Titusville CRA keeps current U.S. 1 speed limits after FDOT study, pushes for signs, enforcement and more data

The Titusville Community Redevelopment Agency on Feb. 11 reviewed an FDOT speed study for U.S. 1 and directed staff to seek added signage and more local data while leaving the posted 40 and 30 mph limits unchanged.

Board members said the study — which recommended retaining the current posted speeds and suggested installing an additional 30 mph sign on the east side of southbound U.S. 1 south of Maine — does not by itself solve pedestrian-safety problems in the downtown CRA area.

The FDOT report found recorded speeds in the study segment ranged from about 26 to 45.9 mph, with an 80th-percentile speed of 37 mph; the report noted crash history and pedestrian activity when recommending the current 40- and 30-mph postings be retained. The board was provided the FDOT report as information only; no ordinance or speed-change motion was proposed.

Member Ball said the study’s short sampling windows understate the community’s safety concerns and urged more local action, noting the study identified 44 crashes in the study area between November 2021 and October 2024 and eight crashes where investigators recorded higher-than-posted speeds. “We have no jurisdiction really or authority on that highway but I come to the conclusion that the downtown is not going to move and U.S. 1 is not going to move, so we have to figure out how to peacefully coexist,” Ball said.

Member Acre urged installing a traffic signal at Julia Street, calling it “100 percent” the fix for the northbound crossing and contending a flashing beacon would not reduce crashes. “There is a solution at least northbound that would fix it and that’s a traffic light at Julia Street,” Acre said.

Member Nelson and Vice Mayor Cole urged visible short-term measures including flashing signs, standardized bright-yellow signage at crosswalks and public service announcements. Nelson specifically suggested flashing signs near the Pritchard House and by the United Methodist Church. “I definitely don’t want to raise the speed limit,” Nelson said, adding that enforcement and awareness could change behavior.

Titusville Police Department representatives told the board they have begun local data collection and will present a more detailed count next month, including visual counts and officer observations. “We jumped right on this last month when we were here and heard your concerns,” the police representative said; the report on visual counts and button-press or pedestrian-activation counts was not included in the FDOT packet and was described as forthcoming.

Board members discussed lobbying Tallahassee and involving the city council’s transportation board to press FDOT for engineering changes. Staff noted they have already placed a request with FDOT for the additional 30-mph sign on the east side of southbound U.S. 1 south of Maine, consistent with the FDOT recommendation.

No vote was taken to change posted speeds. The board’s near-term directions recorded in the meeting included the FDOT sign request, continued local enforcement and data collection by the Titusville Police Department, and consideration of public awareness campaigns and CRA funding for community-policing efforts.

The police department is scheduled to present the local traffic-count findings at a future meeting; staff will report on any FDOT response about sign installation when available.