in seeking a waiver from these requirements where it makes sense to do so.

[Midge538]

"Gary Kadow, fellow Lynnhaven resident who is currently running for Supervisor in Community Development District 5 (CDD 5), seat #5, in the upcoming General election took the initiative for clarifying this issue for us."

The Yoder 500 also helps ....

[redwitch]

Originally Posted by Midge538

"Gary Kadow, fellow Lynnhaven resident who is currently running for Supervisor in Community Development District 5 (CDD 5), seat #5, in the upcoming General election took the initiative for clarifying this issue for us."

The Yoder 500 also helps ....

???

[The Shadow]

I wonder if the CDD, being a government body supposedly at arms length from the developer, put this million dollar project out for bids or did the developer get it in a no bid no competitions contract.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by The Shadow

I wonder if the CDD, being a government body supposedly at arms length from the developer, put this million dollar project out for bids or did the developer get it in a no bid no competitions contract.

That's a 5 o'clock "Shadow," a.k.a., a stretch. Don't you think? How much would the developer make after he paid for materials and labor? You're gonna have to 'splain this one to me, Shadow.

[Larryandlinda]

Originally Posted by villages07

<SNIP>
Paraphrasing here, it said gate arms must extend the full width to block motor vehicle and/or pedestrian traffic, as appropriate. Seems as though the "as appropriate" leaves some interpretation for applicability. <SNIP>

The pedestrian control part is 'over the top' but unless they put up a screen they can go 'under the bottom'
Seriously, do 'they' really expect to 'control' pedestrians with Railroad/Checkpoint Charlie-style gates?

Maybe the yoga and pilates clubs will grow or the Limbo will come back!!

And what about those rogue ladies on their trikes?
and egads, DOGS!!
Remember NO fences in TV!!

I say better be careful, gate installers, this maverick triker
http://www.drmirkin.com/images/ThunderChurchill.JPG
might turn loose her roadies - even though she can do the head dip and sneak under the boom

Keep us posted

L and L

[bike42]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

In essence, the law states that there must be complete traffic control of all "vehicles" entering and exiting The Villages. As a result, the following will be implemented in our community:
All single entrance and exit gates must extend far enough over to leave no more than a 24-inch opening.

All double gates, such as the one at the Bonnybrook exit, can have no more than a 40-inch opening.


=

The Standard says "the closest part of the gate arm and support shall have a lateral offset of AT LEAST 2 feet from the face of the curb or the edge of the traveled way" (emphasis mine). As I read this, it that means the opening COULD BE 3 feet, 4 feet or more.

It looks to me as if TV is using the Standard to justify changing the gates for some other reason than just to comply with this "law". What are the reasons? They should be in the minutes of the meeting where the decision was made.

[l2ridehd]

Now we will need to carry gate passes in the golf cart. Used to just leave them in the cars and never needed one for the cart. So where do I get/purchase extra gate passes? Hummmmmmm, maybe that is the way they will be paid for.

[redwitch]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Now we will need to carry gate passes in the golf cart. Used to just leave them in the cars and never needed one for the cart. So where do I get/purchase extra gate passes? Hummmmmmm, maybe that is the way they will be paid for.

And just think of the revenue in replacing lost and stolen cards. Cards are stolen from the carts all the time now. Imagine what it will be like when everyone begins to carry them in their carts -- lost yours; no problem -- grab a new one at the square.

This is definitely one of those things just doesn't make sense to me. I really get the feeling the cost will become truly exorbitant with broken gates everywhere and non-stop card replacement.

[bike42]

If the newly mandated function of these gates is to stop all traffic, what is the purpose of the exit gates? I thought they were to give an image of security. Cars never stop at these gates; they roll into the view of the electric eye and keep rolling through as soon as the gate opens. Will everyone now be required to stop at these gates?

Again I ask -- What is the real agenda for these changes?