City staff presented a proposed update to Winter Haven’s traffic-calming policy, saying the current policy — adopted in February 2008 — has not been revised since it was implemented and that the new program intends to take a data-driven, citywide approach.

“The current traffic calming policy that we have that we are using…was created in 02/2008. It has not been updated since it was implemented,” said Britney (staff member), who led the presentation and said the proposal advances strategic-plan objectives to adopt a traffic-calming policy and regularly review transportation incidents.

The draft program would apply to local and collector streets owned and maintained by Winter Haven; arterials, private roads, and roads maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation or Polk County would be ineligible for city-installed traffic-calming devices, staff said. Staff plans to publish an interactive map on the city website so residents can quickly determine whether a road is eligible for the program.

Staff described an application and screening workflow: residents would submit an application via Access Winter Haven (online, by email, by phone or in person); staff would confirm receipt and eligibility within one week and then collect preliminary data for review by a new Transportation and Mobility team. The presentation named data platforms to be used, including StreetLight and Urban SDK, for volume and speed data collection.

Britney described eligibility and warrants that would guide the preliminary screening — the presentation repeatedly referenced a minimum roadway length of 1,000 feet but included inconsistent references to the posted speed threshold in the transcript. Staff verbally listed a posted speed standard during screening discussion but made conflicting references at different points to “35 miles an hour or greater” and later to “35 miles per hour or less.” The transcript did not resolve which threshold will be used; staff said they will publish formal criteria in the guideline document.

If an application meets preliminary warrants, the Transportation and Mobility team — chaired by Public Works and including representatives from police, fire, economic opportunity and community investment, parks and recreation and human resources — would recommend tiered measures and supervise implementation and ongoing monitoring. Staff described the proposed four-tier approach: Tier 1, awareness and education; Tier 2, enforcement and regulation; Tier 3, physical modifications such as speed humps or chicanes (which require additional community input); and Tier 4, major design and construction such as roundabouts, raised intersections or road diets.

Staff noted the city currently has 81 speed humps installed under the 2008 policy and said the updated approach aims to avoid merely shifting speeding problems from one street to another. Temporary measures (traffic radar trailers or temporary devices) could be deployed while longer-term design work proceeds. Major Tier 4 measures will require design, permitting and budgeting; staff said temporary actions should be used to address urgent safety concerns while planning is completed.

Commissioners asked about coordination with Polk County and other agencies. Staff said the city will refer complaints on non-city roads to the appropriate jurisdiction and copy the resident on the referral so residents are directed to the correct agency. Staff also said traffic-calming device purchases are budgeted in the city’s roadway supplies and materials account and that tier 1 and 2 actions can be implemented quickly while tier 3 and 4 items may require design and budget planning.

Staff said public engagement will be required for major roadway modifications and that the Transportation and Mobility team aims to meet monthly when accidents or pending applications require review. Staff did not provide a firm timeline for when the interactive map or full guideline document will be published.