Government

Boca Raton, FDOT Approve Deal to Improve Landscaping Along Federal Highway

by
Daniel Nee
May 20, 2026

Boca Raton officials and the Florida Department of Transportation have inked a deal under which a portion of Federal Highway will receive fresh landscaping improvements that will be maintained over the next 25 years.

The agreement between the city and state, approved unanimously last week by the city council, calls for the two agencies to maintain the landscaping within the right-of-way of N. Federal Highway from the Hillsboro Canal to Camino Real. The swath of highway is located in the southernmost portion of town, starting at the bridge that separates Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach.

Landscaping along Federal Highway (US-1) in the southernmost portion of Boca Raton, May 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

According to a memorandum from city staff, FDOT intends to install landscape improvements within the right-of-way, on the east side of US-1 adjacent to the Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, from south of Camino Real to north of the Hillsboro Canal on the eastern property line. The work had been requested by the local residents and will replace “aged and deteriorated landscaping and aid in beautifying the roadway within city limits,” the memo said. The work will largely occur within an area that is subject to an existing agreement between the city and state, but will extend the city’s maintenance responsibilities approximately 800 feet south to the Hillsboro Canal. The new landscape material and irrigation system have been designed to standards approved by the city and will be maintained upon completion by the city.

Landscaping along Federal Highway (US-1) in the southernmost portion of Boca Raton, May 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The projected project cost, funded by FDOT, is $543,225. The city will have a limited contribution of $16,150 to the project and anticipates a $12,000 annual increase in the cost to maintain the section of roadway during the agreed-upon time period. The memorandum of agreement passed last week by the council formalizes the acceptance of FDOT’s improvements and commits the city to maintain them at its cost over a consistent appearance and maintenance cycle that “meets the city’s level of service and aesthetic standards.”

Work on the project is expected to begin soon, now that the agreement has been adopted.