19/09/2024
❗️ News Release ❗️ - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Flagler Beach adopts slower speed limit on City Streets
Flagler Beach, FL – On Thursday, September 12, 2024, the Flagler Beach City Commission, upon second reading of Ordinance 2024-13, approved the adoption of a twenty (20) mile per hour (MPH) speed limit on all City Streets in Flagler Beach. The adoption of this resolution only affects City Streets in Flagler Beach, which does not include SRA1A and SR100 (State Roads) along with John Anderson Highway and Roberts Road (County Roadways).
“The intent in the reduction to the speed limit on City streets here in Flagler Beach was two (2) fold. The first is to provide continuity with regards to the speed limit for our residents and visitors. The second is to increase public safety on our City streets, most of which do not have sidewalks.”, stated Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney.
This initiative began nearly two (2) years ago, when Flagler Beach Deputy Chief Lance Blanchette proposed the idea to Chief Doughney. At the time, the speed limit on SRA1A in the downtown portion of Flagler Beach was 25 MPH, but the speed limit on Central Avenue, just one (1) block west was 30 MPH. The assistance of some local residents with a passion for traffic safety was solicited, and the idea was presented to our City Manager and our City Commission for consideration.
While the undertaking to reduce the speed limit to 20 MPH on all city streets becomes effective immediately, a public safety awareness and educational campaign begins today.
Chief Doughney continued by stating that “While the new speed limit is now in effect, alerting our community to the change is paramount. Starting today we’ll embark on a public awareness campaign that starts with this News Release, and will also include posts on our social media platforms, and the issuance of warnings to motorists”.
A speed study was conducted by a certified Traffic Engineer in conjunction with this initiative. The Engineers recommendation was to reduce to speed limit from 30 MPH on most roadways, 25 MPH on others, in an effort to increase public safety on multi-modal streets. Multi-modal roadways are those “shared spaces” that are utilized by motor vehicles, golf carts, bicycles, pedestrians, etc.
Chief Doughney concluded by stating “Other than in the downtown portion of Flagler Beach, our City primarily has roadways without sidewalks. The reduction in the speed limit was approved by our City Commission as a commitment to making our roadways a safe place to travel for all that live, work and visit Flagler Beach”.