Working together on S. Dixie Corridor
There is a lot of misinformation being put out in the community about South Dixie Highway and West Palm Beach’s Mobility Plan. These two issues are separate, yet connected.
During the past 18 years, communities and businesses that abut the South Dixie Corridor have been united toward a common purpose. This loose coalition of citizens has given its time, talent and financial resources to improve the South Dixie Corridor. The priorities have consistently been to lower the speed limit, improve safety and reduce traffic accidents, make streetscape improvements, and create walkable streets that enhance a corridor’s identity. The residents of the downtown have been asking for the same things to occur all over the city.
In 2000, Glatting Jackson, a planning professional firm, did a deep dive into the corridor and engaged the community in a planning strategy to achieve their goals.
Today, the objectives remain, and the community continues to work toward that end. In 2012, the city engaged Urban Land Institute (ULI) to conduct a highly technical review of the South Dixie corridor by a panel of experts. Opportunities and challenges were identified and a road map developed for moving forward. In 2014, the city began evaluating the Jeff Speck Walkability Report, completed for the downtown to address similar concerns.
ULI recommended that the corridor be divided into distinct districts recognizing the character of each section. The work in the downtown has been the same. And after three years of stakeholder engagement and working with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency, the city and stakeholders — residents, neighborhoods, property owners and prospective land owners — along with Palm Beach County, state and professional land planners began their work. Any changes must meet Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) standards.
These agencies have held many meetings with stakeholders and neighbors. The process continues, and the issues continue to be the same.
The process is intended to balance the desires and needs of residents, businesses, daily commuters and the FDOT. All decisions are made with significant input from the public. The final design must be approved by FDOT and the community engagement will be robust. FDOT will determine which locations can accommodate enhanced vegetation and shade, opportunities for wider sidewalks and buffering strategies to protect pedestrians from moving traffic. The Mobility Plan will give guidance to staff for consideration and engagement with all the stakeholders. Mode shift is a product of increased population, expansion of transit systems and improvements to our neighborhoods. As we grow and prepare for the future we must upgrade the current conditions, which are antiquated and dangerous.
There are no physical changes planned at this time, and any action to implement a new and different condition will come forward as an individual project with a budget and plan that will include robust public engagement and significant stakeholder approval. The city’s responsibility is to establish an environment upon that we can grow safely and maintain its character.