Islamorada Traffic - Yikes!

If you live in the Florida Keys, traffic is a sore subject. Traffic is bad and getting worse as the Keys continues to develop. Based on Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Monroe County standards, the “Level of Service” (LOS) used to rate traffic on US1 has fallen below an acceptable level and is not in compliance with the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan or the Islamorada Comprehensive Plan.

According to FDOT, Islamorada averages as many as 31,500 vehicles per day on US1 on an annual basis. The numbers are likely larger in season and lighter in the hot summer and fall months. Based on data provided by the Tourist Development Council, estimations are:

• Tourists account for 42% of all traffic in Islamorada.
• Day trippers account for 17% of all traffic in Islamorada
• Tourists who spend one or more nights account for 25% of all traffic in Islamorada
• Workers in the tourism industry account for 28% of all traffic in Islamorada

We all have our own personal experiences with local traffic, knowing first-hand how bad it is and how it negatively impacts our quality of life. And then there is the question of storm evacuations. Who do we hold accountable when problematic evacuations cost lives?

The purpose of this report is to help the residents better understand the problem and provide suggestion/solutions to our traffic problem.

Click here to read the detailed analysis

A sample of traffic data from one day,

courtesy of the Monroe County Sheriff Office traffic app

Click here to learn how to get this app