Item N1 N.1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMSSIONERS
County of Monroe fma Mayor Heather Carruthers,District 3
h} ] Mayor Pro Tem Michelle Coldiron,District 2
The Florida Keys Craig Cates,District 1
David Rice,District 4
Sylvia J.Murphy,District 5
County Commission Meeting
October 213, 2020
Agenda Item Number: N.1
Agenda Item Summary #7475
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: BOCC District 1
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Amanda Leggett(305) 292-3400
n/a
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a Resolution expressing the support of the Board for
the Florida Department of Transportation installing a permanent traffic signal at U.S. 1 and College
Road on Stock Island.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) installed a temporary
traffic signal at the east end of College Road and U.S. 1 on Stock Island as part of the Cow Key
Bridge construction project. The Sheriff asked FDOT to make that light permanent at the end of the
project and FDOT indicated they would study the issue. In the interim, the traffic light was
removed.
The resolution expresses the Board's support for FDOT installing a permanent traffic light.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: N/A
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
DOCUMENTATION:
Resolution Traffic Signal North College Rd SI
Exhibits A B Cates College Rd Tr Sig Res
Map
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date:
Expiration Date:
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Total Dollar Value of Contract:
Total Cost to County:
Current Year Portion:
Budgeted:
Source of Funds:
CPI:
Indirect Costs:
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts:
Revenue Producing: If yes, amount:
Grant:
County Match:
Insurance Required:
Additional Details:
n/a
REVIEWED BY:
Craig Cates Completed 10/08/2020 11:07 AM
Bob Shillinger Completed 10/08/2020 11:08 AM
Liz Yongue Completed 10/08/2020 11:21 AM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 10/21/2020 9:00 AM
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RESOLUTION NO. - 2020
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A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN
SUPPORT OF INSTALLING A PERMANENT TRAFFIC
SIGNAL AT USl AND NORTH COLLEGE ROAD ON 2
STOCK ISLAND, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA IN
PLACE. 0
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WHEREAS, a temporary traffic signal was installed by the Florida Department of
Transportation (hereinafter "FDOT') at US and North College Road on Stock Island in Monroe =
County, Florida in order to facilitate the ongoing Cow Key Bridge construction project; and
WHEREAS, in his August 12, 2020 letter to FDOT (attached hereto as Exhibit A.),
Monroe County Sheriff Richard A. Ramsay noted that his 2002 request that a permanent traffic
signal be installed at North College Road and US was turned down by FDOT; and CL
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WHEREAS, Sheriff Ramsay stated "Over the years we have experienced a large amount r_
of traffic crashes at this intersection in addition to large back-ups of traffic trying to get out onto
USL Since the temporary traffic light has been installed we have had no issues at all, thus 0
confirming that the need for the traffic signal exists and it effectively works."; and
WHEREAS, Sheriff Ramsay has requested that the temporary traffic signal, which had
been installed at the intersection of North College Road and US1 during the Cow Key Bridge •0
construction project,remain in place upon conclusion of the Cow Key Bridge construction project
until a permanent traffic signal can be installed; and
WHEREAS, in his written response to Sheriff Ramsay dated August 20, 2020 (attached
hereto as Exhibit B.), James E. Wolfe, P.E., Secretary, District Six, FDOT advised they "...have
scheduled a study after the ongoing project ends, so results are not skewed by abnormal traffic
patterns." and"..will also conduct an in-depth analysis of crash records as part of the study"; and t0
WHEREAS, while only approximately two (2) miles long, College Road is an extremely 0
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dense and heavily trafficked road housing the following: �
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• Lower Keys Medical Center, our local hospital; en
• Key West Health and Rehabilitation;
• Bay Shore Manor, an assisted living facility;
• College of the Florida Keys and its on-campus housing, Institute for Public Safety (basic
law enforcement academy),marine propulsion and welding buildings and dive lagoon; 2
• Florida Keys SPCA,Inc.; 2
• Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Theatre;
• Gerald Adams Elementary School;
• Monroe County's only Homeless Shelter known as "KOTS" (Keys Overnight Temporary
Shelter); Ec
• Monroe County Detention Center; U
• Monroe County Sheriff's Administrative offices;
• Department of Juvenile Justice offices:
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• City of Key West Department of Transportation;
• Sunset Marina and Condominium Residences, a housing development also providing
private boat slips; D
• Key West Golf Club and its housing development;
• American Legion;
• Key West Tropical Forest&Botanical Garden; CU
• In addition to other private businesses providing services such as watersports, etc.
