The estimated $9.6 million dollar Federal Highway “Complete Streets” Improvement Project extends from Pembroke Road north to Sheridan Street in Hollywood.
A Complete Street is a roadway planned and designed for safe, convenient and comfortable use by people of all ages and abilities. These streets allow safe travel for walking, bicycling, driving, public transportation and deliveries.Some elements of a Complete Street can include buffered bike lanes, bulb-outs with ornamental plantings, shortened distances for clearly-marked crosswalks, pedestrian scale lighting, traffic calming circles/roundabouts, median islands, on-street parking, shade trees, bus shelters, and other pedestrian amenities such as benches and wider sidewalks.
To keep Hollywood residents and business owners informed of projects planned in their neighborhoods, the Department of Public Works will be holding an Open House to provide information on the Federal Highway “Complete Streets” Project on Thurs. Jan. 7, 2016 at the Fred Lippman Multi-Purpose Center, 2030 Polk St. in Hollywood from 5 to 7 p.m.
While no formal presentation will be given, the public is invited to attend and speak with the City’s project engineers and architects, representatives from the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Florida Department of Transportation. Project diagrams and corridor cross section boards will be on display and information on “Complete Streets” will be available.
The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization is seeking federal funds in the amount of $7.5 million, with the City of Hollywood committing to approximately $2.8 million and the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency committing to approximately $1.6 million.
Complete Streets make economic sense; they encourage patronage through usable connections between residences, schools, parks, public transportation, offices, and retail destinations. They improve safety by allowing people to move more safely and easily within corridors and can reduce pedestrian risk by 28 percent thus promoting walkability.
Other benefits can include calming traffic speeds, increasing property values, environmental benefits and opportunities for stormwater treatment for use in rain gardens or irrigation, etc. Aside from these important benefits, they also help to beautify areas in which they are constructed.
This meeting is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.