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Boca Raton CRA advances downtown mobility pilots and safety projects
Summary
At its Feb. 10 meeting the Boca Raton CRA reviewed a downtown parking‑sensor pilot, a proposed extension of the Boca Connect (Circuit) service to the Barrier Island, a Palm Tran on‑demand grant, a revised East Palmetto Park crosswalk concept and Vision Zero planning tied to a $4 million federal grant.
The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency on Feb. 10 heard staff briefings on several mobility initiatives designed to improve downtown access and safety, including a downtown parking sensor pilot, an amendment to extend Boca Connect service to the Barrier Island and development work under a Vision Zero grant.
Steven Timberlake, the CRA’s Special Projects Manager, summarized results from a recent 29‑minute free parking pilot and outlined plans for a new pilot using 100 Rizetech Global sensors to track occupancy and turnover around Sanborn Square and Southeast 1st Avenue. Timberlake said the downtown meter program records roughly 550,000 transactions that generate about $2.1 million in meter revenue and that installation of the pilot sensors is scheduled to begin in March, with a data‑collection phase from March through May and pilot results to be presented at the end of the summer.
"We're going to purchase 100 sensors using a Sourcewell contract," Timberlake said, adding that a successful pilot could scale to 1,000 sensors to cover more downtown spaces.
Zach Bier, the city’s Public Works and Engineering Director, updated the board on Boca Connect operations and an amendment before the City Council to extend Circuit service to the Barrier Island. Bier said the extension would operate under the same geofencing rules — rides must begin or end in the downtown (red) zone — and that staff expects a two‑ to three‑week turnaround for app and geofence updates if the amendment is approved.
Bier said Circuit will add GEM vehicles in the off and peak seasons as part of the capacity expansion and that staff will monitor pickup behavior in gated communities, noting pickups should not occur in DOT rights‑of‑way.
The mobility briefing also covered a Palm Tran/FDOT service development grant to provide on‑demand connections to the Tri‑Rail hub, an East Palmetto Park Road crosswalk concept for which staff has submitted a Palm Beach County permit, and a work order to Alta for curb bump‑outs and quick‑build demonstration projects. Bier said staff will include Jeff Speck as a subconsultant for walking audits and public outreach on downtown safety and connectivity measures.
"This is tied to our federal funding award identifying the $4,000,000 grant from Safe Streets for All," Bier said about the Vision Zero action plan, adding staff has completed neighborhood meetings and walking audits to inform a safety action plan that will prioritize future projects and grant opportunities.
Staff noted the East Palmetto Park crosswalk concept may eliminate as few as three parking spaces in its current configuration and that Palm Beach County permitting could take two to three months.
The board received the reports; no final policy vote on these pilot projects occurred at the CRA meeting. Staff will return with pilot results and next steps after the data collection phase and as permitting or Council actions proceed.
