 |  | Last week, I participated in the 2024 Safe Streets Summit in Miami. Co-hosted by the team at the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), the Summit is a close collaboration between the Broward MPO, and the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA). Together, we created a forum dedicated to sharing ideas about how we can work together to improve the safety and mobility of bicyclists and pedestrians across the Southeast Florida Region. The Summit kicked off with an insightful conversation between me and Steve Braun, P.E., District Four Secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Our dialogue including thoughtful perspectives about the mobility issues we face in our region, and what we can do collectively to address them. Gil Penalosa, the visionary founder of “8 80 Cities” and “Cities for Everyone,” was our keynote speaker. His presentation on creating spaces that are safe and accessible for all, from the youngest children to the oldest adults, sparked engaging discussions among Summit participants. Through the annual Safe Streets Awards, we had the pleasure of acknowledging those in Broward who are leading the way in making our streets more inclusive. The City of Sunrise received the Complete Streets Community Award, highlighting their efforts in our region. Kudos to Josette Severyn, a relentless advocate and Broward County’s Multimodal Mobility Projects Administrator, who received the Complete Streets Champion Award. The City of Fort Lauderdale, in collaboration with our team at the Broward MPO, earned the People’s Choice Award for the N.E. 15th Avenue Tactical Urbanism Project, a testament to our collective commitment to creating safer, more efficient streets. The second day of the Summit was dedicated to learning by doing, featuring mobile tours and a workshop led by Gil and his team. These sessions offered valuable insights into community-led infrastructure initiatives that embody our mission for safer and more responsive streets. We invite you to visit the Safe Streets Summit webpage for photos and event highlights. I look forward to seeing you at next year's Summit, as we continue our mission to advance safer streets for everyone in our community.
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Safe Streets for All Grant Catalyzes Major Safety Enhancements in Broward County Communities | |
The Broward MPO in partnership with Broward County was awarded a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to develop a Safety Action Plan to guide implementation of a diverse range of safety enhancing projects throughout Broward County. The Plan will include methodologies that enable a proactive approach to safety – making improvements before crash patterns emerge. Until recently, safety has typically been addressed reactively, meaning improvements are made after crashes occur. While not ideal, the reactive approach can result in significant and sustained change if the response is effectively reactive – if it is bold, comprehensive, and accelerated through innovation. An example of effective reaction is the action taken by the Florida Legislature, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and Broward County in response to the death of a child walking to their first day of school in the early 1990’s. The child, Ramon Turnquist, was crossing Hallandale Beach Boulevard (a State highway) at a signalized intersection in the vicinity of Dixie Highway with the assistance of an adult crossing guard and was hit and fatally injured by a pick-up truck that ran a red light. In response, FDOT, working with elected officials and Broward County, modified its design standards to allow 15 mph reduced speed zones to include signalized intersections having designated school crossings, with the reduced speed zones extending along the limits of a given school’s property. FDOT then programmed, developed, and delivered projects to install traffic control devices denoting the 15-mph speed limit at all public schools adjacent to State highways. The traffic control devices were innovatively integrated into the Broward County signal system to ensure proper and reliable operation. This was completed within approximately five years with a concurrent effort by Broward County for schools not adjacent to State highways. The response to safety is becoming more proactive; although sometimes initiated by a tragic event, reactive responses can be agents of positive change. | |
Join Us For a Community Meeting About the Mobility Hub at SW/SE 17th St Project | |
Please join us on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 6 p.m. for a community meeting to learn about the selected preferred alternative on the Mobility Hub at SW/SE 17th St. See your input and recommendations for the project concepts. The meeting will be held at Broward Health Medical Center (1600 S Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316) in the 2nd floor auditorium. | |
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Thank You to the Title Sponsor of
the State of the Region Annual Awards
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Broward MPO Participates In
Fort Lauderdale Bike Ride
