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Las Olas Mobility Project Update

We’re Moving on Up...

to the Eastside

By Donna York-Gilbert

f you remember the sitcom The Jefferson’s, the title above
makes sense and the ‘Movin’ On Up!’ tune may stick in
Iyour head for the rest of the day. As we reimagine the
2.5-mile corridor of Las Olas Boulevard that stretches from
Andrews Avenue to the beach, we should ultimately see
improved safety, beauty, continuity and mobility.
Called The Las Olas Boulevard Mobility Project, it will
focus on balancing multimodal needs; improving and
expanding sidewalks; improving pedestrian safety through
enhancements to crosswalks, lighting, ADA access, and
connectivity; and improving landscaping, shade, and include: Financial, Historic Shops, 15th Street Shops,
infrastructure. An outside consultant was hired to analyze Residential (Las Olas Isles) and the Beach. With such
the current situation and make recommendations. variety in one short stretch we will have challenges
integrating the mixed use with various user priorities. This
Currently the project is in the public engagement phase. overhaul of our beloved street will not be a walk in the
What this means is the City's consultant team, The park. It might feel more like a bottomless brunch bar crawl
Corradino Group, is focused on a variety of public for a while. We will face challenges finding design
outreach efforts including group meetings and walking considerations to please all of the stakeholders. There will
tours with the ultimate goal of conveying the vision for the also be funding limitations. The sky is not the limit. Getting
project, fostering inclusion, and ultimately promoting buy- public buy-in and participation during the summer months
in among the community. will be yet another a challenge. And the city needs to
According to Dayana Diaz, Senior Strategic Communications integrate all of this with the Tunnel Top Park Plan.
Specialist for the city of Fort Lauderdale, “In addition to input Not to add more fuel to the fire or burst anyone’s bubble,
from the neighborhood, this project is being designed in but our bursting sewer and water pipes need addressing
conjunction with several external factors including integration first. That and the flooding. Only then we will be ready for
with the new Tunnel Top Park that will be located atop the all of the much-needed improvements above ground. We
Henry E. Kinney Tunnel and will connect the Riverwalk to Las appreciate all of the hard work of our city officials and
Olas Boulevard as well as in consideration of long-term know they have been playing whack-a-mole with the aging
resiliency efforts along Las Olas Boulevard. Based on the sewer and water pipes. So, thank you! We look forward
feedback gathered from the local stakeholders, a conceptual to keeping the Mobility Project mobile. The future of Las
design plan will be prepared to guide conversations about Olas looks bright, so put on your shades!
cost and final project implementation.”
Additional information on the project including the timeline
Along this 2.5-mile stretch on Las Olas we have 5 distinct is available at www.fortlauderdale.gov/lasolasproject.
character districts from West to East. These districts

34 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES