State Planning Major Improvements Along Federal Highway in Downtown Boca Raton

Federal Highway where improvements are planned in downtown Boca Raton between Camino Real and NE Mizner Boulevard, Sept. 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The Florida Department of Transportation is planning major improvements along Federal Highway in the heart of downtown Boca Raton, representatives from the agency told city council members at a work session meeting held Monday.

The long-awaited project will bring bike lanes, pedestrian improvements and a redesign of a swath of the highway between Camino Real and NE Mizner Boulevard. According to FDOT’s presentation, the 1.3-mile stretch of roadway will include a smaller 0.3-mile portion between Camino Real and SE 5th Street that will be “repurposed” with more substantial changes.

Federal Highway where improvements are planned in downtown Boca Raton between Camino Real and NE Mizner Boulevard, Sept. 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Federal Highway where improvements are planned in downtown Boca Raton between Camino Real and NE Mizner Boulevard, Sept. 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The smaller portion will see the elimination of the outside lane to provide buffered bicycle lanes, wider sidewalk, and landscape strip. The number of lanes will be reduced from three travel lanes to two so the new bike and pedestrian features can be added. The project will include curb and gutter reconstruction along a new edge of pavement, drainage modifications, sidewalk reconstruction, concrete pavers at intersections, and mast arm replacements for the traffic signals at Camino Real.

Between SE Mizner and NE Mizner, there will be a roadway widening and curb and gutter reconstruction along the median to provide buffered bicycle lanes.

Along the total length of the corridor, the roadway will be resurfaced with new markings, “high emphasis” crosswalks will be installed and a green-marked bicycle lane will be constructed. Newly upgraded pedestrian push-buttons will be added, and the speed limit will be reduced from 40 m.p.h. to 35 m.p.h.

The project was termed a “road diet” by Nathan George, the city’s new Transportation and Mobility Director, further explaining the look of what will be a 5-foot wide bike lane and 2-foot wide striped buffer.

“We’re committed to delivering complete streets, and the areas we need to emphasize are areas where we can reduce the chance of having a crash,” George said. “From staff’s perspective, it’s very important to provide that extra protection between the bike lane the motor vehicle lane.”

Federal Highway where improvements are planned in downtown Boca Raton between Camino Real and NE Mizner Boulevard, Sept. 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The plan as proposed by FDOT would likely decrease the chance of a car-versus-bicycle or pedestrian accident by 50 percent, George said.

According to FDOT, work will be done in phases to reduce the effects of construction in the community, temporary lane closures will be needed during off-peak hours and detours will be necessary at side-streets for replacement of the pavers, but access to adjacent properties will be maintained at all times.

The state’s schedule for work includes a public hearing in early 2025, a bid solicitation by August 2025, and construction getting underway during the winter of 2026.

“We’ve been discussing this project since the midpoint of the last decade, so we’re glad to see it coming,” said. Mayor Scott Singer.