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On the morning of Saturday, February 17, cyclists of all ages and backgrounds gathered for a special bike ride hosted by City of Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Warren Sturman. As the group pedaled through the bustling streets, they paused intermittently to discuss ongoing and future transportation projects to enhance the city's infrastructure. With the commissioner leading the way, the group stopped at key locations, where he, along with City and Broward MPO staff, elaborated on initiatives ranging from bike lane expansions to park improvements. These stops provided valuable insights into the City's vision for sustainable mobility and fostered a sense of community engagement and collaboration. MPO project manager Christopher Restrepo was present to speak on the SW/SE 17th St Mobility Hub Project development that the MPO is currently conducting. The Mobility Hub at SW/SE 17th St from SW 9th Ave to US-1 aims to provide safe and comfortable access from the proposed Broward Commuter Rail station to existing bus routes, residential areas, a school, a park, a hospital, and businesses. Our concept development will lay out a plan for implementing vertically separated raised bike lanes on each side of the road, with a landscape strip separating the bike lanes and the sidewalk to provide a buffer between travel modes and an opportunity for planting shade trees. This will also look at options for constructing raised pedestrian crosswalks and raised intersections that will serve as traffic calming measures for motorists and safety and accessibility measures for pedestrians. In addition, our concepts will explore transit amenities such as enhanced bus shelters, site furnishings, and wayfinding. To stay up to date on this project, click here. | |
Explore the Evolution of Port Everglades in the Latest Episode of the Broward MPO’s Podcast | In this engaging episode, which drops on March 15, Broward MPO Executive Director Greg Stuart sits down with Lori Baer, the pioneering executive director of the Port Everglades Association, in honor of Women’s History Month. Lori is celebrated as Florida's first female port director and a staunch advocate for regional economic growth and workforce development. They delve into how Port Everglades has been a cornerstone for Broward’s growth, shedding light on its indispensable role in the local economy. Lori shares her insights into the Port’s rich history, its operational dynamics, and the vital community connections it fosters. This conversation is especially relevant for local community members interested in understanding the synergy between public interests and private sector initiatives in facilitating the Port’s expansion. | MPO Launches New Education Series to Empower Stakeholders to Learn About Transportation |
 | | The Broward MPO is excited to launch a new series designed to demystify the world of transportation. This series clarifies complex transportation terms and concepts each week, distilling them into digestible, bite-sized pieces of information that can be read in just one minute. From explaining the ins and outs of public transit systems to the future of mobility, understanding how transportation systems work is crucial. Mobility Minute is perfect for busy individuals interested in learning more about transportation but may not have the time to delve into a particular topic. First up, we break down the separate phases of a transportation project. Transportation projects are developed from a collaborative effort, driven by stakeholder input and with consideration for environmental and community goals. The MPO conducts planning studies to define project needs and tackle significant challenges. These initiatives include diverse transportation projects that range from enhancing the roadway, bus, rail, or multimodal networks, determined based on community needs, available resources, and desired outcomes. The transportation development process guides projects from initial planning to completion and comprises five phases.
Phase 1: Project Planning & Programming
The initial phase establishes clear objectives and scope. Alternative options are evaluated while considering environmental, economic, and safety factors.
Phase 2: Funding & Feasibility
Once a project is defined, securing financing and conducting a feasibility study is important. The feasibility study assesses financial viability and identifies potential constraints.
Phase 3: Design & Project Programming
After a solution is identified, projects progress to the design phase. This phase requires coordinated efforts for environmental documentation and cost estimation. The MPO oversees project programming and the transition into implementation.
Phase 4: Construction & Maintenance
Building a project requires meticulous planning to mitigate risks and environmental impacts during construction. The procurement process focuses on the right price, source, quantity, and quality of resources, while ongoing maintenance preserves quality infrastructure.
Phase 5: Evaluation & Improvement
Post-construction evaluation provides real-time data about operational efficiency and guides future projects to ensure continual improvement.
Stay tuned for weekly insights that enhance your understanding of mobility!
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