'Complete Streets' improve Brevard roads for all users
When Cape Canaveral began planning its $1.5 million makeover of Ridgewood Avenue a few years ago, some neighbors worried about the disruption the construction would cause.
But since the 1.3-mile Ridgewood "Complete Street" project was finished in 2012, pedestrians, bicycle riders and skaters have taken advantage of the path, and the area along the roadway has taken on a new appearance.
"It really changed the neighborhood," Mayor Rocky Randels said. "People are taking more interest in their community."
There are six more "Complete Street" projects planned for Brevard County in the next couple of years, from Cocoa to Melbourne, that officials hope will cause a similar transformation.
Lisa Stotz, whose home is on Ridgewood, said the project has made a difference. Now Stotz and her family, which includes two children ages 11 and 14, can ride their bikes or roller-blade on Ridgewood even in the evenings, thanks to new solar-powered street lights. Stop signs every few blocks help slow down the cars.
"It is safer and more friendly to those on the road," she said.
The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization calls a "Complete Street" a roadway where the entire right-of-way is designed to provide safe access for all users — pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and bus riders of all ages and abilities.
While there is no singular design for Complete Streets, the roadways usually include bike paths, sidewalks, landscaping, lighting and well-marked crosswalks.
"What it has done it that people are getting out of their houses," Randels said. "It really brought people together. It got people away from their televisions and their computer screens and got them out exercising."
The Ridgewood project included new 5-foot-wide sidewalks on the east side and an 8-foot-wide bicycle-pedestrian path on the west side. It reduced the width of the 25-mph road from 30 feet to 22 feet, and added landscaping and decorative solar lighting and crosswalks with a brick pattern stamped into the pavement.
"I like what I see," said Tim Bass, 32, a Cape Canaveral resident who often rides his bicycle on the new path.
The TPO allocated $18 million for feasibility studies, design, and construction of Complete Streets projects to be spent in fiscal year 2015, 2016, and 2017, which is matched with local funding from community redevelopment agencies.
The other areas awaiting a makeover are: North Atlantic Avenue in Cape Canaveral, Minutemen Causeway in Cocoa Beach and Peachtree Street in Cocoa. All are expected to be completed or underway this year. Hickory Street in Melbourne, Hopkins Avenue in Titusville and Florida Avenue in Cocoa will come later but could be completed next year.
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• North Atlantic Avenue in Cape Canaveral
Residents and business owners in Cape Canaveral want to see more people walking and biking, and slower traffic along North Atlantic Avenue.
A mixture of small businesses, including convenience stores and restaurants, dot North Atlantic Avenue, where bicyclists and walkers navigate narrow sidewalks. There are several condominium complexes along the roadway, which connects to other residential areas. Many view it as a convenient route to Port Canaveral.
The street-scape project, which is expected to get underway next month , will be similar to Ridgewood Avenue, with decorative solar lighting on the west side, a 10-foot wide bike path on one side, a five-foot sidewalk on the other, landscaping and decorative crosswalks and signs. The project runs from State Road A1A to the port.
"Right now my business thrives with local people," said Mike Altro, owner of GoodFellas Pizza, Subs and Wings on North Atlantic. "We want to get some of that traffic."
Len Meckalavage, who lives just off North Atlantic, is eagerly awaiting the changes.
"They should sell this as the heart of Cape Canaveral," said Meckalavage, who owns Cape Canaveral Liquors. "It would be good if people walked down here."
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• Minutemen Causeway in Cocoa Beach
City officials have long talked about a makeover of Minutemen Causeway through downtown Cocoa Beach, but the project seemed to linger. Now it is in its final design stages and work is expected to get started in May.
Minutemen Causeway gets a lot of pedestrian traffic near the beach end, and splits the city-numbered streets between north and south. A two block section downtown offers roadside parking, then the roadway narrows as it heads west toward residential areas.
City Commissioner Skip Williams said the project began moving toward reality after the city was able to obtain funding through the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization.
"We always wanted to do an upgrade there on Minutemen," he said. "We basically lucked out because we already had something on paper."
