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Broward BRT study for Oakland Park Boulevard prompts Lauderhill concerns about medians, greenways and pedestrian safety
Summary
Lauderhill officials on June 16 reviewed Broward County Transit’s Oakland Park Boulevard BRT study and identified possible negative effects on medians, pedestrian crossings and existing swales if center lanes or median removal are chosen.
Lauderhill officials on June 16 reviewed Broward County Transit’s ongoing Oakland Park Boulevard bus rapid transit (BRT) study and identified potential impacts and points of coordination.
County planners described a two‑phase approach: a dedicated center lane (or dedicated lanes west of the Turnpike) where right‑of‑way allows, and a mixed‑traffic express bus solution in tighter segments east of the Turnpike. The county’s goal is long East–West service from the ocean to Sawgrass Mills with only a handful of limited stops rather than the full set of local stops.
Daniel (staff) summarized the project and schedule and said construction under some scenarios might not begin until 2028 or later. Zach Davis, the city’s director of government affairs, told the commission that Lauderhill’s segment of Oakland Park Boulevard is unusually signal‑dense — four signals in less than 0.3 miles — and that removing or reconfiguring medians for center running BRT would remove landscaping and could complicate swales, pedestrian crossings and bicycle facilities.
“Over 6% of our residents take public transportation,” Commissioner Dunn said, urging the commission to weigh human and equity impacts alongside engineering concerns. Dunn argued that BRT could improve mobility for shift workers and people who rely on transit late at night, but she asked city staff to press for design choices that preserve pedestrian access and greenway elements.
Staff advised that options include center‑running lanes, curb‑running lanes, or segmented solutions with some dedicated lanes and some mixed traffic. Commissioners suggested coordinating with neighboring cities (Lauderdale Lakes, Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale) and the MPO and pressing Broward County for designs that minimize negative pedestrian and streetscape impacts. Staff will continue technical discussions with the county and present more detailed engineered alternatives when available.
