Traffic Calming Plan
Safe Speeds, Stronger Neighborhoods
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Thank you to everyone who shared feedback on the Draft Traffic Calming Maps. We appreciate the time and input you’ve provided to help shape this effort. The project team is currently reviewing and organizing all comments as we work toward finalizing the maps. Once finalized, the next step will be to prioritize projects and develop cost estimates, which will be shared with the public at a future public meeting. Additional details about the upcoming meeting will be provided as they become available. We appreciate your continued engagement as we move forward with creating safer neighborhood streets.
What is the Traffic Calming Plan?
The Traffic Calming Plan (TCP) is a City-wide initiative dedicated to unifying the existing Traffic Calming program and evaluating areas of community concern for potential traffic calming solutions. For more information on the existing Traffic Calming program, please visit Traffic Calming.
What is Traffic Calming?
Traffic calming is a set of roadway treatments engineers can take that alter driver behavior and reduce the negative impacts motorists can have on pedestrians and cyclists. Traffic calming can help to reduce speed, vehicle crashes, and in turn, increase pedestrian and bicyclist usage.
These measures can include:
- Horizontal Deflections (roundabouts, traffic circle)
- Vertical Deflections (speed tables, raised intersections)
- Street Width Reduction (median islands, on-street parking)
- Routing Restrictions (median barriers, splitters)
Education and enforcement are also considered to be traffic calming measures but should be used in conjunction with physical measures when possible.
How to Get Involved
The City will initiate high levels of neighborhood and resident engagement to develop this plan and prioritize areas of concern and identify what treatments are available to the communities. These activities will include public meetings, a digital survey, and neighborhood outreach. If you would like a presentation at your neighborhood meeting, or organization, please contact the project manager, Corinne Arriaga, corinne.arriaga@sarasotafl.gov.
Project Documents
March 23, 2026 Public Hearing
At the October 6, 2025 City Commission meeting, the Transportation Planning Division presented an update on the Traffic Calming Plan. During this update, staff presented a community idea of lowering speed limits in the city. City staff recommended lowering speed limits to 20 MPH on local roadways and a maximum speed of 35 MPH on non-local roadways, excluding interstate connectors and US 301 from 17th Street to City Limits (N).
A motion was made at the meeting to move forward with reducing speed limits. A speed study was finalized based on the requirements set forth in the Florida Department of Transportation’s Speed Zoning for Highways, Roads and Streets in Florida. Results from the speed study show that the existing 85th percentile speeds on several local roadways within the City are below 20 MPH; however the posted speed limit on the majority of these local roads is 25 MPH. Based on these findings, RK&K (consultant) and City staff are recommending that the posted speed limit be set at 20 MPH for roadway segments which have an existing 85th percentile speed at or below 20 MPH. A map showing the local road segments with 85th percentile speeds at or below 20 MPH is provided in Appendix G of the study.
The segments identified in the map are reflected in Exhibit A, Chapter 33 of the Sarasota City Code, entitled Traffic and Motor Vehicles; Article VII, Schedules; Section 33-248, Schedule I - Speed limits (Additions to text in Exhibit "A" are indicated by underline; deletions by strikeout.)
This effort was developed in collaboration with neighborhood representatives and was reviewed by the Sarasota Police Department (SPD), the Engineering Division, and the City Attorney’s Office to ensure technical accuracy and legal sufficiency. Staff met with SPD to discuss implementation and enforcement considerations, and SPD expressed support for a phased and measured rollout of the proposed speed limit reductions. This coordination is intended to allow for proper public education, signage updates, and enforcement transition so that, if the ordinance is adopted, the changes can be implemented efficiently and managed effectively.
Agenda Backup Materials:
3.3.2026_Ordinance-No.-26-5592-with-strikethrough.pdf(PDF, 2MB)
3.3.2026_Traffic-Calming-Plan-Speed-Study.pdf(PDF, 30MB)
October 6 City Commission Meeting
Town Hall Documents
Meeting Documents
Meeting Video
Video Link - Time Stamp (16:14)
Contact
Corinne Arriaga, AICP, CPH
Project Manager, Senior Transportation Planner
Corinne.Arriaga@SarasotaFL.gov