The project will spruce up downtown with pavers, landscaping and benches, and improve storm-water runoff with underground tanks that should help the water percolate into the sandy soil.
"It will look a lot more walkable and bikeable," Williams said.
• Peachtree Street in Cocoa
The Peachtree Street project, from Blake Street to the Cocoa city limit at Pineda Street, is expected to greatly improve an area that has irregular sidewalks. Many are broken or not continuous in some sections.
Work could start in May or June, said Ed Wegerif, Cocoa city engineer and public works director.
"A lot of folks don't have cars and they rely on public transportation," he said. "It will definitely improve their situation."
Wagerif said the project should calm traffic, add wider continuous sidewalks and make it easier for pedestrian and bicyclists. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph.
"It will be bicycle friendly," he said. "We have a lot of foot traffic in that area."
Wegerif said landscaping and signage are also expected to help slow traffic on the roadway.
"I think it will change the neighborhood," he said.
• Florida Avenue in Cocoa
Cocoa's Complete Streets project for Florida Avenue could get started by the end of the year or in early 2016. Bids for the project, from Rosa Jones Drive to State Road 520, are set for October.
Florida Avenue is just off Cocoa Village, the city's downtown. It runs pass City Hall and businesses, and could attract more people to the village.
"The idea is to expand the downtown," said Wagerif. "There will be some on-street parking. That typically slows people down."
In addition it will allow the city to replace some old drainage pipes along the roadway.
"We're very excited," he said.
• Hopkins Avenue in Titusville
Construction of the Complete Street on Hopkins Avenue in Titusville is not expected to begin until next year, though some work on the road will start earlier.
The project runs from State Road 50 to U.S. 1 in Titusville. The roadway goes behind the site of the planned Titus Landing Shopping Center parallel to U.S. 1 then connects to it.
"We'll be working ahead of the Complete Street," said Kevin Cook, Titusville public works director. "It will greatly change the corridor."
Lee Descalzo hopes for little disruption but is glad to see that the project will soon be done.
"I'm a proponent for what they are doing," said Descalzo, who owns Fine Line Printing on Hopkins. "It really means a lot to me to have some growth."
• Hickory Street in Melbourne
Still in the planning stages, the Hickory Street project in Melbourne is expected to get underway in May of next year.
The Complete Street Project will run from New Haven Avenue to NASA Boulevard.
The city expects to complete drainage work along the roadway well ahead of the overall project.
City engineer Jenni Lamb said she sees the finished product as a much better right-of-way. With nearby Wells Park, the Liberty Bell Museum and Holmes Regional Medical Center, the new roadway will get much more use.
"We're very excited about this project," she said. "This is an ideal location for a complete Streets."
Contact Moody at 21-242-3651 or nmoody@floridatoday.com Follow on Twitter @RNormanMoody
Complete Streets projects in Brevard County that have been authorized to proceed:
•Minutemen Causeway from Cedar Avenue to Beach in Cocoa Beach
Construction cost $1.395 million through TPO and $2.676 million in city funds.
•North Atlantic Avenue from SR A1A to north city limits in Cape Canaveral
Construction $1.939 million in TPO and $1.537 million from the city
•Peachtree Street from Blake Street to Pineda Street in Cocoa
Construction $1.387 million through TPO and $1.232 from the city
Complete Street projects in planning stages - cost estimates are for planning purposes.
•Hopkins Street from SR 50 to US 1 in Titusville
Design fiscal year 2015-2016, $1.37 million through the TPO and $50,000 from the city
Construction fiscal year 2016-2017, $5.5 million through TPO and $500,000 from the city
•Hickory Street from New Haven Avenue to NASA Blvd in Melbourne
Design fiscal year 2014-2015, $487,000 through TPO and $749,000 from the city
Construction fiscal year 2015-2016, $2.4 million through TPO $400,000 from the city (the latest construction estimate in $3.2 million)
•Florida Avenue from King Street to Rosa L Jones Drive in Cocoa
Design funded by Cocoa Redevelopment Agency
Construction fiscal year 2015 to 2016, $913,000 through TPO and $207,000 from the city.