Bike & Pedestrian Projects

Complete Streets

Complete Streets Project

Municipal Services staff presented the Complete Streets project to City Council at a workshop on August 24, 2020. The purpose of the project is for a lane repurposing to shift US-1/Federal Highway from Camino Real to SE Mizner Boulevard from a six-lane to four-lane transition. This area has six-foot sidewalks along the east and west sides of the roadway with no separation between the sidewalk and two-foot curb-and-gutter. There are also four-foot conventional bicycle lanes along the east and west sides of the roadway.

The proposed study includes separated bike lanes, wider sidewalks, street trees, and other forms of landscaping. The project is a Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA) priority project for fiscal year (FY) 2021 through 2025. The study was approved by FDOT on July 9, 2021. The project is included in the FDOT five-year work program (2022-2026) as FM 438386-5.

For more information on the project, view the presentation here.

Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) on A1A

Heads Up Boca!

Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFBs)

New Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) have been installed along A1A to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

RRFBs are proven safety enhancement devices that increase vehicular drivers yielding to pedestrians and bicyclists crossing at uncontrolled crosswalks. According to a study conducted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), yielding rates up to 98% were noted.

The City had previously installed RRFBs at select locations in the downtown area along Palmetto Park Rd and Mizner Blvd.

A total of 11 RRFBs were installed in the Fall of 2022 along A1A, adding to existing crosswalk flashers. The locations of the new beacons are:

2531 S Ocean Blvd.
Ponce De Leon Road & A1A (Ocean Blvd.)
De Soto Road
631 S Ocean Blvd.
400 S Ocean Blvd.
550 S Ocean Blvd.
NE 4th Street & A1A (Ocean Blvd.)
2150 N Ocean Blvd.
2667 N Ocean Blvd. (Yacht & Racquet Club)
2871 N Ocean Blvd. (San Remo)
4201 N Ocean Blvd. (Sea Ranch Club)

Learn how to stay safe out on the road - as a driver and pedestrian. Check out the Heads Up Boca! video and see more on the new RRFBs safety devices.

NE 2nd Street Green Bike Lanes

Green Bike Lanes

NE Mizner Blvd. to NE 5th Ave.

Update: July 2023

Green-colored bike lanes are coming to Downtown Boca in the upcoming months. As you may know, NE 2nd Street is a designated bicycle bypass route with an existing red/terracotta-colored bicycle lane. Since the original installation of bike lanes along 2nd Street between NE Mizner Boulevard and NE 5th Avenue, red lanes have been designated as transit lanes for buses, not bike lanes.

In accordance with the latest Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) design guidelines, green has been the only color that has received official FHWA approval for colored pavement on bicycle lanes.

The City Citizen’s Pedestrian and Bikeway Advisory Board (CPBAB) unanimously endorsed this improvement in January 2023. Adjacent property owners have already been notified via multiple rounds of mailing surveys. As a stakeholder, we’d like to notify you of this upcoming improvement. Please free to let us know your comments or questions via email to bocatraffic@myboca.us

El Rio Trail Crosswalk

The El Rio Trail crosswalk on Spanish River Boulevard has been relocated. Detours for pedestrian and bike traffic is routed east on Spanish River Boulevard to NW 6th Avenue to cross. Please make sure to push the button at the intersection to activate the crossing light.

1. Why was the crosswalk for the El Rio Trail at Spanish River Boulevard moved?

Since the opening of I-95/FAU interchange on Spanish River Boulevard, the City has received numerous citizen concerns regarding pedestrian/bicyclist movement on the El Rio Trail crossing Spanish River Boulevard. The new connection to I-95 has increased traffic volumes on Spanish River Boulevard and put the crosswalk closer to a signalized intersection. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) added rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at this crosswalk to improve vehicular traffic that should yield to pedestrians and bicyclists. RRFBs alone were observed to not be effective enough at this location and had vehicular yielding rates under 50%. The City and its related stakeholders (FDOT and Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency) are currently evaluating long-term solutions to address this concern. In the interim, as an immediate safety precaution, the City relocated the crosswalk to NW 6th Way to provide a crossing on Spanish River Boulevard at the closest signalized intersection.

