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Commission adds stop signs at Jefferson and Evergreen in Golden Gate after resident pleas
Summary
After residents urged traffic calming on Jefferson Street in Golden Gate, the Board of County Commissioners approved installation of stop signs at the intersection with Evergreen Avenue, despite staff saying warrants were not met under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
Martin County commissioners voted unanimously to install stop signs on SE Jefferson Street at its intersection with SE Evergreen Avenue in the Golden Gate neighborhood following sustained resident complaints about speeding and safety.
Michael Griselka, the county engineer, told the board the intersection did not meet the Federal Highway Administration's MUTCD warrants for stop-sign installation — including crash history, sight distance and volume criteria — and staff therefore could not recommend signs. Griselka described why conventional traffic-calming measures such as speed tables or lane narrowing were not feasible for Jefferson because the corridor carries boat trailers and is a primary route to Samsprit Park.
Commissioner Hetherington and several residents argued the street's character and repeated safety complaints merited an exception. "There are a number of speeding vehicles through there. It's a danger to the kids. There's at least three bus stops on that street," Hetherington said. She moved to adopt a resolution authorizing the stop signs; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Commissioners and staff agreed to use advance warning measures when signs are installed — including temporary message boards and advance "Stop Ahead" signage, and discussed solar‑powered flashing advance signs as an option. County legal staff noted installation outside of warrants can raise a potential for additional rear‑end crashes but that advance warnings and signage will reduce that risk.
Public comment ahead of the vote included multiple neighborhood speakers requesting traffic calming on Jefferson and adjacent streets. Several community members and CRA representatives said Jefferson sees heavy through traffic and is used as a shortcut; advocates urged a four‑way stop at the Evergreen approach to slow vehicles while avoiding vertical traffic calming that would be noisy for residents and disruptive for trailers.
The board adopted the resolution directing Public Works to install the stop signs and ordered appropriate advance warnings.
