Greenways, Blueways and Trails BOYNTON BEACH GREENWAYS, BLUEWAYS, AND TRAILS PLAN PUBLIC
WORKSHOP HELD ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015, AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE
BOYNTON BEACH CITY LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, 208 S. SEACREST
BOULEARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PRESENT:
Jerry Taylor, Mayor
Joe Casello, Vice Mayor
Mike Fitzpatrick, Commissioner
Carisse LeJeune, Assistant City Manager
Warren Adams, Historic Resource Preservation Planner
Debby Coles-Dobay, Public Art Manager
Debbie Majors, Grants Coordinator
Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director
Mike Rumpf, Planning and Zoning Director
Woodrow Hay, CRA Member
Carisse LeJeune, Assistant City Manager, welcomed all to the workshop at 6:20 p.m.
She explained this was for the Master Plan. In 2004, the Recreation Department
created a Greenway Master Plan, which was later adopted by the City Commission.
Staff took the original plan, updated it and expanded it for connectivity throughout the
City, region and the State. She introduced the members of the City Commission that
were present as noted above.
There were maps on each table, broken down by quadrant. Ms. LeJeune introduced
Stuart Robinson, Consultant with Kimley Horn. Mr. Robinson welcomed all to the
meeting and expressed the goal was to create a plan to improve the walkways and
bikeways in Boynton Beach. There were many exciting projects in the City that would
improve bike paths and pedestrian ways. Three dots were given to each attendee, and
they were invited to place dots on an infrastructure board on areas they felt were
potential priorities for Kimley Horn to analyze. There are different ways to provide
infrastructure which he would review and he would relate them to various opportunities
for the City.
Mr. Robinson pointed out there were various storyboards to help the attendees become
familiar with the project and its scope. Preliminary ideas of potential locations for the
bike lanes, the walking paths and bike paths had been previously identified. Each table
had an aerial map the attendees could use to give Kimley Horn additional ideas to
analyze and potentially incorporate into the plan. The maps were set up by geographic
areas in the City.
Meeting Minutes
Greenways, Blueways and Trails Plan Public Workshop
Boynton Beach, Florida August 20, 2015
The overall goal was to increase and enhance all modes of transportation, tourism,
education, recreation, economic development, health, physical fitness and
environmental conservation throughout the defined areas. While the focus was on all
modes of transportation, they sought to encourage non-motorized active transportation.
Studies show physical activity through active transportation is a great way to address
chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and other conditions
associated with modern society. They will provide recommendations on design
guidelines, mapping, parking and others, and formulate detailed actions to address the
diversity of users through Complete Streets.
Mr. Robinson explained they will build on the 2004 plan and expand it to include public
streets having on-road bike lanes and sidewalks. They will build on plans from the
County and regional level. Palm Beach Council, through the Palm Beach County
Metropolitan Planning Authority has a bike plan that Kimley Horn had reviewed as part
of this project. The Treasure Coast Regional Planning County is looking at a regional
plan, with hiking and biking that includes trails in Boynton Beach. Two areas that were
identified were the Boynton Lawrence corridor and the connection to the Tri-Rail by
Quantum and Gateway.
Kimley Horn would build from existing facilities such as the Palmetto Greenway Linear ,
Park, along the south side of the Stanley Weaver Canal providing walking and biking
opportunities. There are opportunities by Caloosa Park. The neighborhood on the
north side of the park would have a shorter pedestrian access to get to the Park than by
car.
There are designated existing bike routes which was a County initiative from years ago.
They mapped them for potential improvements. U.S. 1 was the first section within all
the local FDOT districts that has a buffered bike lane, which has an additional
separation from the motorized vehicles. There are some existing crosswalks on
Seacrest Boulevard that will be incorporated. They will include more safe crossings and
a median can serve as a safe refuge for people crossing the street one direction at a
time.
There are potential locations along the canal rights-of-way. There is a chance to cross
from the west side of the Palmetto Greens Linear Park to the east side. This would be a
safe crossing improvement. The South Florida Regional Water Management District
allowed a walking and biking path through the right-of-way and there is a process that
was established with the Water Management District to permit a facility. The Palmetto
Greenway Linear Park was an example of that type of facility and they mapped out a
proposed shared-use path.