2. Was the old crosswalk connecting El Rio Trail a protected crosswalk?

No, the old crosswalk was unsignalized and an unprotected crosswalk. RRFBs are not traffic control devices but rather a pedestrian-actuated device to enhance crossing notification.

3. Is the newly installed crosswalk at NW 6th Way a protected crosswalk?

Yes, the newly installed crosswalk at NW 6th Way is a protected crosswalk with an exclusive traffic phase for pedestrian and bike traffic. It the safest form of crossing a roadway. In addition, signal timing has been designed to provide a priority to pedestrians/bicyclists crossing at this location. This means that the crossing phase will be ON within approximately 20 to 25 seconds from the time pedestrians/bicyclists push the button to cross.

4. The signs and push buttons seem to be on the wrong side, why?

Pedestrian pushbuttons and signal heads at the new crosswalk are installed in accordance with the latest National and State guidelines.

5. Are there any plans to widen the sidewalks on Spanish River Boulevard or change the crossing for the El Rio Trail on Spanish River Boulevard?

The City is currently evaluating the sidewalk width as well as options for crossing Spanish River Boulevard to enhance pedestrian/bicycle mobility.

6. Are there any signs to aid users on the El Rio Trail to safely cross at the new crosswalk on NW 6th Way?

Yes, signage has been provided to detour pedestrians/bicyclists on the El Rio Trail to cross at the new crosswalk. The City is actively monitoring this location and may add additional signs as determined necessary.

7. How long will this El Rio Trail crossing detour be in place at Spanish River Boulevard?

A revised crossing is currently in the evaluation phase. If a viable improvement is selected, it could take 3 – 5 years to go from concepts to construction.

UPDATE: July 12, 2023

Since the relocation of crosswalk, City has applied for funding to construct:

a shared use path along NW 6th Way between Spanish River Boulevard and South of NW 38th Circle, installation of an exclusive bicycle detection
signal system at Spanish River Blvd/NW 6th Way
upgrade the existing unsignalized intersection at NW 6th Way/NW 38th Circle with rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB's)

Staff is also in the process of exploring long-term (grade separated) options.

Heads Up Boca! Palmetto Park Rd Pedestrian Crosswalks

Heads Up Boca!

Palmetto Park Rd Pedestrian Crosswalks

Our vibrant Downtown is seeing an increase in pedestrian traffic as people walk to and from the beach, to restaurants, shops and parks. Walkers, bikers and drivers will notice four pedestrian crosswalks along Palmetto Park Road from Federal Highway to the Intracoastal bridge.

For drivers, that means stopping when the crosswalks are flashing or pedestrians are crossing. Expect frequent stops, be aware of pedestrians crossing, and pay attention to flashing yellow signs on the sides of the roadway.

For pedestrians and bikers, that means using the signal buttons at designated crosswalks only and waiting for cars to slow and stop before crossing.

Check out the Heads Up Boca video that highlights some familiar crosswalks around town and some do's and don’ts when crossing the roads.

When driving on East Palmetto Park Road:

Do:	Do Not:
Be prepared to make frequent stops	Drive through a crosswalk when signs are flashing
Use designated crosswalks only to cross Palmetto Park Road	Speed on a road well-traveled by pedestrians
Pay attention to flashing yellow signs and stop	Be impatient if there are multiple stops to allow pedestrians to cross
Be patient while driving to or from the beach	Cross Palmetto Park Road at an undesignated area

New Streetlight Fixture Installation In & Around Downtown

New Streetlight Fixture Installation In and Around Downtown

New energy-efficient streetlight fixtures have been installed in and around the Downtown Boca/CRA district. The new fixtures replaced the current 30-year-old fixtures. Utilizing more energy-efficient LED bulbs, the fixtures are more environmentally friendly and cast a brighter white light that better illuminates pedestrian areas below. The fixtures are also more aesthetically pleasing and complement the surrounding architecture.

Installation of 1,400 new fixtures started in the summer of 2021 and was completed in the summer of 2023.
700 of the fixtures are in the Downtown Boca/CRA district