A staunch advocate of the environment, particularly regarding transportation and creating healthy, walkable cities, Broward County Mayor Kristin Jacobs introduced the Broward Complete Streets motion at the Broward County Commission Board meeting that was successfully passed on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. The following is an announcement sent out by Broward County Mayor Commissioner Jacobs on March 13, 2013.
"It’s been a big week for transportation in our community!
I am happy to announce that the Broward County Commission voted unanimously in support of a Complete Streets item yesterday. The Broward Complete Streets is program designed with the intention of creating a cohesive transportation system that allows residents conveniently get to their destination. The Broward Complete Streets Guidelines include establishing an interdepartmental Complete Streets Team; coordinating with municipalities, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and other departments on implementation; and to temporarily suspend fees for municipal Complete Streets project applications. It is my view that this program will create safer streets in Broward that work towards efficiently moving all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.
In addition to the unanimous passing of the Complete Streets Program, the Board also passed the WAVE Streetcar project. The Wave is an environmentally friendly streetcar system planned for Downtown Fort Lauderdale. The project seeks to create a livable community by integrating land use, transportation and economic development while being environmentally sustainable. The Wave is a 2.7 mile streetcar system that will serve as a local circulator in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Once people get to Downtown, they will be able to move around without having to use their vehicle. The WAVE will bring new opportunity to Fort Lauderdale and South Florida as a whole and enhance Broward transportation.
The Broward MPO led the creation of a Wave video of the proposed route. Check it out here
The passage of both Complete Streets and the WAVE streetcar project are great milestones for our community and will only enhance the functionality of our downtown. Please feel free to contact my office should you have any questions.
Sincerely, Kristin Jacobs"
For a copy of the motion click here.
The City of Fort Lauderdale along with the administrators of the TOUCH grant held a Complete Streets Implementation Training Workshop on November 7, 2012 aimed at better educating planners, engineers, health professionals and more. Using both presentations as well as charettes to engage the participants, it was followed that night engaging the general public to understand and embrace the principles of what makes streets healthy, safe and walkable.
The City of Fort Lauderdale recently held perhaps the first of public workshops to disseminate information and solicit input regarding Green Street Strategies held on March 12 at the Beach Community Center. Technical support by the EPA was provided as part of their recent award to the City of Fort Lauderdale as one of five cities to receive technical assistance through the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program for Green Streets. The workshop focused on stormwater management, stressing reducing overflow through the use of vegetation and soil techniques.The EPA funded workshop introduced strategies on how to reduce flooding, decrease stormwater pollution in waterways and beautify them using vegetation. This effort is intended to tie into the Complete Streets Initiative, support smart growth principles, public health and improve water quality.
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