Q: How do I find out which streets are scheduled for re-paving ?
A:  Streets that are going to be repaved our listed in the County Engineer's Road Paving Schedule.

Q: Why are Some Roads Being Repaved and You Won’t Pave My Limerock Road
A: First, let’s start with some background information. Hernando County has approximately 1,500 miles of maintained roadways. Within that total there are 1,081 miles of paved roads and 427 miles of limerock roads. To answer your question, it is important to realize the the county can reduce repaving cost by preventing further deterioration of failing roadways which later would require complete rebuilding rather than asphalt overlay.

Q: Who do I call about dead tree removal within the county right-of-way ?
A: Call DPW at (352) 754-4060 . If the tree has taken down any power lines, do not approach the area. Call the police or sheriffs office immediately. They will block off the area someone will contact the power company to fix the lines. 

Q: How do I get a pothole fixed?
A: Call DPW at (352) 754-4060 . Generally, repairs are completed within several days depending on the severity of the damage.

Q: Who do I call to fix burned out street lights?
A: Call Florida Power at 1-800-700-8744  and provide the address and street name.

Q: When and where do you place Stop Signs?
A: Stop signs may be warranted where one or more of the following conditions exist:
Intersection of a lesser traveled road with a main road; Areas of poor intersection sight distance; and, Where crash records indicate stop controls will help.
Stop signs installed in the wrong place or for the wrong purpose usually create more problems than the solve. A misuse of stop signs would be to install them to try to regulate speeding.
 
Studies nationwide reveal that stop signs placed in this manner result in the following:

• Speeds increase (greater than the posted speed) approaching and departing the stop condition;
• Regular users of the intersection begin to utilize “rolling stops” or disregard the stop altogether;
• These actions effect the safety of vehicle, pedestrians, and bicycles in the area.

Q: Who do I call if I see a traffic sign down or damaged ?
A: Call the Sheriffs office or Brooksville Police . They will send someone out to direct traffic and will call us to replace the sign.

Q: Who do I call to report a sink hole in the road ?
A: Call the Sheriffs office or Brooksville Police . They will send someone out to redirect traffic around the hazard and will call us to repair the road.

Q: How Are Speed Limits Established?
A: In Florida, regulatory speed limits are set by Florida Statutes, Chapter 316, which deals with “State Uniform Traffic Control”. Specifically, Florida Statute 316.189 presents the authority to establish speed zones on city and county streets and roads by the local jurisdiction. An engineering study per conformity with F.D.O.T. criteria is required.

Traffic engineers throughout the country use the normal driver’s speed as the prime guide in setting speed limits since most drivers tend to regulate their own speed according to traffic, roadway, and weather conditions. Hernando County first records the travel speeds of all vehicles on a given road segment. This data is reviewed to determine the "85th percentile" speed, and the 10 MPH pace. Nationally, it is accepted that 85% of all drivers are reasonable and prudent, and will travel at safe speeds or lower. The 10MPH pace reflects the 10 MPH grouping that contains the largest number of vehicles. The top range of the 10 MPH pace is normally close to the 85 percentile speed. This accounts for a lead vehicle with grouped vehicles immediately behind. The number data, crash history, pavement and shoulder widths, clear zone, land use, number of driveways, roadway geometric and sight distance are all considered by the engineer in making the speed limit determination. The elected officials of the jurisdiction will officially adopt the study thereby making it law.

Q: Why not lower Speed Limits?
A: Hernando County receives many requests to lower a speed limit to stop speeding and improve safety. Lowering a speed limit does not reduce speeding, but may increase it. A roadway posted 40 MPH will have 85% traveling at that speed or less. Consider that 15% are speeding at 40 MPH, therefore would also speed at 30 MPH. Since the speed would be unrealistically lower, and that most people drive per the prevailing traffic conditions, roadway appearance, and their driving experience, an even greater number of speeders will result. The result is vehicle traveling at non-uniform speeds, which increases crash potential between faster and slower vehicles. Safety is also reduced because at various speeds, pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles entering and crossing the roadway have much greater difficulty judging the speeds of the approaching vehicles.

Q: What about Advisory Speed Limits?
A: Many driver’s question the difference between black on white vs. black on yellow speed limit signs. A black on white speed limit sign is the legal restriction imposed for that section of roadway until posted otherwise. A black on yellow sign is an advisory speed based on the safe and comfortable speed for a specific condition. The black on yellow speed signs are posted below a standard warning sign. The advisory speed limit is for the warned condition only, after which the driver may resume the regulator speed.

Irrespective of a regulatory or advisory speed sign, all drivers are required by law to adjust their speed for the conditions then existing, including traffic, pedestrians, weather, hills, curves, and so on.

Q: When is a Traffic Signal Installed?

A: “Does someone have to die before we get a signal here?” The elected officials and their staff hear this quite often. The determination to install a traffic signal results from engineering examination and judgment of nationally established warrants.

A signal warrant analysis study examines traffic volumes, movements, and speeds, excessive side street delays, pedestrian and school zone activities, types and history of accidents, the roadway and signal system, and combinations of the above. Improved safety and traffic flows are the goal. The justification of signalization and type, additional lanes, and related improvements are concluded in the report.

Q: Are there different types of school zones?

A: There are three different types of traffic control measures in school zones in Hernando County. They are rural, with no pedestrians; urban with pedestrians on major collector roads; and urban with pedestrians on local streets. All three types are per F.D.O.T. specifications. Each type receives treatments with standard school signs and pavement markings. Placement of the signs and markings depends on the function of the roadway, posted regulatory speeds, vehicle classifications, and whether students walk or bike to school. The installation of flashing beacons and reduced “School” speeds is also dependant on these factors.

Rural schools are in locations where all students are transported via buses and/or parents. The “School Entrance” receives warning signs and advisory speed limits generally of 35 MPH, when flashing. This speed was calculated to maximize driver response time to the peak volume of vehicles entering and exiting the school site. The times of operation are determined from annual observations of this traffic and coordination with each site’s administration. Parrott Middle and Moton Elementary fall into this class of site.

Urban schools on collector roads mix higher speed, high traffic roadways with school buses, parents, bikes and walkers. The primary need of control is for pedestrians crossing said road. Florida Law provides for a speed reduction to 15 MPH. Flashing beacons are used with special crosswalks to emphasize the fact that pedestrians cross there. Current standards call for 15 MPH zones to be approximately 100 feet long approaching the crosswalk.  Most Hernando County schools receive this type of treatment.

Neighborhood schools like Eastside and Floyd Elementary are located on a local street, which does not experience the speeds, volumes, or classes of vehicles found at other sites. Most traffic approach stop controlled intersections just prior to entering the school zone. The traffic is neighborhood or school related, therefore drivers are aware that caution is needed. These sites do not have flashing beacons at this time, however, conditions are being monitored to determine if changes would be necessary. The speed control signs with times printed are just as legally binding as any other zone.