#BTACTICAL QUICK-BUILD NE 15th Avenue

The Pilot Project in the City of Fort Lauderdale will make NE 15th Avenue - between NE 11th Street and NE 13th Street– safer for everyone.

BMPO

The project is on the ground! We are collecting data (pedestrian and bicyclists counts, speed and traffic counts). Tell us what you think about the project! please access the survey here:  https://arcg.is/14ejn1 

Data was collected for six months and the results will be featured in the final report which will be made available soon. The pilot project is already showing positive results and making a difference in Lake Ridge.

Overview

In November 2021, local governments submitted project ideas to the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization as part of the Tactical Urbanism  #BTactical Program , aimed to increase multimodal safety, accessibility, and connectivity in Broward region through the implementation of Quick-Build projects. The Broward MPO selected NE 15th Avenue located in the City of Fort Lauderdale to be implemented as the pilot project in 2022. This project is prioritized in the Neighborhood Mobility Masterplan (2015-2025) for Lake Ridge. More information here:  Link 

The proposed project is located at Lake Ridge Neighborhood, the predominant land use is low-density residential with light industrial and commercial uses fronting its western and eastern/southern boundaries. NE 15th Avenue is an important route for people of all ages who regularly walk or bike to different destinations including grocery stores, libraries, schools and parks within a half-mile radius.

NE 15th Avenue is classified as a residential avenue within the City of Fort Lauderdale right‐of‐way connecting residents of Lake Ridge and Poinsettia Heights to commercial uses along Sunrise Boulevard. The study area experiences speeding issues along NE 15th Avenue (between NE 11th and NE 13th Streets) and there is a need of bicycle and pedestrian connectivity within the neighborhood. This project is the pilot of a long term vision which will come in the future.

Corridor Characteristics

The NE 15th Avenue pilot project runs south to north in the Lake Ridge neighborhood.

Major corridors in the Lake Ridge neighborhood include Sunrise Boulevard, NE 15th Avenue, Federal highway and NE 13th Street, each of which facilitate automobile access and egress to and from the neighborhood. 

The project is in the vicinity to two schools, Holiday Park and grocery stores. The project intersects with NE 13th Street to the north; and Sunrise Boulevard to the south, a major arterial that connects to the beach.

In addition, the segment proposed overlaps the Broward High Injury Network (HIN) at NE 11th Street.

The HIN* highlights streets with a high concentration of traffic collisions that result in severe injuries and deaths.

The street is two lanes in each direction with a center Two‐Way Left‐Turn Lane (TWLTL) and a posted speed limit of 35 mph.

Over the past five years (2015 to 2019), there were 328 reported traffic crashes, of which 72% occurred during daylight. Among the 328 crashes, six (6) are pedestrians and five (5) bicycle‐ related crashes. 74% of crashes were property damage only and 26% of the crashes resulted in injuries.

In 2021, the City performed a Video Detection analysis to track number of people walking and biking. this analysis showed there is a significant number of pedestrian and bike activity on sidewalks along NE 15th Ave North of NE 11th Street.

The video sensor detected 154 people walking on the sidewalks and 39 people biking in a period of 11 hours.

The analysis also showed significant midblock crossing and east/west bicycle activity south of NE 11th Street.

The video sensor detected 85 people walking on the sidewalks and 59 people biking in a period of 11 hours.

Examples of Quick Build projects.

What is a Quick-Build project?

Quick Build projects are short-term, temporary projects installed with relatively low cost materials used to evaluate design alternatives prior to making long-term capital investments. Cities across the country are using Quick Build projects to deliver public benefits faster, and create more informed permanent projects. By using this methodology, the City of Fort Lauderdale, Broward MPO, and the community will be able to experience a "rendering in real-time" of Complete Streets improvements! 

This pilot project could use materials like traffic paint, durable plastic planters, delineator posts, and artistic asphalt elements, with no excavation of the existing roadway. This means that raised barrier elements would be used to represent potential future concrete curbs, for example, and existing curbs will not be altered.

Street elements of the pilot project

The purpose of the project is to increase visibility of people through safety improvements and slow down traffic through traffic calming solutions.

Timeline of the project

PROPOSED DESIGN - PILOT PROJECT

Check out the proposed quick-build designs below to learn how we are planning to address safety issues along NE 15th Avenue and other accessibility concerns identified in the various public workshops. To view the design options, use the sliders to compare the existing conditions with the proposed design.

Sunrise Blvd to NE 11th Street - Segment

Improvements proposed: Added sharrows, markings used to indicate a shared lane environment for bicycles and automobiles.

Intersection at NE 11th Street

Improvements proposed: Added enhanced crosswalks, curb extensions and pedestrian refuges with art at the intersection; narrowed lane width to slow down traffic and protected and buffered bike lanes. The buffer is a designated space separating the bicycle lane from the adjacent motor vehicle travel lane.

Intersection at NE 12th Street

Improvements proposed: Added 4 new crosswalks and additional signage at crossings; added curb extensions to shorten pedestrian crossing distances and slow turning speeds of cars. Added landscaped planters to more clearly identify the separated bike lane and curb extension areas while adding beauty!

Intersection at NE 13th Street

Improvements proposed: Added high emphasis crosswalks and additional signage at crossings; added curb extensions to shorten pedestrian crossing distances. Added crossbike markings to help alert drivers of crossing bicyclists, and emphasize the space for bikes at intersections. Added a bike box, a designated area at a signalized intersection that provides bicyclists with a safe and visible way to get ahead of queuing traffic during the red signal phase.

Project Rendering

Use the sliders to compare the existing conditions with the proposed design.

NE 15th Avenue at NE 11th Street. Lake Ridge Neighboorhood, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

INSTALLATION COMPLETED! Thanks to all the volunteers that helped making this project a reality. Photos of the installation available, please click on the link below:

NE 15th Avenue at NE 13th Street

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC MEETINGS!

Your feedback is important! Be part of the transformation, provide your feedback on potential designs by participating in the various workshops scheduled:

Respond the survey! the project is on the ground, please submit your comments clicking the link below:

Virtual Presentation_Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Via ZOOM. Click below to download the presentation.

Workshop_Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

Location: ArtServe Art Gallery, 1350 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Virtual Workshop_Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.

Walk and Talk Workshop_Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

Location: ArtServe Art Gallery, 1350 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Spread the word! Please share this webpage with your friends, neighbors and colleagues.

Community Build Days -May 12-15, 2022 Lake Ridge, Fort Lauderdale.

COMMUNITY BUILD DAYS

MAY 12-15, 2022.

Thanks to all the volunteers that came out and help paint the street! please take a look to the gallery of photos in the link below. Exciting video comming up, stay tuned!

Thanks for visiting! For more information about the BMPO Tactical Urbanism program, visit:  https://www.browardmpo.org/tactical-urbanism 

THE TEAM:

This project is brought to you thanks to the partnership between  The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization , the    City of Fort Lauderdale  and the  Lake Ridge Civic Association .

CONTACT US!

Are you looking for more information? Please contact Karen Warfel at kwarfel@fortlauderdale.gov and/or Stephanie Garcia at garcias@browardmpo.org

NE 15th Avenue at NE 11th Street. Lake Ridge Neighboorhood, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

NE 15th Avenue at NE 13th Street