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View from the Isles continued

Inconsistent Bike Paths: There were at least five plans for bikes adopting a plan. The minutes document the mayor’s comments
in the 2-mile stretch from Andrews Avenue to Las Olas. “This agenda item moves the Plan Process forward for

Connectivity through walkable sidewalks that would connect continued refinement and does not codify the Plan.”
the beach with the shops, the downtown and Riverwalk. Yet, just a year later, the City Commission received a

Sea Level Rise and Flooding: The issues associated with sea consultant’s report on how to fund the Plan. Consultants at
level rise have only intensified since we first started meeting. the time estimated the cost at over $100 million dollars. (To
We are still waiting for a $25 million dollar stormwater achieve this lower price, aging bridges along Las Olas were
infrastructure project approved several years ago, with removed from the project scope.) The recommendation from
questions about raising Las Olas remaining unanswered. the Consultant on how to fund the project: “The establishment
of a Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU), or special
Evacuation routes should be maintained not just for hurricanes assessment program, would be the most feasible approach
but for other emergencies, as well. based on the City’s needs.”
In 2018, two newly elected commissioners, Ben Sorensen After several associations and individuals objected to
and Steve Glassman, convened the Las Olas Mobility assessing residents to pay for a major road to and from the
Working Group. Many of us hoped this would lead to a Beach, the Commission apparently told staff that they were no
comprehensive plan which would improve safety, mobility longer interested in pursuing assessments. The Las Olas Isles
and connectivity. But when a consultant was hired, they section of the Vision Plan is projected to cost $47 million.
immediately divided the Boulevard into five character areas, What would we get for this?
designing each one separately.
• Expanded bike lanes (now 5-6 feet, the bike lanes
And as the plan evolved a number of controversies came with would be 7 feet)
it. Proposals for narrowing roads and closing streets created
concerns among some residents that mobility, safety and • A curb between the bike Lane and the travel lanes
connectivity were no longer the goals and would not be • Narrowed travel Lanes
achieved. How would the city accommodate the transportation
needs of a growing residential population as well as a • New landscaping
successful tourist industry? • “Rest Nodes” with benches, some covered
In June of 2021, the City Commission adopted their vision • A path to the Intracoastal with a Boardwalk underneath
assuring residents that they were only accepting a vision, not the bridge

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