See when, and on what parts of Main, Broadway, Emmett
The city of Kissimmee is giving roughly six weeks of notice to drivers who use Main Street, Broadway and Emmett Street.
The city announced Monday that, effective March 31, the speed limit on the stretch of road between Vine Street (at “the archway”) and John Young Parkway will be reduced to 25 mph.
That includes the stretch from Vine (U.S. Highway 192) to Neptune Road that currently has a 40 mph speed limit, Broadway, which currently is at 30 mph through the heart of the downtown shopping and restaurant district, and Emmett Street, currently 35 mph from the Kissimmee Police Department to John Young.
The first portion passes by businesses with only the Oak Street traffic light to control traffic. Emmett Street passes by KPD, the Osceola County Courthouse and the county administration building; a speed bump is adjacent to the administrative building to calm traffic where pedestrians often cross.
City officials said the change reflects data from traffic analysis and community feedback, and is motivated by providing safer conditions for all who travel the corridor—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
Deputy City Manager Austin Blake said the city understands that the change to 25 mph is a significant change from 40 north of Neptune Road. But, as the city will soon be embarking on its Connect Kissimmee Project—which includes improving intersections along Broadway with raised tabletop pavement and a roundabout at Ruby/ Stewart Avenue, he said having a uniform speed limit now provides time for outreach.
“We’ve heard from a lot of people, ‘How is it supposed to be a destination if it is a cut through?’” Blake said, noting traffic passes through headed to go south on John Young. “We want to encourage those who want to be downtown. We’ve cleared it with the (Department of Transportation) that we have local control over the road.”
Outreach, warnings once the new speed limit is in place, and then enforcement with citations is the tiered approach, Blake said.
Felix Ortiz owns Three Sisters Speakeasy at the corner of Broadway and Dakin Avenue, part of where the speed limit will drop from 30 to 25, and where his and neighboring customers are on sidewalks eating, drinking and gathering.
“That’s a big drop on the other side of Neptune, but for our corner, I think it’s fine,” he said. “Some people drive a little crazy and I hope it gets them to pay more attention. I’m all for making it safer where everybody is walking.”