WHEREAS, the above list of facilities was intentionally included in this resolution to 0
document not only the extreme density on College Road but also to identify the categories of CU
facilities and services housed on College Road that are essential to the effective functioning of our
local government and provide vital services heavily utilized by the majority of the residents of L
Monroe County, FL and the many visitors to the Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, a series of four permanent traffic signals are located on US 1 heading into the
City of Key West beginning at the intersection of US 1 and North College Road in Stock Island:
• in-between North and South College Road regulating traffic flow not only
coming in directly on US but also traffic flowing onto US from MacDonald
Avenue which is also extremely dense with numerous housing developments,
businesses, restaurants and marinas; 0
• the intersection of US and Cross Street;
• the intersection of US and South College Road; and
• what locals refer to as "the triangle", the sole entrance into or exit out of the r_
City of Key West where US 1 connects to Roosevelt Boulevard; and .2
WHEREAS, due to its proximity off of US 1, North College Road provides an alternative
road for vehicles travelling into the City of Key West to circumvent the often "bottle-necked"
traffic congestion on US 1 between North College Road and South College Road at peak times by
eliminating the often lengthy wait to get through the first two traffic signals leading to the
"triangle"; and 0
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WHEREAS,of major concern,the traffic congestion in this area of US 1 creates extremely 0
hazardous situations for vehicles attempting to enter or exit College Road from or onto US1 Z
including critically time-sensitive access to and from the hospital on College Road by emergencyCU
medical vehicles responding to and treating life-threatening injuries; and
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WHEREAS, the traffic signal located at the intersection of South College Road and US1
that regulates the flow of traffic entering and exiting South College Road from and onto US 1 �-
appears to assist in providing a safer and more efficient flow of traffic; and 0
WHEREAS,the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,Florida concurs with
Sheriff Ramsay's findings that the installation of a permanent traffic light at the intersection of
US 1 and North College Road is in the best interest and public safety of the residents of, and visitors
to, Monroe County, Florida; and E
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WHEREAS, the FDOT recent removed the temporary traffic light at College Road and
U.S. 1; and
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WHEREAS, the Commission would like to see that light reinstalled as a permanent traffic
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light. D
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NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY CU
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA: 2
Section 1. The Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida 0
hereby supports installing a permanent traffic signal at the
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intersection of US and North College Road on Stock Island.
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Section 2. The Clerk is hereby directed to provide a copy of this resolution to:
• Governor Ron DeSantis, State of Florida
• Representative Holly Raschein, The Florida House
• Senator Anitere Flores, The Florida Senate 0
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• James E. Wolfe, P.E., Secretary, District Six, M
Florida Department of Transportation
• Sheriff Richard A. Ramsay, Monroe County Sheriff's Office
• Terri Johnston, Mayor, City of Key West 0
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PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida at a regular meeting of the Board held on the 21" day of October, 2020. 0
Mayor Heather Carruthers _
Mayor Pro Tern Michelle Coldiron
Commissioner Craig Cates
Commissioner David Rice
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Commissioner Sylvia Murphy 0
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA r-
(SEAL) Cn
ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK U
BY:
By: Mayor Heather Carruthers
Deputy Clerk 0
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SHERIFFSMONROE COUNTY
RICnARD A. RAMSAY, SHERIFF
EXHIBIT A.
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Augustl2,2020
r.James Wolfe
District 6 Secretary
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woo N.W. iii Ave.
Miami,FL 33172
Via email,james.wolfe@dot.state.fl.us 0
Dear Secretary Wolfe,
temporary light has been installedt US1 and NorthIli road in order to facilitate
oin g Cow Key Bridge construction projec t.North Collegeis a very busy roadit iv
access to the communityhospital,college, marina,golf course,housingprojects,assisted l C
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facilities, eri ,County jail, DJJ, SPCA,Gerald Adams elementary school,County offices as
well as KW Cityfacilities, 0
normally do not champion new traffic lights you are aware,but I have supported need for
light t location since 2002n I was the Captainfor the Lower - ys `s r . I had made
request back then for a traffic light at US1 andCollege o ,lout it was turned down. Over the
years we have ' large amount of traffic crashes at this intersection in addition to large
back-ups of traffic trying to getrout onto USi. Since the temporary t has been installed Cn
have had no issues t all,thus confirmingthat the need for the traffic signal exists andit effectively
works.
Please consider this request from office,the City of Key West and the citizens of Monroe County
fort .is temporary i t to be left in place upon the conclusionof the Cow Key Bridge 0
construction raja until r anent light can be installed.
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Rick Ramsay
,Sheriff of o roe County
Craig Ctos, Monroe Countya ission rDistrict
Greg Velez, Key West City Manager
Sri Johnston, Key West Mayor
Steven McAleamey, Director of Engineering Cityof Key West
33 CwC Lt,EGE t 1 t 33 �) -7001 Q. t'
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DocuSign Envelope ID:D57D 7DS-13F0-4FCA- g - E072 D26C7C
nT-
Floridaa r e oTransportation
RON DESANTIS 1000 NW I I I"Avenue KEVIN J.THIBAULT,P.E.
GOVERNOR Miami,FL 33 t 72-5800 SECRETARY
August 20,2020
2
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The Honorable Rick Ramsay
Sheriff of Monroe County U
5525 College Road
Key West,FL 3300LM
Dear Sheriff Ramsay,
Thank you for your August 12 letter requesting a permanent traffic signal on Overseas Highway at North
College Road. We value your insight and leadership by bringing safety issues up to our attention. 0
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A preliminary review of crash data from 2013 until present does not suggest any crash patterns. We
observed a slight increase in crashes in 2020,but the crash frequency is still low. In general, some types 2
of crashes,such as rear end collisions,typically increase whenever a new signal is installed. The trend at 0
the intersection after we installed the temporary signal as part of the on-going project is consistent with
our expectations.
We have already scheduled a study after the ongoing construction project ends,so results are not skewed
by abnormal traffic patterns. We plan to collect traffic counts and conduct field reviews in February
2021,at the height of tourist season. We will also conduct an in-depth analysis of crash records as part of
the study.
Please feel free to contact Ramon Sierra at 305-470-5336 ore ail raon.sierra(agdot.state.fl.us if you 0
have any questions about the traffic study.
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Sincerely,
cu5igned by:
Bd4C4964447E45A..
James E. Wolfe, P.E.
Secretary,District Six
Cc: Craig Cates, Monroe County Commissioner District I
Greg Velez, Key West City Manager
Teri Johnston,Key West Mayor
Steven McAlearney, Director of Engineering City of Key West
Improve Safely, Enhance Mobility, In,gp re Innovation
www.fdot.gov
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