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Polk County OKs speed‑hump installations on multiple neighborhood streets after residents testify about dangerous speeds
Summary
The board approved resolutions to install speed humps on Catherine Drive (7), Lakeland Highlands Road (5), Stevenson Avenue (2) and Tangelo Street (3) after staff presented speed/volume data and residents described frequent, dangerous speeding.
Polk County commissioners on Aug. 5 adopted a series of resolutions to install speed humps on four residential streets after staff said each segment met the county's traffic calming criteria.
Amy Gregory, Traffic Manager, summarized the data and community ballots supporting the measures for each street. For Catherine Drive, staff recorded an 85th percentile speed of 48 mph and an average daily traffic of 1,150 vehicles; staff recommended seven speed humps after receiving 80% favorable ballots from homeowners. "As much as the board's criteria for the installation of traffic calming devices have been met, staff recommends the adoption of a resolution to install 7 speed humps along Catherine Drive," Gregory said.
Multiple residents testified about dangerous speeds and risks to children. Frank Decker, who lives on Catherine Drive, said speeding has been extreme: "it was going well over 100 mile an hour," and urged the board to act before someone is hurt. Cassandra Richards and other nearby residents described similar observations and emphasized school‑route safety and the approaching school year.
The board also approved staff recommendations to install five speed humps on Lakeland Highlands Road, two on Stevenson Avenue in Babson Park, and three on Tangelo Street in Highland Park Manor after staff presented speed/volume/crash data and reported ballots meeting the county thresholds. Commissioners and staff discussed post‑installation monitoring to check whether commuter traffic diverts to parallel streets; staff said a follow‑up study could be scheduled after installations are complete.
Clarifying details: each traffic calming action was supported by speed/volume studies and ballots of affected homeowners (typical thresholds: 85th percentile speeds exceeding policy limits and 80% favorable response from fronting homeowners). Residents emphasized immediacy during public comment; several requested rapid installation ahead of the school year.
