Kissimmee discusses Broadway reconstruction and lane-elimination option; staff to seek contract amendment and cost estimate

Commission members and members of the public discussed the Connect Kissimmee Broadway Reconstruction project and an option to remove the outside travel lanes to create wider sidewalks and a more pedestrian-focused downtown. City staff described the project's years-long planning history, funding structure and a May funding deadline tied to the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT).

Resident Ray Parsons urged the commission to push the Broadway reconstruction to completion, calling it the "keystone" of downtown revitalization and asking the commission to adopt a construction plan. "It's really the heart of downtown," Parsons said during the public-comment period. Tom Capp, another downtown resident, asked the police to ticket trucks that use Broadway as a nightly cut-through and suggested…