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Residents press for multiple design alternatives, safety fixes on Palmetto Park Road; staff says Alta will model options
Summary
Public commenters urged the CRA to present multiple design alternatives for Palmetto Park Road and prioritize pedestrian safety and parking; staff said the Alta study will analyze different configurations and that more detailed results are expected in the fall.
Public commenters at the July 22 Boca Raton CRA meeting called for more design options and near-term safety measures for Palmetto Park Road while staff said the Alta Planning and Design study will model multiple alternatives.
"It does feel a bit kicking the can down the road," said Andrea Levine O'Rourke of 100 Southeast 5th Avenue, urging the board to present two to three alternatives and the relative pros and cons so residents can compare outcomes. O'Rourke emphasized walkability, safer crossings, placemaking and support for small businesses along Palmetto Park Road; she also said recent metered parking may be discouraging street parking.
John Hojos, a business owner on East Palmetto Park Road, told the board that a city staff member had suggested removing front parking at his shopping center to create a mid-street barrier and warned that east-of-Intracoastal areas are not in the downtown CRA and rely on curb parking for customers.
Michael Coner recommended a short-term, low-cost enforcement approach: "post 0 tolerance for speeding," he said, arguing that stepped-up enforcement and steady citations could reduce speeding while longer-term engineering changes are developed.
Mr. Brown, a city staff member, told the board that "the Alta study is designed to consider alternatives," and that the consultant's modeling (a synchro analysis) will show how traffic would redistribute across the grid under different design choices. Brown said staff is following Alta's timeline and expects more substantial deliverables in the fall. He cautioned that a second work order would be issued only after staff and consultants decide on a recommended direction based on the analysis.
Commissioners asked about timing, whether the city's Vision Zero action plan would be factored in and how the new mobility and transportation director would be involved; staff said Vision Zero considerations and the Vision 0 Action Plan would be integrated into each step of roadway planning.
Brown also said enforcement activity and citations downtown have increased recently and that the number of violations has declined, but he did not supply specific statistics at the meeting.
Next steps: staff will continue consultant work and return with analysis and recommendations; any design work that requires funding or formal direction would be brought back to the board for further action.