Kimley Horn reviewed connecting existing parks and preserves such as the Seacrest
Scrub and opportunities to widen roadways to allow for on-road bicycle lanes, but noted
they would have to address swales to improve drainage.
2
Meeting Minutes
Greenways, Blueways and Trails Plan Public Workshop
Boynton Beach, Florida August 20, 2015
Mr. Robinson commented the project would become a Complete Street. The project
would provide facilities for all users and abilities, and Complete Streets are designed to
move cars and people. Projects such as this can improve crash rates and make Florida
more walkable and cycling friendly. He noted Florida has some of the worst safety rates
regarding crashes, and this type of project can improve those rates.
Primary tools for street designs were reviewed which included crosswalks, flashing
beacons, median island refuges, lighting on shared use paths, neighborhood greenways
and buffered bike lanes.
Mr. Robinson explained they had proposed bike lanes along Quantum and Seacrest
Boulevards and other examples of bike lanes were viewed. There will be designated
space on the roadway for bicyclists to use. Some are conventional bike lanes. Some
could be buffered as was along U.S. 1 and some use green asphalt which provides
additional recognition to motorists that bicyclists are on the roadway.
Photographs of neighborhood greenways were reviewed. These were low-volume, low-
speed roads that do not need a separate path or sidewalk because most cyclists feel
comfortable riding in the road. These could be designated through signage or pavement
markings.
A shared-use path is shared between pedestrians and cyclists. They are on areas
along roadways and canals and examples of these paths were viewed. Mr. Robinson
noted the FDOT has a new standard for providing buffered bike lanes. State highways
would have the new standard and U.S. 1 and Boynton Beach Boulevard have this.
Cycle tracks are where bike lanes are not just separated by paint. They are separated
by a physical barrier such as curbing or on-street parking and the cyclists ride next to
the curb between parked cars or sidewalks.
Sidewalk design was important. Pictures of sidewalks with good design principals,
including trees to help with shade were viewed. Interactive flashing beacons can be
added to crosswalks. Pedestrians press a button for a flashing light to warn motorists
they will cross. There are other ways to design crosswalks to signal crossing activities
to motorists through textured pavement and medians. Examples of these were viewed.
Curb extensions and bulb-outs shorten the distance pedestrians have to cross and
increase visibility. It gets them closer to the area where they will cross. Median islands
were important for crosswalks and at intersections and round-abouts. Lighting could be
included on some of the projects, but not on all because of costs. Mr. Robinson
commented it would be important to include at crosswalks and bus shelters.
On-street parking helps provide a walkable environment. Shading and trees are a
potential component to improve walkability and bus shelters, especially high-volume
shelters. Mr. Robinson explained a road diet is an implementation strategy. If having a
3
Meeting Minutes
Greenways, Blueways and Trails Plan Public Workshop
Boynton Beach, Florida August 20, 2015
four-lane road, the car lanes can be reduced to three to reallocate space for other types
of amenities. An example was shown where it provided bike lanes.
They are including Blueways and paddling trails in the project. Some locations, such as
Caloosa Park could be used as a trailhead that includes shelters and signage or map of
the network so users could decide where they would go on the trail. These should be at
places where restrooms and water fountains are available so people can rest. Mr.
Robinson anticipated trailheads would be at larger parks and areas near downtown.
There is a regional project in conceptual form involving the FEC. As the railroad is used
more for passenger trains, especially if the Tri-rail Coastal Link comes, there would be a
need for pedestrians and cyclists to access the stations. They have the potential for a
station in downtown Boynton Beach. Regional agencies have identified a Rail with Trail
network to provide a path along the rail to funnel people to the station. This item is being
incorporated into the City's plan.
Mr. Robinson advised the design principals they used were good street designs starting
with a human-scaled approach and car and traffic capacity principals to create great
public spaces.
A draft network plan was viewed containing Kimley Horn's preliminary ideas. Mr.
Robinson requested the attendees share their ideas on areas they think are important
for walking and biking. They should write their ideas on the boards and they could talk
about some of them as they circulated among the tables. They also had comment
cards that could be used.
Mr. Robinson thanked all for attending the meeting, and advised he would go to each
table to receive their feedback and answer any questions.
The public workshop/ concluded at 6:52 p.m.
/
LAAAJL
Catherine Cherry ()
Minutes Specialist
09/30/15
4