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Traffic, Traffic, Traffic
Dear Neighbor,
On January 26th, the City Commission met at the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center for the Annual Goal Setting Workshop. An outstanding discussion ensued as we formulated our Top Priorities for FY 2024 (beginning October 1st, 2023), projects of interest, and district needs.
One of the six top priorities for FY 2024, and quite possibly one of the most concerning to our neighbors, is Traffic & Transportation. As our city continues to become a more popular world-wide destination, with an increase in residents and visitors, along with events taking place on the beach have increased the amount of traffic that our residents are experiencing. I want to thank all neighbors who have reached out to my office this past year, and in particular, the past several weeks expressing your thoughts and frustrations regarding the traffic challenges that we have been faced with. The Commission will continue to find ways to promote the increase of traffic mitigation efforts and multi-modal options to alleviate congestion in high-traffic areas around the City. At the March 8th Commission meeting, I echoed the sentiments of the District 2 residents regarding traffic congestion, special events, and noise on the barrier island. After a discussion with the city manager and my colleagues, it was agreed to schedule this issue for the April 4th conference meeting.
To help provide temporary relief of these traffic issues, especially during Spring Break, FLPD has implemented multiple tactics to help with traffic congestion on the beach. During the month of March, FLPD allocated the Motor Unit to the beach area during Spring Break. They are educating and enforcing traffic statutes. They are also focusing on the Uber/Lyft drop-offs in the middle of the roadway. These type of middle of the road drop-offs stop traffic and prevent the natural flow of traffic and exacerbate congestion even more. Because of this, FLPD have issued multiple warnings and citations.
A1A is lined from East Las Olas Boulevard to Beach Place with barricades. This allows us to provide a safer environment along the sidewalks. This also forces pedestrians to utilize the open crosswalks and prevents Uber/Lyft passengers from exiting the vehicle anywhere on A1A.
FLPD staffs those designated open crosswalks on busy days with city personnel to facilitate controlled crossings and minimize traffic stops. This prevents traffic from constantly stopping; it keeps traffic flowing. This also allows police to focus on pedestrian safety by controlling where people cross and having traffic-certified city employees stopping traffic periodically to get pedestrians across safely.
We have made a concerted effort to push out information on any road closures, special events or traffic changes during this time and throughout the year via the City’s event calendar, social media and the District 2 newsletter in an attempt to educate guests and residents by finding alternate routes.
On a city-wide front, Fort Lauderdale continues to work with its partners at the county, regional and state transportation agencies to find ways to ease congestion. The proposed commuter rail service currently being planned between Fort Lauderdale and Miami along with FDOT’s improvements being made to Sunrise Boulevard designed to improve traffic flow are just a few of the strategies being employed to enhance mobility throughout the city. As part of the expansion of the convention center, the county has promised to construct a bypass road through the port to relieve traffic on 17th Street. And, downtown, the city is studying a one-way loop using Andrews and 3rd Avenue that could create a rapid-transit lane. One issue that still needs to be addressed by the County is the synchronization and signalization of traffic lights on our roads. The city supported the 1 cent sales tax increase to assist in this process. It is time to make good on that promise and implement the latest technology that exists now to help alleviate the traffic we are experiencing on major arteries. In addition to these upcoming projects, below is a summary of additional initiatives that are currently underway.
Circuit
In July 2022, the City Commission approved an agreement for a six-month pilot project with Circuit that provides visitors and neighbors with eight all-electric, zero-carbon producing shuttles, operating on-demand in the downtown area and fixed-loop service on the beach. In less than two months of operation, ridership surged to more than 11,000 passengers using the service in October. As a result of the increase in demand, the micro transit pilot created 53 jobs within the City. We have received rave reviews about the pilot program and are investigating the feasibility of long-term options.
Circuit’s February 2023 numbers indicate that continued demand in the first quarter of 2023 has been steadily booming in our city. I asked the Circuit team for some specific data to break down ridership and give detail to who is utilizing this service, what times, etc. The data indicated that our 64 and older community has really embraced Circuit and ridership is up month after month during the 5 pm rush hour times, which can only help alleviate traffic issues.
Specifically, to reduce overall traffic, leading to and on the beach area, during the St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival, the Transportation and Mobility Department partnered with LauderGO! Micromover (Circuit) and the Water Taxi in providing an alternative means of transportation between the downtown and the beach. Event attendees were encouraged to park at the Riverwalk Center Garage downtown at a reduced parking rate and to use the LauderGO! Micromover to get to and from the garage and the Water Taxi stop at Laura Ward Plaza from where Water Taxi service was provided to the beach. The Transportation and Mobility Department will be pursuing similar efforts for future major events.
FY24 Community Shuttle Program applications with Broward County
The Broward County Transportation Surtax program provides funding for the operation of the local Community Shuttle service (i.e. LauderGO!). Each year, the County allows for new applications to be submitted and considered as part of the new funding cycle, with no match required by the City. The City’s FY24 application, which was submitted on March 17, 2023, seeks improvements of the existing Community Shuttle service by expanding service days to 7 days a week operation and expanding service hours to cover morning and evening commuter peak for all five (5) existing routes. If approved, the proposed enhancements should improve quality of the overall service for transit dependent riders. As a result, we expect an increase in ridership and reduction in number of single-passenger vehicles along the roadways.
Broward County Transit - Micro Transit Pilot Program
Broward County will be implementing a County-funded 3-year microtransit pilot program in different areas of the County. City staff worked closely with Broward County staff to discuss and propose areas in the City of Fort Lauderdale where the program would be beneficial. The City formally requested to be included as part of the phase 1 of the aforementioned pilot program. The pilot program is anticipated to commence by October 1, 2023. More details of this service will be provided in the future.
Galt Mile On-Demand Micro Transit Service
City staff is currently developing scope and cost estimates for expanding the existing on-demand Circuit service to the Galt Mile area through the end of FY23. Once estimates for the costs become available, Staff will bring to the Commission an item for consideration and approval.
Galt Mile Community Shuttle Service Update
While funding for the Galt Mile community shuttle service was approved by Broward County as part of the FY21 application cycle, service did not commence yet as the approved service plan required construction of eight (8) new transit stops most within the private rights-of-way. City staff performed field reviews, identified readily available/existing bus stops and requested that Broward County approve the use of these alternative stops. Broward County is currently reviewing the City’s proposal. If approved by the County, City staff will work with our current shuttle operator to finalize operational logistics and any required contract amendments.
District 3 On-Demand Micro Transit Service
On March 13, 2023, Circuit service was expanded to include most of the Dorsey Riverbend neighborhood through City funding. Additionally, City staff was able to secure funding from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) which will be used for further expansion of on-demand transit service in District 3 as part of the State-funded pilot program. City staff is working through FDOT funding requirements and defining the service area and operating hours.
I want to personally thank everyone, especially the District 2 neighbors, for your feedback and most importantly, your patience during these last few weeks. Although we experience traffic congestion in all parts of our District, it is no surprise that the beach sees an elevated volume during the months of March and April. Please know that your feedback is heard. Together, we have made a lot of progress, but there is so much more to do. We must continue to work with all our partners in providing mobility options and ways to ease traffic congestion. What exists now is not acceptable. Working on solutions with our partners at the county, regional and state transportation agencies continues to be a top priority of mine and the entire Commission.
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