Marion County commissioners have approved speed limit increases on multiple roadways across the county, including along East Highway 318 in Citra — and at least one resident who lives nearby is not happy about it.

Mary Ann Rondinella lives near Highway 318 and says a portion of the road increasing from 35 mph to 45 mph worries her, particularly because of a school bus stop along the route and the volume of heavy truck traffic passing through daily.

“So that’s my concern,” Rondinella said. “Are heavy trucks going to be able to slow and stop safely if a school bus and a line of cars are stopped there?”

Former federal highway official calls changes a safety risk

Rondinella is not just a concerned neighbor. She previously worked with the Federal Highway Administration and says the decision goes against what traffic engineers are trained to prioritize.

“Kind of flies in the face of what most highway engineers are taught, which is that speed kills — especially when you have a roadway that is not designed to accommodate high speeds and heavy truck traffic,” she said.

She also pointed to wildlife as an added danger on the road, noting the area has a high deer population. “The risk of injury at 45, 50 miles per hour is much greater than at 30 or 35,” Rondinella said.

Why the county made the change

The county engineer recommended the speed limit changes based on citizen requests, speed data, and a review of roadway conditions. The changes are consistent with Section 316.189, Florida Statutes, which authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to establish speed limits based on an engineering investigation.

Speed studies conducted in June 2026 found that 85th-percentile speeds along the affected roadways ranged from 47 to 55 mph — meaning the new limits better reflect how fast drivers are already traveling.

Despite the opposition, the changes have been approved. County staff will now coordinate with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to implement them.

Rondinella says she hopes the community can come together to push the county to reverse the decision.

Full breakdown of speed limit changes

East Highway 318 (Citra area)

• 5305 E Hwy 318 to 3623 E Hwy 318: Increase from 45 mph to 55 mph
• 3623 E Hwy 318 to 2615 E Hwy 318: Increase from 35 mph to 45 mph
• 2615 E Hwy 318 to 1853 E Hwy 318: New 35 mph speed zone established
• 1853 E Hwy 318 to 990 E Hwy 318: New 45 mph speed zone established

SW Marine Boulevard (Rainbow Lakes Estates)

• SW Pompano Road to 0.23 miles west of SW Ivy Place: Increase from 35 mph to 45 mph
• 0.23 miles west of SW Ivy Place to SW Breezy Point Dr: New 45 mph speed zone established

County-Maintained Truck Routes (Rainbow Lakes Estates) — New 45 mph speed limit established on:

• SW Breezy Point Drive from SW Marine Boulevard to SW Indian Hill Drive
• SW Sea Cliff Avenue from SW Breezy Point Drive to SW Half Moon Drive
• SW Indian Hill Drive from SW Breezy Point Drive to SW Half Moon Drive
• SW Half Moon Drive from SW Sea Cliff Avenue to SW Ridgewood Road
• SW Ridgewood Road from SW Half Moon Drive to the county line at NW 27th Street

SW Rainbow Lakes Boulevard

• 20233 SW Rainbow Lakes Boulevard to SW Sailfish Road: New 35 mph speed zone established
• SW Sailfish Road to SW Deepwater Court: New 45 mph speed zone established

SW Beach Boulevard

• SW Kingfish Road to SW Sailfish Road: New 35 mph speed zone established
• SW Sailfish Road to SW Deepwater Court: New 45 mph speed zone established