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MTPO advances State Road 26 concept plan — multiuse paths, protected bike lanes, partial parking removal
Summary
After an FDOT presentation, the MTPO approved a concept for State Road 26 that includes 12.5‑foot multiuse sidewalks, protected bike lanes, a 3‑foot buffer from parked vehicles, removal of parking on the east end, and roughly 50 spaces retained on the west end; FDOT warned delaying adoption would likely defer construction by a year or more.
The MTPO voted Oct. 7 to advance a concept plan for State Road 26 that would reconfigure the corridor to add 12.5‑foot multiuse sidewalks, protected bicycle facilities, a 3‑foot buffer between parked cars and pedestrians, and reduce on‑street parking on the east end while retaining about 50 spaces on the western portion.
Akaya Brown, FDOT District 2 transportation planning manager, presented aerials and concept drawings and said the department considers the design an improvement over earlier options. Brown said the department is willing to compromise on parking removal — taking most parking off the east end while preserving spaces west of the corridor — and cautioned that postponing action now would delay programming and construction by at least a year because of LOPP and work‑program timelines.
Commissioners pressed FDOT on safety concerns where two‑way bicycle traffic and multiple driveways create conflicts, on the estimated SU funding required (commissioners recalled cost estimates in the multimillion‑dollar range), and on whether the project could be funded in phases. One commissioner said FDOT’s presentation clarified the tradeoffs and supported moving forward; another urged FDOT to review comments from a bicycle‑pedestrian committee member to ensure driveway conflicts are addressed.
The board approved a motion to move forward with the concept plan (including the wider multiuse sidewalks and buffer), with a second; the motion passed by voice vote. FDOT said the corridor will remain a priority in the LOPP and that detailed design and funding allocation will follow the normal work‑program cycle.
Next steps: FDOT will incorporate final design inputs, respond to bicycle/pedestrian safety concerns, and coordinate with city and county staff to program design and construction in the work program and LOPP cycles.
