tet c.., I I I TRAFFIC CIRCULATION ELEMENT TASK 3 & 4 - ALTERNATIVES EVALUATION/ FINANCIAL RESOURCES/POLICIES

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1 tet i- CTY OF SANBEL TRAFFC CRCULATON ELEMENT TASK 3 & 4 - ALTERNATVES EVALUATON/ FNANCAL RESOURCES/POLCES t c.., t Project May, 1988 Prepared by: David Plummer & Associates, nc Main Street Ft. Myers, Florida 339el

2 r~ Conversion Factors AADT TO Month Of Year January February March April May June July August September October November December peak season, daily traffic volumes on Periwinkle Way range from less than 7500 per day east of the Causeway Boulevard to approximately 15,300 west of Palm Ridge Road and over 20,000 between Casa Ybel Road and the causeway Boulevard. During the summer season ( ie June 1988) daily traffic volumes on Periwinkle way range from less than 5,400 per day east of the causeway Boulevard to approximately 11,500 west of Palm Ridge Road and over 15,000 between Casa Ybel Road and the Causeway Boulevard. Existing peak season traffic volumes along Sanibel-Captiva Road are significantly lower than Periwinkle Way but are in the range of 9,000 to 10,000 during the peak season and 7,000 to 8,000 during June. Daily volumes along the sanibel Causeway are in excess of 19,000 ~uring the season and 13,500 in June. 6 -

3 7 - A, t! EXSTNG LEVEL OF SERVCE Existing 1988 summer ( June) daily and peak hour traffic volumes, roadway capacities and level of service are presented in detail in Exhibits 4, 5 and 6. Traffic volume count summaries are presented in Appendix A. As shown in the exhibits, causeway Boulevard, Periwinkle Way from causeway Boulevard to Tarpon Bay Road, and portions of Casa Ybel Road operate at Level of Service " E" and '' F" under peak season, peak hour conditions. Level of Service " E" and " F" are experienced on portions of Periwinkle Way from Casa Ybel Road to Causeway Boulevard under summer season, peak hour conditions. The other arterial and collector roadways within Sanibel including Casa Ybel Road and Causeway Boulevard operate at Level of Service " D" or better under summer season, peak hour existing conditions. The peak hour operating were analyzed in detail. below. conditions of the intersections under study The results of that analysis are summarized ntersection Analysis - Existing PM Peak Hour ntersection Controlling Movement Level of service ( 1) summer - June Peak Season) Periwinkle Way/Causeway Blvd. Periwinkle Way/Bailey Road Periwinkle Way/Donax Street Periwinkle Way/Dixie Beach Blvd. Periwinkle Way/Casa Ybel Road Periwinkle Way/Jerry's Exit Periwinkle Way/Palm Ridge Road Periwinkle Way/Tarpon Bay Road sanibel-captiva Road/ Tar~on Bay Rd. Tarpon Bay Road/ sland nn Road west Gulf Drive/Tarpon Bay Road sanibel-captiva Road/Wildlife Rd. sanibel-captiva Road/Wulfert Rd. East Gulf Drive/Lindgren Boulevard F E E E D E F A B A B A A A F) F) E) F) D) E) F) D) D) C) D) C) C) D) Footnote: Per intersection capacity analysis, major street left turns and minor street crossing movements and turns.

4 FUTURE TRAFFC CONDTONS Future peak hour and daily traffic volumes, volume to capacity and levels of service were investigated. Consistent with the existing data, a summer ( June) season analysis was conducted. Two future time periods were analyzed. An intermediate ( 5 year) projection is needed as the base for the improvements in the five year Capital mprovement Element. That projection included link and intersection turning movement projections for the year The second analysis was performed for the planned horizon year of 2ee8 and included study area link analysis only. Growth rates comparable to those used in the peak season analysis were used in projecting summer season ( June) traffic volumes. Future traffic volumes are presented in Exhibits 7A and B and 8A and B. Peak season daily traffic volumes on Periwinkle Way between Casa Ybel Road and the causeway Boulevard are projected to increase, to approximately 25,e0e to 29,0ee by 1993 and 34,000 to almost 39,00e by 2ee8. Summer season ( June) traffic volumes for those same locations increase to approximately 18,eee to 20,0ee by 1993 and 26,0ee to almost 28,e00 by daily seasonal traffic volumes along Sanibel-Captiva Road range from approximately 1e,800 to 13,e00 and increase to 1s,ee0 to over 18,000 by summer season increases along Sanibel-Captiva Road are approximately 9,500 to 10,500 in 1993 and 13,000 to 14,000 in Causeway summer season ( June) volumes are projected to increase to over 23,000 by

