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Res 64-74 RESOLUTION NO. 64-74. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, REQUESTING AND URGING THE PALM BEACH COUNTY COMMISSION TO IMMEDIATELY ORDER RECONSIDERATION OF RECENT SIGNALIZATION STUDIES BY THE COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CONCERNING TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF WEST 8TH AND 10TH AVENUES AND ATLANTIC AVENUE IN THIS CITY. WHEREAS, studies were recently conducted by the Palm Beach County Engineering Department to determine if traffic signals were warranted for the intersections of West 8th and 10th Avenues and Atl.antic Avenue in this City~ both resulting in negative recommendationS~ and, WHEREAS, the findings and recommendations relating to the 10th Avenue intersection were as follows: 1. ANALYSIS: a) The subject intersection does not meet the minimum requi~ement~ for the Warrants as established in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The vehicular volumes on the minor street approach do not surpass the minimum requirements during any hours for Warrant No. 1, "Minimum Vehicular Volumes". In addition, the vehicular volumes do not fully meet the minimum requirements for Warrant No. 2, "Interruption of Con- tinuous Traffic". b) As a result of only one accident occurring at the subject intersection, the accident experience Warrant is not satisfied. c) The criteria used in this study are based on engineering judgment of the subject location and the application of nationally accepted Warrants established by the American Asso- ciation of State Highway Officials, Institute of Traffic Engineers and the National Joint Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS: a) Based on the above information, this office does not recommend the installation of a traffic control'signal at the subject location at this time. However, another study will be schedul(d after a twelve month period and recommendations submitted. ~ WHEREAS, The City Council feels that the above findings and recom- mendations are unrealistic and should be rescinded for the following reasons: 1. The survey was taken in May of 1974 - certainly one of the most quiet months of the year traffic-wise in South Florida. 2. The survey seemingly is further weak, unrealistic, and invalid in the following respects: a) It completely fai"s to recognize and acknowledge the vehicular traffic increase which takes place annually during the tourist season, in which Atlantic Avenue services not only Delray Beach tourists, but also the various satellite communities such as Gulfstream and Highland Beach. b) It completely fails to recognize and acknowledge the vehicular and pedestrian traffic which takes place annually during the migrant farm season. c) It completely fails to recognize and acknowledge the extremely heavy loading and unloading of trucks on West Atlantic Avenue which is an extremely busy central business district. d) It completely fails to recognize and acknowledge the advent of 1-95 and the traffic impact that the mere construction is creating - to say nothing of what will happen upon its comple- tion. e) The County report covers the period from May 1, 1973 to April 30, 1974, and acknowledges only one minor accident at the intersection of 10th Avenue when, in fact, the Delray Beach Police Department has 13 accident reports during just the first nine months of 1974 at the 8th and 10th Avenue intersections, and eyewitnesses can account for another 6 which are unreported. f) The report seemingly does not take into account that both 8th and 10th Avenues are arterial streets which carry extremely heavy traffic particularly in the winter months. g) The analysis fails to recognize that there are no traffic lights for a distance of one mile between 5th Avenue and Congress Avenue, thereby creating a speedway which must be continuously patrolled. There have been 41 reported accidents in this stretc! during the first nine months of 1974, and one could only spec- ulate as to how many unreported accidents there have been. h) The analysis finally fails to recognize that there will soon be extremely heavy traffic from new developments west of Delray Beach in the County area which will greatly add to congestion on West Ataantic Avenue. For example, Kings Point has already had County approval for the construction of 8,736 units; the Villages of Oriole plans to construct approximately 12,000 residential units, and Villa Delray plans to construct approxi- mately 4,800 residential units. In addition, there are two developments immediately west of Congress, namely, The Hamlet which has had 2,000 residential units already approved by the City of Delray Beach, and Lago Del Rey, which plans to build approximately 1,200 units. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, THAT: Section 1. The foregoing recitals are hereby adopted and reaffirmed. Section 2. The County Commission is hereby urgently requested to immediately reconsider the request by the City of Delray Beach to have traffic signals installed at the intersections of West 8th and 10th Avenues and Atlantic Avenue. Section 3. That copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the County Commission of Palm Beach County, Florida, and the Palm Beach County Engi- neering Department. Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoptio] PASSED AND ADOPTED on this the 14th day of October, 1974. ATTEST: ~ .... R ~J City Clerk -2- Res. No. 64-74.