What’s top on my agenda? Easing traffic issues
We know that driving in South Florida is often a challenge. As Mayor, my team has sought improvements to make sure Fort Lauderdale residents, commuters and visitors have an easier time driving here and upon reliable road conditions.
In the post-COVID world, we have become a destination where growth has exceeded anyone’s expectations. Short of building a wall around the city, we have sought ways to instead embrace the growth and to find ways for people to settle into our lifestyle without destroying the quality of life we have all come to enjoy.
We start out with small goals, ideas that we can achieve quickly. We launched LauderGO! in partnership with Circuit, a free, on-demand shuttle service that’s convenient and eco-friendly. We approved a new feasibility study to create a one-way traffic loop around downtown to allow for dedicated lanes for mass transit, and to accommodate wider sidewalks and bike paths.
On a larger scale, we are working with the county to relieve congestion on SE 17th Street Causeway by requiring the county to construct a bypass road through Port Everglades as part of its plans to build a convention center hotel. This way cruise customers and convention attendees will no longer rely on this overburdened roadway, and will free up travel lanes for our residents.
I also lobbied the county to speed up overdue plans to better synchronize traffic signals on main roads using new technology. Better timing could have a dramatic impact on congestion. The county is planning seven projects in Fort Lauderdale before 2026 and will use money from the transportation surtax that voters approved to fund the work.
To protect our delicate ecosystems, we supported the creation of a quiet zone along the Florida East Coast Railroad and launched the NE 15th Avenue beautification and traffic calming project. We changed Dixie Highway from a too-busy major thoroughfare to a neighborhood street with better sidewalks, upgraded landscaping, speed tables, and bike lanes.
When I’m reelected, I will continue to fight to reduce traffic and protect our beautiful downtown area. The talk of a commuter rail system running through our city should not in turn destroy a downtown we have taken decades to create. That is why I will continue to push for the construction of a tunnel rather than a high-rise bridge. It will create the best option to cross the New River if Broward County expands commuter rail service.
You can be assured that I will keep up efforts to enhance driving experiences on some of our busiest streets, like Las Olas Boulevard, Sunrise Boulevard, and in North Beach Village.
Please support my campaign with a donation today. Your contribution will help ensure that I can continue to make driving in Fort Lauderdale a better, safer experience for everyone here.
Thank you for all of your support!
Dean