VIEW IN BROWSER

MOBILITY MONDAY

Guest Column:

Commissioner Caryl Shuham

The City of Hollywood prides itself on its commitment to resiliency and sustainability. Our recently adopted mission statement reads, "to provide a resilient and sustainable city that nurtures quality living and fosters a healthy environment where everyone can prosper." In February 2023, the city was delighted when the MPO Board approved Hollywood Boulevard from US1 to A1A (the Hollywood Corridor) to serve as the pilot project for the MPO's new Transportation Resiliency Framework. The Transportation Resiliency Framework would be applied to the Hollywood Corridor to develop a program-ready project that addresses pressing resiliency issues along the roadway. Immediately thereafter, under the steady leadership of the MPO's Levi Stewart-Figueroa, stakeholders including Hollywood, Broward County, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the MPO, residents, and the Hollywood Lakes Civic Association all jumped into the process. The mission was to redesign the corridor to minimize or alleviate anticipated flooding during weather events along the Hollywood Corridor, a critical evacuation route.  Over the last year, Levi organized several stakeholder and public meetings. We were also very fortunate to have Catherine Prince representing WSP, as she lives immediately adjacent to the Hollywood Corridor and is very familiar with the chronic flooding in the area. 

In September 2023, at the first public meeting, the MPO, WSP and residents came together to establish community goals and identify issues that needed to be addressed in future resiliency planning. The second public meeting in January 2024 was a testament to the community's active participation, with a presentation of conceptual alternatives to address the identified issues and an opportunity for community feedback. At the third public meeting in May 2024, the MPO presented the preferred conceptual alternative, which included reconstructing the road with slopes the inverse of what exists now (allowing rainwater to flow into the median instead of away from the median), bike lanes protected by the parking lane, and increased drainage through swales and possible additional pump stations. Hollywood is deeply grateful to all stakeholders for their work on this critical project along the Hollywood Corridor. The time it takes to bring these roadway projects to fruition is long, and we are excited to get this design work underway, thereby expediting this much-needed hardening project. 

Sincerely,

Commissioner Caryl S. Shuman

City of Hollywood, District 1

Broward MPO Collaborates to Archive

“Let’s Talk Transportation” Podcast Series 

In a significant collaboration, the Broward MPO and History Fort Lauderdale are joining forces to create an archive of transportation-storytelling, transportation-focused, community-oriented  podcast series “Let’s Talk Transportation.” This partnership marks a crucial step in preserving and sharing the rich history of transportation and long-term planning in Broward County. 

“Fifty years from now, someone will be listening to our ‘Let’s Talk Transportation’ series and understand why Mark Gale developed the airport expansion plans, why Coree Cuff Lonergan launched the PREMO Plan, or how Lori Baer impacted Port Everglades’ growth,” said Greg Stuart, executive director of the Broward MPO. “We are creating useful content, and that’s why we plan to continue the podcast series, which will also be preserved for future observation.” 

MPO Travel Spotlight:

Jacqueline Barszewski

In May, I traveled to Japan for three weeks. It’s a stunning country filled with nature and culture. Even in urban areas, it’s not strange to find old shrines in pristine condition nestled between the concrete buildings. However, despite staying in touch with the traditions of the past, Japan has not shied away from embracing the innovations of the future. Their bullet trains travel all over the country, from the southwest island of Kyushu to the northern island of Hokkaido, stopping at major cities as well as smaller ones. The trains can reach a speed of almost 200mph, fast enough to make your ears pop and objects flash by imperceptibly. In addition, their buses have well-connected routes and come astonishingly frequently, sometimes taking as little as 10 minutes. Most trains and buses can be quickly paid for with what’s known as an IC-Card. You simply load up the card with yen at a machine beforehand and then tap on and off at the station gates or the front of the bus. They are incredibly useful and can even be used to pay at some stores. It’s been fascinating to see how other countries develop to meet the needs and concerns of their population. I hope to see other countries models of transportation in the future. 

Help Us Make Broward Streets Safe for All 

In just four years, 2018 - 2022, Broward County has seen 35,737 hit-and-run crashes. Tragically, 475 of these incidents led to fatalities or serious injuries. Please, never leave the scene of a crash. Let's all commit to making our roads safer for everyone. We can reduce these alarming statistics and create a safer environment for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Travel safe, Broward, and protect every journey. Visit SafeStreets4Broward.org to get involved in the Broward Safety Action Plan and learn how you can make our streets safer. 

Check Out Broward MPO Executive Director

Greg Stuart on NBC 6