Thursday, July 2, 2015

[UPDATE] Interactive graphic: what Dixie Hwy could look like in the future

UpdateThis short post from yesterday generated a lot of buzz: 

This is a must-see graphic from Tony Doris' article in the West Palm Beat. Dana Little from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council is working with residents and businesses to remake South Dixie Hwy in West Palm Beach.
     The proposal covers the stretch of South Dixie from Okeechobee Boulevard south to Albemarle Road.
     The design varies in different sections of South Dixie, but the overall concept calls for more than 90 shade trees, narrower lanes to slow traffic — and only one traffic lane in each direction — wider sidewalks, room for bikes, more on-street parking where possible, a central left-turn lane to reduce rear-end accidents, and scattered medians with more shade trees.
The Palm Beach Post editorial today (7/2) couldn't be more timely. Here is an excerpt:
     We shouldn’t let that delay us from encouraging more bike riding now, especially in cities with distinct downtowns, like Delray Beach, Boca Raton and Lake Worth. In other cities in America and Europe, data have shown that an increase in bicycles can actually bring an increase in safety.
     “The more people you put into the transportation environment who are walking and bicycling, the safer and safer it gets,” Clemente [Raphael Clemente, executive director of West Palm Beach DDA] told The Post Editorial Board, “because the motoring public becomes more aware and more courteous.” 
Stay tuned.