11/23/2014

Thuc H. Le, P.E.

Florida Department of Transportation
via email
Re:

Quadrille Boulevard RRR Improvements

F.M. # 432350-1-52-01

Dear Mr. Le:

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Joe Roskowski forwarded your email, dated November 17 , where you provided an update on the Departments
plans to incorporate more complete streets principles such as bike lanes into the project. This is a step in the right
direction and we are thankful that the Department has revisited its design. We havent seen the Departments new
proposal, but based on your response to Mr. Roskowski that 11 lanes and sharrows will be incorporated into
portions of the project we feel that the Department hasnt availed itself to all of the potential design options.
Working collaboratively with other citizens (as far away as Seattle) on the blog www.walkablewpb.com, we have
developed several alternatives based on national best practices that fit into the 30 mile per hour design speed
urban core context of Quadrille Boulevard. Where possible the suggested alternatives provide separation of the
cyclist from the travel way as this is a very effective way to increase cyclings modal share. A recent study by
Portland State University National Institute for Transportation and Communities has shown a 30% increase in
cycling ridership when protected bike lanes are utilized.
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We have determined that Quadrille has different characteristics east and west of 3 St. Therefore, our
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alternatives will be presented in segments starting with the section from Clematis to 3 as follows.

CLEMATIS TO 3 R D :
Existing condition- three lanes w/ on street parallel parking 59 of asphalt, 62 curb to curb as shown in the
below typical section:

WalkableWPB proposal #1 Three vehicle lanes with parallel parking and bike lanes on both sides of the
street. The option fits entirely in the existing curb lines with 5.5 bike lanes, 11 parking lanes (8 parking + 3
buffer), 10 travel lanes, 9 left turn lane as shown in the below typical section:

The 8 parking lane and 3 buffer protect cyclists from dooring accidents. This configuration is also safer
than the typical bike lane since the parked cars shield cyclists from the travel lane. Protecting bikes with
parked cars has been done in many cities in the United States. http://www.peopleforbikes.org/ contains
an online inventory of protected bike lanes.

Table 25.4.5.3 of the FDOT PPM allows the reduction of 10 travel lanes and 9 left turns for the addition
of bicycle facilities for roads with design speeds such as Quadrille Boulevard which have design speed less
than 40 MPH and less than 7% trucks. If standard 11 travel and turn lanes are used without roadway
widening then a separation for the cyclist would not be possible and door zone bike lanes or sharrows
would be provided. Both of these options are inferior. The main reason for providing wider travel lanes is
to reduce vehicular side swipes and damage to mirrors. By utilizing wider lanes on Quadrille and not
providing separated bike lanes you are increasing safety of vehicles while at the same time decreasing the
safety of cyclists. A vehicle can be repaired at a body shop. Unfortunately, the same cant be done with a
human being.

WalkableWPB proposal #2 The option is similar to proposal #1 with the exception that a minor roadway
widening is performed to increase the travel lane to 11 and the center turn lane to 10 while retaining the
safety benefits of proposal #1. A widening of 3 of additional pavement is required on the east side of the road
only at locations where parallel parking spaces exist. Note that the bike lane on the east side is proposed to
be between the travel lane and parking lane. This location was chosen so that the bike lane doesnt have to
deflect around the parallel parking spaces on the east side. We understand that some curb and sidewalk
modifications are already included in the design for the Courthouse frontage. A typical section for this
concept is shown below:

To further demonstrate that this option can be cost effectively included in the resurfacing project we
have taken the time to create the attached sketches of this option. A sketch has been superimposed
on top of sheet S-4 and S-5 of the Quadrille signing and marking plans and is included as Appendix A.

WalkableWPB proposal #3: Two way cycle track as shown in the below typical section:

This option is similar to alternative #1 with the exception that both sides of the cycle track have
been placed on one side of the road. This does introduce some additional complexity at the
intersections as one direction of cyclists is counter to the abutting vehicular traffic. Since a buffer
is only needed on one side of the cycle track larger travel lanes can be provided. Due to FEC
railroad tracks there are no driveways on the north side of the road. A cycle track traffic signal
phase combined with a no right on red is a potential solution to the counter flow cycle traffic at
the intersections.

3 R D TO DIXIE:
Existing condition - five lane section. Four travel lanes and one bi-directional center turn lane 59 of asphalt, 62
curb to curb as shown in the below typical section:

This five lane section carries the same amount of traffic (AADT 10,600 in 2013) as the three lane section from
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Clematis to 3 . Due to the horizontal curve in this section, 358 radius, the Department has indicated that they
would not support narrower travel lanes or on-street parking. It should be noted that the existing center turn
lane in the curved portion of the Quadrille Blvd. does not serve any driveways. Given these constraints by the

Department our recommendation is to reduce the number of travel lanes from five to three as this will allow
the travel lane widths to remain while providing bike lane facilities. We have developed three three lane
options that fit within the existing curb lines.

WalkableWPB proposal #1:

Provide a parking access road on one side of the road. The proposed separate access road with a sharrow on
the outside of the curve will address the Departments concerns about parallel parking maneuvers from the
travel lanes in the curve. 11 travel lanes and a 10 wide center turn lane are provided. The typical section of
the parking access road is shown below:

WalkableWPB proposal #2:

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Utilize a modified version of the two-way cycle track option for Clematis to 3 (proposal #3). This option
would be modified to gore out the parallel parking spaces in the curve.

WalkableWPB proposal #3:

Provide buffered bike lanes expandable to a future multiway boulevard configuration. Ultimately, a three
lane multiway boulevard may be the best solution for Quadrille as it allows Quadrille to function as both a
state highway arterial and also as a local street. The multiway boulevard configuration could be
accomplished within Quadrilles existing 100 right of way. For the current proposal the outside medians
buffering the bike lanes have been located in their ultimate location in the multiway boulevard. With this
design the City of West Palm Beach could install permanent landscaping in these buffers and widen the
outside of the road at a later date. The interim and ultimate multiway boulevard typical sections are
shown below:

These alternatives are in the spirit of the Departments recent adoption of a complete streets policy. With the
shortfall in transportation funding and the typical 15 to 20 year resurfacing schedule it is imperative that we take
advantage of this opportunity and reconfigure Quadrille Boulevard correctly. Additionally, this project abuts the
Flagler bridge replacement, FPID # 412489-2-52-01 which will provide bike lanes. Utilizing the alternatives we have
presented it is possible to have seamless bike facilities all the way from Clematis over the new Flagler Bridge to the
island of Palm Beach.
Thank you in advanced for your consideration. Should you have any questions or need further clarification on
these concepts, please dont hesitate to contact me. Our readers of walkablewpb eagerly await details on your
new design proposals for Quadrille Boulevard.
Sincerely,
The Editorial Board of Walkable West Palm Beach
Copy:
Nick Uhren, PE Executive Director Palm Beach County MPO
Billy Hattaway, PE FDOT
Ananth Prasad, PE FDOT
FDOT District 4

Federal Highway Administration District 4

City of West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach CRA
West Palm Beach DDA

Appendix A:
Quadrille signing and marking plan sketches (Clematis to 3rd Street, proposal #2)

5.5
11.0
11.0
10.0
11.0
5.5
8.0

62.0

5.5'
8'
11'
65.0

3' wide buffer w/ parallel parking (typ.)

10'
11'
5'

BUS

8'