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Hallandale Beach advances traffic‑calming plan for 3 Islands amid county review
Summary
City staff presented a package of traffic‑calming measures for the 3 Islands neighborhood — including rubber speed cushions, speed‑feedback signs and two raised crosswalks — while commissioners pressed for county approval, local control and quicker interim fixes.
John Shen, director of Hallandale Beach’s Transportation Mobility Department, presented the commission with a traffic‑calming plan for the 3 Islands area that would add speed‑feedback signs, rubber speed cushions and two raised crosswalks near the neighborhood park.
The plan, requested by the commission, responds to resident concerns about vehicle speeds and pedestrian safety on Parkview Drive and 3 Islands Boulevard. Shen told the commission that a basic marked crosswalk with pavement markings and ADA ramps would cost about $40,000, while a crosswalk with a flashing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon would be about $125,000. "The cost for this one is $40,000 for just signage with the pavement marking, ADA ramps and then… the flashing light will be $125,000," Shen said.
Shen said Broward County and federal standards in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) determine whether marked crosswalks and signals are warranted. He explained that the county has previously denied applications at some local intersections for "low pedestrian volume" and that the county typically installs monitoring equipment to collect counts when a new request is filed. "At this location the reason [the county] did not approve… was low pedestrian counts at this location," Shen said.
Several commissioners pushed back on relying solely on past counts. Commissioner Butler said she found the logic counterintuitive: "It seems a little backwards… we're not going to put a crosswalk in because it's safer for our pedestrians to be scared when they're crossing because they'll go faster," she said, arguing that marked facilities can increase pedestrian crossings and safety. Commissioners urged staff to ensure new counts reflect recent demographic changes and weekend or seasonal peaks.
As interim measures, Shen recommended four rubber, removable speed cushions (estimated at roughly $85,000 for the four locations), installation of speed‑feedback signs on Parkview and Atlantic Shores and quick‑build temporary devices to show immediate progress. City Manager Dr. Earl said the project will be staged to limit disruption and that staff will pursue county approval; if denied, the city could pay for installation and then ask the county to assume maintenance under the interlocal agreement, or hire a consultant to re‑run the warrant study.
Shen outlined next steps as county approval, procurement, HOA and resident notification, design and implementation. Commissioners also discussed whether the 3 Islands Safe Neighborhood District could absorb maintenance costs or whether the city should seek removal of certain roads from county control to allow unilateral local action. Shen emphasized that many devices still require county sign‑off because the county typically takes over ongoing maintenance.
The commission did not vote on a specific contract or appropriation at the meeting; staff said they will return with procurement documents and updated cost allocations after county review and further design work.
