Retrofitting Suburbia: FDOT Embracing Complete Streets

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP

International Speedway Boulevard Before

1. Before: US 92/International Speedway Boulevard’s five foot wide sidewalks were sandwiched between eight lanes of traffic and open ditches.

International Speedway Boulevard After

2. Transit improvements included amenity upgrades to Votran bus stops.

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5. With a closed drainage system, sidewalks were widened to 12 feet accommodating pedestrians and leisure bicycle riders.

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7. Pedestrian overpasses complement marked crosswalks at signalized intersections along the 8-lane arterial highway.

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9. Fencing is included as a pedestrian channelization technique to eliminate potential conflict points between pedestrians and high speed automobile users.

10. Land use changes, featuring reduced front building setbacks, set the stage for newer infill development to be directly connected to recent pedestrian improvements on the heavily traveled state highway.

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12. Parking for several new businesses is situated in the rear of the properties.

13. Despite the improvements, the presence of overhead utilities limit the ability to add shade trees to the corridor.

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP