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Deerfield Beach outlines Vision Zero progress, cites nearly $4 million in federal grants
Summary
City staff presented the first annual Vision Zero report, noting grant awards, a new public dashboard and ongoing work with FDOT on major corridors while fatalities and serious injuries rose in recent years.
Eric Power, director of planning and development services for the City of Deerfield Beach, presented the city's first annual Vision Zero report at the Feb. 4 commission meeting, reporting nearly $4 million in federal Highway Administration grant awards and the launch of a public Vision Zero dashboard.
Power said the Vision Zero master and action plan was adopted by the commission about a year earlier and that the annual report evaluates prior-year progress and sets goals for the coming year. He told commissioners that Broward Sheriff's Office data and the city's GIS work are being used to map fatalities and serious injuries; he added the city is "working a year backwards" so the 2023 crash data is available and 2024 data is under review.
The report identifies completed items from its 0-to-12 month action list and work now under way in the 1-to-3 year category, Power said. He listed achievements including the new Vision Zero webpage and dashboard, membership in the Broward Safety Action Plan Working Group and participation in FHWA educational programs. He said staff seeks to increase public awareness and hold roughly monthly safety events.
Commissioners focused questions on implementation, local pilots and coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation. Power said DOT improvements to Hillsborough Boulevard and Dixie Highway are among the city's highest priorities because the city does not own many of the major roads where crashes occur. He noted DOT often expects local matching funds for enhancements and that cities typically learn about capital obligations late in DOT planning cycles.
Power said the city is working to classify roadway contexts and to identify a 'high energy network' so it can present clear designs and cost estimates to DOT when those corridors are scheduled for resurfacing or larger projects. He said some short-term projects completed in the program's first year will require longer-term design and funding to become permanent.
Commissioner questions touched on a temporary pavement-marking project on Northeast Third Avenue that was expected to last six months but has remained. Power said the project was intended as temporary while the city pursued a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant that would cover permanent upgrades; he said the city has a design consultant and is seeking funding to complete permanent work.
Power said a printed two-page status report will be posted to the city website and staff would continue outreach to community boards, businesses and residents as the program moves into its next phase.
The presentation drew direction rather than a formal vote. Commissioners asked staff to continue DOT coordination, pursue capital funding and expand community outreach.
