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2026 traffic-count report: Marco Island shows mostly acceptable LOS but two failing segments including Bald Eagle Drive
Summary
A consultant hired by the city presented the 2026 traffic-count report showing most corridors meeting adopted levels of service but identifying two F-rated segments (notably Bald Eagle Drive during a peak week); staff recommended year‑over‑year counts, additional monitoring, and targeted operational fixes rather than widening.
The council received results of the City of Marco Island's 2026 traffic‑count study, which covered 20 locations with counts taken during the February–March peak season. Leah Holmes, the consultant leading the study, said the team targeted peak-season weeks and produced a draft report of findings; four locations (17–20) will be re-counted in peak season 2027 because tubes were damaged or counters were affected by construction.
Josh Hildebrand, the transportation engineer, told councilors that most corridors operated within the levels of service adopted in the city's comprehensive plan, but one segment—Bald Eagle Drive—exceeded capacity and received an F rating during the sampled peak week. Hildebrand cautioned the council that construction and temporary rerouting earlier in the season could have influenced some counts and recommended additional data collection before making permanent changes.
"That location was exceeding capacity in your bidirectional capacities… we only had one full week of data," Hildebrand said, adding that more years of repeated counts (same week year‑over‑year) paint a more reliable trend picture.
Councilors asked whether the F rating would jeopardize grant eligibility; staff said they are not aware that an F automatically disqualifies projects and that, in some cases, demonstrated deficiencies can support grant applications. The discussion focused on operational improvements—revising signal timing, adding turn lanes or targeted intersection work—rather than widening lanes on the built‑out island. Council directed staff to schedule a future agenda item to review the frequency and cost‑benefit of the required annual level‑of‑service studies and response options under the Land Development Code.