5 Reduce Auto Ridership serious traffic problems as projected for the City of Sanibel require serious solutions. The " Do Nothing" alternative previously presented is clearly not a desirable alternative and is not consistent with current City policy. The recognition of and creation of lower Levels of service standards on certain constrained roadways as a result of policy decisions to not widen City roadways would appear to be a necessary first step and retains control of the traffic problems within the City's jurisdiction. This alternative, however, does not represent the long term solution to traffic problems. dentification and implementation of capacity enhancement/ operational improvements is necessary and represents short term operational improvements to complement the other alternatives. That alternative also does not represent a long term solution. t is clear that the existing transportation system's capacity to provide acceptable service can only be accomplished by reducing the use of motor vehicles to and within the sland or by providing additional road capacity. Provision of additional road capacity through major widening efforts and/or a by-pass route has been explicitly stated in prior City studies, current City policies and reconfirmed by the City as part of this process to not be in the best interests of the City. The long term alternative, therefore, would appear to be efforts to reduce auto ridership. Thus, the City has clearly indicated that the desired long term approach to manage traffic within the City is to reduce the volume component (" V") rather than the capacity component (" C") of the volume to capacity ratio. Measures to reduce auto ridership are many and include but are not necessarily limited to the following. ( Some of the items can be independently implemented while others need to be implemented together.) 1. ncrease Causeway tolls. 2. Expand on-sland trolley/transit system. 3. Expand bikepath system throughout City. 4. Expand pedestrian network throughout City. 5. Reduce tourist rental car needs. 6. mplement trolley/transit system to/from Sanibel. 7. Provide off-sland day visitor intercept parking facilities in combination with trolley/transit solutions. 13 -

6 c.., 8. Restrict auto access and auto travel within City. Daily/weekly restrictions. Hourly restrictions 9. Limit hourly City access to maximum vehicular " cap". 10. Reserve rights of way and implement personal non-auto vehicular system. Potential advantages and disadvantages of measures to reduce auto ridership include the following. Advantages: Disadvantages: Non-roadway construction alternative. Maintains and strengthens character of City. Compatible and complementary with tourist industry. Long term solution to long term problem Can be phased in over time Compatible with other alternatives. Consistent with past and present City policy. Potential philosophical change, educational process required. Possible impacts on adjace~t areas. Perceived impact on commercial interests. mplementation not within total control of City. The stated City objective to endeavor ~ o re~uce auto ridership is not a new objective. n addition, there are numerous economic, legal and practical issues associated with each of the alternatives to reduce auto ridership. No attempt has been made to identify every issue or to address the issues in a quantifiable manner. Finally, implementation of many of the alternatives is not within the control of the City, requires philosophical changes and has possible impacts on neighboring areas adjacent to the City of Sanibel.

7 This traffic circulation element does, however, reconfirm that the objective of the City is to address its traffic problems through policies to: first, implement capacity enhancement improvements so as to manage the projected traffic volume increases within the City through 1993 and second, to reduce auto ridership rather than to pursue measures to expand roadway capacity. Rather than superficially addressing only some of the relevant issues, the traffic circulation element does identify the priorities and direction to be taken to thoroughly explore the issues associated with efforts to reduce auto ridership. A direction is established so that alternatives selected for implementation will be thoroughly evaluated to insure the highest degree of success. The individual alternatives to reduce auto ridership are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they can and should be used to mold a comprehensive approach towards the ultimate solution. Finally, the alternatives can only be implemented over time. The policies presented identify the framework for that direction. Objective: A balanced transportation system is desired which is compatible with other elements of the comprehensive land use plan. t should provide, to the extent possible, transportation alternatives to the automobile, compatible with the City's character, that create the higher level of service through reduced traffic demand rather than increased roadway apacity. Transit trolley service should continue to be provided for the peak tourist season. The funding for this service should be borne primarily by the visitors and the tourist industry. The City should, however, strongly encourage the continuation and expa~sion of the private tram system in operation in the City. The City shall assist the trolley operator in monitoring and pursuing available grants. Priority for expansion should be shorter headways ( time between trams) along the Periwinkle Way, Tarpon Bay Road, Gulf Drive Corridor. Encourage private enterprise to continue to provide and expand, during the peak season, daily service to the Southwest Florida Regional Airport. work with area hotels, commercial establishments, and resorts to undertake an advertising campaign to encourage tourists to the City to utilize other modes of travel ( ie bikes, on-sland trolley/transit system) once in the City. 15 -

