Rendering of intersection at SE 6th Avenue and SE 1st Street after permanent improvements

Project Description: This project serves a dual purpose: enhancing pedestrian safety and beautification of a major downtown thoroughfare. Federal Highway (also known as NE/SE 5th and 6th Avenues) splits into a one-way pair system through the downtown with a minimum of three lanes in each direction. In the blocks approaching Atlantic Avenue there are also turn lanes and on-street parking lanes. Unlike many of the other streets in the downtown area, there is no landscaping in the right-of-way and the sidewalks along Federal are approximately five feet in width. The Downtown Master Plan calls for traffic calming, beautification, and enhanced pedestrian safety by widening sidewalks and adding landscaping along the Federal Highway Corridor.

Temporary modifications were installed in April 2008 between NE 8th Street (George Bush Blvd.) and SE 10th Street for a year-long trial period so that officials could study their effectiveness during peak and off-peak seasons. The Kimley Horn engineering firm, which worked as project consultant, presented its findings to the City Commission on May 19, 2009.

KimleyHorn collected speed, volume, and crash data during the peak season prior to the temporary trial, and in the peak season after the trial was implemented. The results are as follows:

Speeds - The posted speed limit along the corridor is 35 miles per hour. Prior to the temporary trial, speeds were typically 5 to 10 miles over the limit. Since the modifications were installed speeds have been generally around the speed limit, for an average speed reduction of 6 mph.

Volumes and traffic flow - Overall volumes were slightly lower in 2009 than in the previous year, but traffic patterns and time-of-day volumes did not change significantly as a result of the temporary trial. In terms of traffic flow, the modifications have resulted in minimal additional delay.. The most significant change was an increase in delay of approximately 6 seconds at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and SE 6th Avenue. Even with this delay the corridor still operates at an acceptable level of service (capacity) per Florida Department of Transportation and Palm Beach County standards.

Crashes - Accident data was analyzed for a three year period at the beginning of the study, and compared to the year that the temporary trial was in place. The results indicate a reduction of approximately 50% in annual accidents overall, and a 75% reduction in accidents at the US 1 intersections with Atlantic Avenue (at East 5th Avenue and East 6th Avenue).

In summary, the temporary trial modification for the US 1 corridor has accomplished the intended goals regarding safety and speeds. It has resulted in slower speeds and significantly fewer accidents, and the road has maintained its capacity to handle the traffic volumes.  The City Commission voted to proceed with permanent enhancements. The temporary measures will remain in place until the permanent measures are installed. 

View the US-1 Enhancement Project Brochure.