SEBASTIAN — As soon as the signs arrive from the Florida Department of Transportation, motorists passing through Sebastian on U.S. 1 will have to slow down by another 5 mph within the city limits.
Efforts to reduce the speed limit through Sebastian’s designated business district began a couple of years ago when the city’s Chamber of Commerce board passed a resolution to request that the state lower the limit on the heavily travelled, state-controlled thoroughfare.
The signs are expected to arrive about the middle of September.
The chamber reviewed the original resolution last spring, then passed a new one and forwarded it to the City Council.
The Indian River County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) – responsible for transportation planning in urbanized areas – and the Indian River Economic Development Council added their support, and City Manager Al Minner forwarded the request package to the state for review.
Chamber Executive Director Beth Mitchell was pleased with the collaborative effort among the several agencies and noted state Rep. Debbie Mayfield was instrumental in “ushering the request through Tallahassee channels,” Mitchell listed the benefits of the project: safety for tourist and resident drivers and pedestrians; economic and tourism – U.S. 1 is a federally designated scenic byway and passes through Sebastian’s designated historical district.
According to FDOT District Four Public Information Officer Chuck McGinness, the 35 mph speed limit will extend from Jackson Street south to County Road 512. Northbound traffic will go from 50 mph to 40, then to 35 at the city limits. The southbound speed limit currently drops to 45 crossing the bridge into Indian River County and will drop to 35 entering the city.
To help drivers become aware of the change, the new signs will be 30” X 36”, slightly larger than the existing signs.
Additionally, McGinness said, the signs at either end of the 35 mph zone will have orange flags attached conspicuously to the top.
“They will be up temporarily,” he said. “Once state engineers feel the traffic is accustomed to the limit” the flags will go.
“The work order to make and install went in on July 29 and we anticipate six to eight weeks, so it should be mid- to late September when the change will take effect,” he added. Steve Marcinik, Sebastian’s community policing officer, said the change will be a safety factor for pedestrians and drivers.
Some residents, he said, aren’t happy with the slowdown, but he reminds them that many business communities in similar situations – Melbourne for example – have made the same decision with positive results.
Enforcement of the new limit will not be the ultra-vigorous, speed-trap variety, but to bring it to people’s attention.
“Some people drive this way every day and get used to a certain speed,” Marcinik said.