8 Monitor the status of the Ft. Myers Beach demonstration trolley system. Work with Lee Transportation to implement sanibel wit.hin five years, if County and the Florida Department of a demonstration trolley/transit system to possible and financially feasible Fund in the Capital mprovement Program a financial study to identify possible following. Causeway toll adjustments. dentify among others the Historic adjustments to the causeway toll including the inflationary status of the current toll as compared to the historic toll Elasticity of the toll structure in regards to ridership and revenues. ll Status of County planned toll adjustments to finance new bridge construction. Economic and legal feasibility of variable fare structures based on destination ( ie Sanibel/Captiva), length of stay, auto occupancy, residency ( ie resident, tourist, day visitor) and the like. Work with Lee County to phase in over time appropriate adjustments to the current toll structure continue to expand the City's bikepath system along or parallel to the City's arterial and collector roadways. Where possible, expand the bikepath system along Lindgren ' Boulevard from Periwinkle Way to Gulf Drive and sland nn Road from Tarpon Bay Road to Gulf Drive. mproved protection for the bicyclists should'be provided throughout the City and, in particular, along Periwinkle Way. At intersections of the bikepath with arterials and collectors provide improved bikepath markings. 16 -

9 For those segments of the bikepath that cannot be physically separated from the auto traveling lane, consider painting those bikepaths to clearly delineate the auto versus bike areas and/or improve bikepath markings to clearly delineate the separation. Provide " rumble" strips, where appropriate, to separate the two lanes. By the year 1998 provide, where possible, a physically separated bikepath along or parallel to Periwinkle Way from the Causeway Boulevard to Tarpon Bay Road f and when Lee County designs and constructs the high level bridge and any future Causeway widening, a separate, reserved bikepath from the mainland to the City should be encouraged as part of that improvement provided that the City's bikepath system can accommodate projected demand.,. Develop pedestrian pathways to serve activity areas and internal traffic in residential and commercial areas, interconnect residential and commercial areas, where appropriate, and serve the recreational facilities on Sanibel. Where possible, these pathways should be similar but separated from those proposed for bikes. support and and develop that only a demand. encourage Lee County in its continuing effort to locate expanded public beach opportunities within Lee County so few beaches are not forced to absorb that recreation Discourage further special events on sanibel during the peak season. Restrict the issuance of special even permits to only those events that are clearly in the best interest of the entire City. Discourage the further expansion of the use of the City's arterial and collector roadways by motorized vehicles with a design speed of 3B miles per hour or less. Continue to enforce the prohibition of the use of sidewalks and bikepaths by those vehicles. Seek State legislative assistance in restricting and/ or prohibiting the use of arterial and collector roadways within the City by these vehicles. 17 -

10 c.. Reserve 199' of right of way along Periwinkle Way and sanibel-captiva Road for future use, exclusive of roadway widening, that the City may determine to be in the public interest and compatible with the historic, scenic, environmental and aesthetic characteristics and restrictions of the City. c..; As the Summerlin Road Corridor continues to develop, cooperate with and encourage Lee Tran to provide " park and ride" and expanded public transit service to this area of the County and in the vicinity of the sanibel causeway. coordinate that " park and ride" service with the other policies to reduce auto ridership implemented by the City including an off-sland trolley/transit system to and from those facilities and Sanibel. Monitor the status of the benefits to Sanibel of a parallel to Summerlin Road hurricane evacuation route, to that Beltway/Expressway. Lee county Expressway Study, evaluate the southern Beltway/Expressway, south of and from McGregor Boulevard to -75 as a and take an official position in regards f that Southern Beltway/Expressway is constructed, evaluate the feasibility of providing a park and ride facility at the interchange(s) closest to sanibel in combination with an off-sland trolley/transit system to Sanibel. f feasible, work with Lee County to provide additional land in the vicinity of the interchange for that peripheral parking facility. Explore the feasibility of and desirability of seasonal boat service from Sanibel to Downtown Ft. Myers as not only a tourist attraction but also a commuter service. Monitor efforts in other congested areas of the county ( ie Cape Coral, Ft. Myers Beach) pursuing similar policies and programs. 1'

11 c.. - Continue to explore the economic, legal and practical feasibility of measures to reduce auto ridership including but not limited to: Expanded off-sland intercept parking. Expanded off-sland and on-sland trolley system Restricted auto access and auto travel within Sanibel. Restricted Sanibel access to a maximum vehicular hourly " cap". on an annual basis, review the status of the previously identified objectives and policies and the progress to date on the above measures. After thorough issue resolution and public input, implement appropriate solutions so that the previously identified Level of Service standards can be applied to all roadways without limitation by the year C 19 -