The DOT seven-month test was prompted by municipalities wanting greater safety for pedestrians.
By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published September 4, 2005
BELLEAIR BEACH - Gulf Boulevard drivers beware.
Beginning in November, existing 40-mph speed limits will drop to 35 mph.
And law enforcement officers will be ticketing speeders.
The slower speed limit will be in place for at least seven months over the entire state-controlled length of Gulf Boulevard from St. Pete Beach to the Indian Rocks Beach intersection at the Walsingham Road bridge.
The state Department of Transportation proposal to test lower speeds became fact Wednesday after a unanimous endorsement by the Barrier Islands Government Council .
The speed limit change is the direct result of ongoing pressure from the BIG-C, which is concerned for the safety of pedestrians - residents and tourists alike - who the group says often put their lives at risk when trying to cross Gulf Boulevard.
The BIG-C itself credits the efforts of Redington Beach Mayor Bob Fountaine, who recently met with Gov. Jeb Bush and state transportation officials to lobby for the lower speed limit, as well as other programs to increase pedestrian safety.
"We did it," said Fountaine, as he described his meeting with state officials.
BIG-C president Don Taber, who is mayor of Indian Shores, told Fountaine he had done a "great job."
Before Fountaine's visit to the governor, the DOT had resisted dropping speed limits on Gulf Boulevard. That attitude was still evident as Donald Skelton, DOT District 7 secretary, described the test program.
"Historically, the (speed study) data does not support that there is an accident problem," he said.
However, a Clearwater resident was struck and killed when trying to cross Gulf Boulevard in North Redington Beach earlier this summer.
Last year, a 13- year-old resident of Redington Beach was hit while traversing a Gulf Boulevard crosswalk on a bike.
Presently, there is a mix of speed limits along Gulf Boulevard ranging from 30 mph to 40 mph in different communities.
The lower speed limits will remain unchanged, but the 40-mph posted speeds in St. Pete Beach, Madeira Beach, Redington Beach, North Redington Beach and Redington Shores, will drop to 35 mph under the DOT test program.
Skelton warned the beach officials that if a speed study to be conducted at the end of the seven-month trial in May does not show a reduction in average speeds, the posted speed limits will revert to 40 mph.
"If it is determined a higher speed is appropriate, the posted speeds will be adjusted accordingly," he said.
Skelton said under department policy and state law, the DOT establishes posted speeds based on the actual speeds of 85 percent of motorists.
But, if beach towns - determined to enforce the new speed limits - have anything to do with it, they will become permanent.
"This is not U.S. 19," said Taber.
Madeira Beach Commissioner John Wolbert said Gulf Boulevard looks more like a "freeway" than the main street of beach communities. "The answer is going to be enforcement during the seven-month period," he said.
In a related action, the BIG-C unanimously voted to recommend its member towns form a Gulf Boulevard Safety Workshop. The new group was proposed by Rob Stambaugh, a member of the St. Pete Beach planning committee.
"We need a unanimous effort to develop a list of needs and objectives for the safety of pedestrians on Gulf Boulevard," Stambaugh told the BIG-C. "We need a unified plan for dealing with DOT."
He said a "consistent plan" would make it more difficult for the DOT to deny requests for traffic calming measures and other programs to make it safer for people to cross Gulf Boulevard.
The DOT has already posted new signage at pedestrian crosswalks warning drivers to yield to pedestrians.
The signs, which carry the words "State Law," make it easier for officers to ticket drivers who don't. Under Florida law, it is a moving violation if vehicles fail to stop or slow down when a pedestrian is on a designated crosswalk. In Pinellas County, the fine for a moving violation is $114.50.
The DOT is also about to install a dozen new crosswalks in Treasure Island, Madeira Beach and North Redington Beach. There are now 33 official crosswalks on Gulf Boulevard. The DOT action will increase that number to 45.
Other proposals from individual towns, such as narrowing travel lanes, new medians, special signage, timed walk lights and periodic road narrowing have been mostly rejected by the DOT.
