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Strong Towns View of Fed Hwy

Recommendations for FDOT US1 Project in Boca Raton

by Strong Towns Boca Raton Chapter

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is planning an upgrade to US1 (Federal Highway) in Boca Raton. This article provides recommendations for the FDOT US1 project in Boca Raton based on Strong Towns principles.

FDOT US1 Project Description

On September 9, 2024, FDOT representatives gave a presentation on the US1 upgrade to the Boca Raton City Council. PowerPoint Presentation (granicus.com) The objective of this presentation was to provide information on the proposed upgrades and solicit feedback. The schedule for the project calls for construction to begin in the Winter of 2026. The scope of the project is on US1 from Camino Real to NE Mizner Blvd/NE 8th Street.

The upgrades need to be consistent with the Complete Streets and Vision Zero programs adopted by the city.

Complete Streets

Complete Streets is a design approach that seeks to create streets that are safe, accessible, and convenient for all users, regardless of their mode of transportation, age, or ability. This concept prioritizes the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motorists alike This ensures that everyone can move safely and efficiently within a given street space. An important aspect of Complete Streets is the idea of placemaking. That is the streets are destinations not just a means of traveling from one place to another. Boca Raton’s Complete Streets Policy. – BocaFirst

Vision Zero

Vision Zero on the other hand, is a global road safety initiative that eliminates all traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. This is along with promoting safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all. This program takes a fundamentally different approach to road safety by prioritizing human life over speed. Boca Raton’s Vision Zero program description can be found here: Boca Raton’s Vision Zero Progress Tracker Update.

The responsibility of road safety shifts from individuals to the design of the transportation system itself is in this program. A successful implementation of Vision Zero requires making changes that go far beyond the FDOT proposal for US1.

Recommendations

The planned FDOT US1 project upgrades do not comply with either Complete Streets or Vision Zero. The segment of US1 is our downtown “Main Street,” and it should qualify as a “street.” That is, a safe space for people and commerce, with residences and businesses lining the roadway. Unfortunately, the proposed street design and speed make it a “stroad,” too high speed for a street, but too complex for a road. Designs should consider protected bike lanes and protected intersections. For more information, see: What’s a STROAD and Why Does It Matter? (strongtowns.org).

Streets

Streets provide their highest value when they are places people want to be. Residents, commercial businesses and retail businesses all benefit from places that people want to go “to” rather than “through.”

The following image depicts the atmosphere we would like to create in our downtown. As residents of Boca Raton, we would like US1 to be safe, comfortable, interesting, social, and useful for everyday errands.

This design concept, courtesy of SWT Design, provides a sense of place for residents and visitors to gather.

Roads

Streets should be designed with low speed limits and plenty of access points. Roads on the other hand, should be designed with high speed limits with minimal access points.  The idea is that roads connect cities, i.e., the higher speed limits of roads add value by allowing people to rapidly move from city to city.

Stroads

Stroads are a hybrid of streets and roads. They are streets with too high of a speed limit or roads with too low of a speed limit. The following image is an example of a stroad in downtown Boca Raton.

This section of US1 in Boca Raton, that FDOT is planning to upgrade, is an example of a stroad. The speed limit is 40 MPH which is much too fast to accommodate the placemaking depicted in the first image above. A speed limit of 20 MPH or less is required to begin transforming this section of US1 from a stroad into a street.

The above image is a section of Glades Road in Boca Raton that also qualifies as a stroad. In this case the speed limit is too low for the definition of a road. To move people rapidly to and from Boca Raton, speeds in the 60-70 MPH range are required; however, the multiple access points on Glades Road make this speed limit range dangerous.

Note that Glades Road has four vehicle lanes in each direction with a 45 MPH speed limit; whereas US1 in downtown Boca Raton has a 40 MPH speed limit with two lanes in each direction.

Summary

The FDOT US1 project doesn’t meet Boca Raton’s commitment of developing Complete Streets and meeting Vision Zero goals. Our recommendations will begin providing a street environment for US1, i.e., a safe, comfortable, enjoyable downtown that will benefit residents and businesses.

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