Residents press Deerfield Beach to act on 3rd Avenue speeding and neighborhood flooding

During public comment at the June 2 commission meeting, several residents from the Northeast 3rd Avenue, Crystal Lake and adjacent neighborhoods urged immediate action after repeated high‑speed crashes and a recent fatality.

Elena Reid described the street as a cut‑through for I‑95 traffic and said the fastest recorded speed on the road reached 99 mph; she urged the city to act before another crash. Resident Marcelo Sampaio and others recounted multiple collisions at the same intersection and asked for traffic calming, better striping and enforcement.

Deputy City Manager Eric Power told the commission the city received a $3,600,000 federal grant for permanent improvements but design plans must be updated and federal clearance is pending; he said the city expects funding later this summer and that construction would take about a year after redesign and public meetings. Power said temporary improvements will be discussed with Broward County (which maintains the roadway in parts) and that staff will explore options such as temporary delineators, additional signage, speed mitigation measures and coordination with traffic engineers.

Residents also raised stormwater concerns in the 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue (Kingfisher/9th Avenue Canal) areas where recent projects left standing water and potential mosquito breeding sites. Commissioners asked staff for updates on drainage remediation, mosquito control, and a neighborhood meeting to explain timelines and mitigation options.

Next steps: Staff will pursue temporary traffic‑calming measures in coordination with Broward County, update the community when federal grant clearance arrives and schedule public meetings for the permanent redesign.