County engineer: data support keeping Gulf Boulevard at 35 mph; council members press for lowering to 30

Tom Washburn of Pinellas County Public Works presented the county's traffic engineering analysis and legal criteria for establishing municipal speed limits on Gulf Boulevard.

"The 85th percentile speeds range from 38 to 41 miles per hour," Washburn said about the single‑day June 4 counts, but he also offered longer‑period data from speed‑feedback signs: "The 85th percentile speed is northbound was 33, southbound was 37. And, again, based on this data, that supports a 35 mile per hour posted speed." He explained that state law and the speed‑zoning manual require setting speed limits within defined engineering criteria (85th percentile and pace windows).

Several council members argued that posted limits do influence driver behavior and favored lowering the posted speed to 30 mph for pedestrian safety on a corridor with multiple crosswalks. One councilor said that if the speed limit were lowered to 30 mph, average speeds might drop to the mid‑30s and thereby improve survivability in pedestrian strikes.

Councilmember Benkers moved to lower the posted limit to 30 mph and the mayor said the matter will require an ordinance because the speed is codified; staff advised a work session to consider the policy, traffic data and enforcement implications. Washburn said the county will provide the raw data and that if the city votes to change its code, the county will implement sign changes and coordinate enforcement.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A with Tom Washburn (SEG 698–1329).