December 2015 SCTPO eNews

APOLLO BRIDGE RIBBON CUTTING

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Apollo Bridge was held on Tuesday, November 17 with nearly 80 attendees. The $17 million S-shaped bridge will provide an alternative travel option over the Eau Gallie River, alleviating traffic on US 1.

The project was a partnership between the SCTPO, FDOT, and the City of Melbourne. SCTPO Transportation Specialist, Georganna Gillette and TPO Board member and City of Melbourne Mayor Kathy Meehan were featured speakers at the event.

Link to SCTPO Facebook album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1063814673658764.1073741845.579516945421875&type=3

Link to Florida Today article: http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2015/11/17/new-apollo-boulevard-bridge-dedicated-melbourne/75921326/

RAIL TRAIL CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

Big things are happening in Titusville! Construction equipment is at the ready for the downtown segment of the East Coast Regional Rail Trail and the pedestrian bridge that will go over Garden Street is scheduled for delivery in late January.

Construction for the Rail Trail segment north of the Harry T. Moore Memorial Park is scheduled to begin in early 2016. When completed, the trail will extend north to Volusia County and east over the Max Brewer Bridge, through the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, culminating at the beach.

The East Coast Regional Rail Trail is part of the planned Space Coast Loop Trail (http://spacecoasttpo.com/implement/space-coast-loop-trail/) and the Coast to Coast Connector (http://fgtf.org/projects/coast-to-coast-connector/).

COMPLETE STREETS UPDATE

The SCTPO is excited to announce that the first three Complete Streets in Brevard are now underway! Complete Streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities must be able to move safely along and across a Complete Street. Learn more by visiting the Complete Streets page of our website. http://spacecoasttpo.com/plan/complete-streets/

N. Atlantic Avenue from SR A1A to George King Boulevard in Cape Canaveral is being improved to include bike paths, wider sidewalks, decorative crosswalks and landscaping. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2016. See a conceptual image of this project on our website. http://spacecoasttpo.com/implement/n-atlantic-avenue-complete-street/

Traffic flow along Minutemen Causeway from Aucila Road to the beach in Cocoa Beach will be improved with the addition of new medians. Additional elements that will be incorporated include bulb-outs, wider sidewalks, a plaza area, lane reductions and landscaping. Construction is now underway. A conceptual image of this project is featured on our website. http://spacecoasttpo.com/implement/minutemen-causeway-complete-streets/

Construction is underway on Peachtree Street from Pineda Street to Blake Avenue in Cocoa. Improvements include pedestrian-scaled lighting, continuous sidewalks, landscaping and sharrows, which are marked lanes shared by cars and bicyclists. Sharrows are designed to increase the safety and visibility of bicyclists on the road. Construction is estimated to be completed in early Spring 2016. See images by visiting our website: http://spacecoasttpo.com/implement/peachtree-complete-street/

SCTPO OUTREACH UPDATE

It has been a great year for public outreach! Since January, the SCTPO has:

• Given 42 community presentations reaching approximately 1,052 people. • Implemented a new outreach program designed to educate local

jurisdictions on the TPO and the transportation planning process. So far, seven cities and two community groups have received the presentation.

• Developed a new High School Outreach Program based on the Long Range Transportation Plan. This pilot program was presented to 3 schools, reaching 122 students.

• Held two Hike or Bike events in partnership with Florida Today to showcase the future East Coast Regional Rail Trail. Over 140 people chose to walk or bike seven miles of the future trail.

• Increased Facebook “likes” 61%. • Built a Twitter following of 336 individuals, which continues to increase. • Increased eNews subscribers by 59%.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

There will be no Board or Committee meetings in December.

Thursday, December 10, 6 pm to 8 pm, Public Hearing for SRA1A Improvements http://spacecoasttpo.com/event/public-hearing-for-sr-a1a-improvements/

Wednesday, December 17, 9 am to 11 am, Community Traffic Safety Team http://spacecoasttpo.com/event/community-traffic-safety-team-8/

COMMUNITY WALK FEATURES BREVARD ZOO LINEAR TRAIL

The Community is invited to join Florida Today Executive Editor Bob Gabordi and Brevard Zoo Executive Director Keith Winsten on a behind-the-scenes walk through the Zoo. The 4 mile trek begins at 8:30 am and takes in portions of the Zoo, including the new temporary exhibit Washed Ashore and the Zoo Linear Trail.

The Linear Trail is a 1.1 mile multi-use boardwalk that parallels I-95. The SCTPO has secured funding to expand this trail down to the Pineda Causeway. Learn more by visiting the Brevard Zoo Linear Trail page on our website. http://spacecoasttpo.com/implement/brevard-zoo-linear-trail/

The walk is free but participants are asked to preregister. For details, see the article in FLORIDA TODAY: http://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/columnists/bob-gabordi/2015/11/30/gabordi-next-up-walking-brevard-zoo/76531416/

AUF WIEDERSEHEN KATRINA!

This month we bid a fond farewell to Multi Modal Communications Specialist Katrina Morrell. Katrina and her family have accepted a unique opportunity to live and work in Germany.

HOLIDAY DRIVING TIPS

‘Tis the season we spend a lot of time behind the wheel, traveling to visit loved ones near and far. More cars on the road, of course, often results in more crashes. Stay safe with these holiday road trip safety tips from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department: http://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/vacation-holiday-travel-tips/