- February 7, 2025
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Whoever said “the more the merrier” was not traveling down Granada Boulevard at the time.
In 1996, the population of Ormond Beach was 32,426, and in 2017, it was 40,716, according to the Bureau of Economic and Business Research. And the area is booming.
“Traffic impacts will increase as Ormond Crossing, Hunter’s Ridge, Minto’s and ICI develop,” city Planning Director Ric Goss wrote in an email. “Along with the intense commercialization of West Granada, you will see delays in speed.”
One change on Granada that can be expected in the future is a reduced width of the grass medians as turn lanes are added for new businesses.
What else can be done for Granada?
STOP LIGHTS TO BE IMPROVED
The traffic light at Nova Road is rated “F” by the Florida Dept. of Transportation, because of the way eastbound traffic backs up. A planned project by FDOT should improve this intersection and all the others on Granada.
The agency is working on an adaptive traffic signal control system from Tymber Creek Road to State Road A1A that Goss said should improve traffic speed. “Adaptive” means the light sequence will change based on traffic patterns.
FDOT spokesman Steve Olson cautioned that the signals will not eliminate all congestion when there is a high volume of cars.
“It will distribute the available green and red time more efficiently. It will improve traffic flow, overall,” he said.
The $1.6 million project will begin design in 2018, and construction will begin shortly thereafter. The system will be operational likely within 18 months of award to the contractor, Olson said.
The current eastbound wait time at Granada/Nova is 126 seconds. Volusia County, which maintains the intersection for FDOT, has been in discussions with the city of Ormond Beach on reducing the wait time for eastbound by adding some time to the northbound and southbound wait time. No timetable has been set, according to a spokeswoman for Volusia County. Reducing the wait time for eastbound could change the rating from from F to E.
THE HAND AVENUE SOLUTION
“It would help if we treated transit like transportation infrastructure as opposed to a social service.”
RIC GOSS, city planning director
Discussions of Granada Boulevard traffic have always included the idea of Hand Avenue being extended to Tymber Creek Road to relieve Granada.
But it’s unlikely to ever happen.
Lois Bollenback, executive director of River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization, said the cost of crossing the interstate and a sensitive environmental area on the west side have removed it from consideration by Volusia County. Also, Minto Homes has purchased the land west of the interstate.
However, Goss noted that Granada Boulevard in the Williamson Boulevard area will be aided by the extension of Tymber Creek Road from LPGA to Granada Boulevard, which is being done by Minto, the developers of Margaritaville.
Bollenback said development can sometimes provide solutions for transportation, For example, people west of I-95 now drive east to go to a grocery store, but if one is built west of the interstate, they won’t need to make the trip.
Williamson, LPGA and Hand are all County roads, and the growing development in that area will present a challenge for the County, Bollenback said.
LOOKING AHEAD
Goss emphasized that vehicles are not the only way to get around, saying there should always be sidewalks and every road should accommodate cyclists.
He said mass transit needs improvement.
“Currently, (mass transit) operates as a transportation club for those who can’t afford vehicles,” Goss said. “It would help if we treated transit like transportation infrastructure as opposed to a social service. Transit routes need to be retrenched and concentrated in a small compact area where commercial, residential and industrial development is located. It should not be stretched out over the entire county as presently provided.”
Sometimes roads are widened to handle traffic, but Bollenback said she has not seen any interest by Ormond Beach officials in adding a lane to Granada Boulevard. The city comprehensive plan promotes a multi-modal strategy with trails and mass transit, stating “increasing roadway capacity (building more roadway lanes) cannot be the sole transportation strategy to address traffic impacts.”
Bollenback said technology, such as the adaptive traffic lights, should be used to solve traffic problems, referring to smart phones with GPS and increasingly automatic cars.
