Local

City of Atlantic Beach fights to lower speed on Mayport Road

For years, there's been a debate about the speed limit of Mayport Road in Atlantic Beach.

Action News Jax has learned what steps the city plans on taking as it continues its battle with the state to lower the speed limit.

Action News Jax spoke with Atlantic Beach Interim City Manager Kevin Hogencamp about the plan he’s come up with to make changing the speed limit a reality.

LOCAL NEWS: World Golf Village employee taken to hospital after golfer punched him, police say

He’s laid out a plan that he describes as a "full-court press" effort, including passing a city resolution to change the speed limit, requests of support from public officials, businesses and those living in Atlantic Beach, all with the hopes of ending the debate and finally getting the speed limit changed.

Right now, the speed limit along Mayport Road is 45 mph. Many want to see that lowered to 35.

“I think it’s a good idea,” neighbor Nell Johnson said.

“I don’t think it would be a positive,” bicyclist Christopher Rice said.

In his staff report, Hogencamp said lowering the speed will “reduce the risk of fatalities and injuries” for drivers and those walking and biking.

“I’ve been hit twice on Mayport Road,” Rice said.

“It’s scary 'cause I ride my bike out there as well,” neighbor Susan Perry said.

But state officials say the speed limit is fine. A Florida Department of Transportation speed-zone study done in March said the “results… support a speed limit of 45 miles per hour.” The same type of study was also done in 2002 and 2009 – each time had the same result, no change to the speed limit.

"We’re afraid that that study doesn’t contemplate the volume of pedestrian and bicycle traffic,” Hogencamp said.

But some say it's not that simple.

"The traffic here gets backed up with the speed limit already. I think lowering it could be a good thing but could be a bad thing, causing more traffic," neighbor Nathaniel Spicer said.

MILITARY NEWS: Missing Putnam sailor found hiding in ship transferred to brig

And yet, others say change is needed.

“It’s not safe to cross; 45 miles per hour is way too fast for that road, in my opinion. I drive my kids to school on that road. It makes me nervous every day,” Jeff Wight said.

According to state crash data over the period from 2014 to 2017, there were 524 crashes along a three-and-half mile stretch of Mayport Road.

On Monday, Hogencamp will present to the city his plan of action for getting the speed limit changed. He tells Action News Jax he is very optimistic this time, but if FDOT doesn't agree to the change, then he said the city may push for legislative change to allow local governments to determine speeds limits for state roads in their communities.