CONNECTIVITY In urban planning, connectivity is a vital component in making communities more livable. The ability to connect people to places through various modes of travel help to create diverse, vibrant and healthy communities. A comprehensive transportation network system connects people whether they are pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, public transit riders or any combination of these travel methods. The focus on connectivity over the last several decades has relied mostly on the use of motor vehicles. Unfortunately, this has led to a sprawl model of planning that has left many communities having to deal with the effects of extremely wide thoroughfares filled with traffic congestion, with little to no regard for pedestrians and bicyclists. Fortunately, there has been a growing awareness of people and community placemaking, so pedestrians and bicyclists are finally being recognized for their role and contribution to a balanced network. Important destinations such as neighborhood centers require good connectivity to attract people to support businesses as well as to help meet daily needs. A well balanced transportation network helps reduce the reliance of automobile trips, lessoning the need to drive and alleviate traffic congestion. The younger and older generations, as well as those who do not own a car are also better served with a level of independence. In this section, connectivity of east Sunrise is analyzed in its current state in four categories: Pedestrian, Bicycle, Vehicular, and Transit. Opportunities for potential improvements are illustrated in diagram form.
COMPLETE STREETS The City of Sunrise and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has done an excellent job with the implementation and construction of the Sunset Strip Complete Streets Project that seeks to improve mobility along Sunset Strip from Nob Hill Road to Sunrise Boulevard in Sunrise. What are Complete Streets and why they are important? According to the national Smart Growth America organization, "Complete Streets are streets for everyone." They are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Complete Streets make it easy to cross the streets, walk to shops, and bicycle to work. A Complete Streets approach integrates people and place in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of transportation networks. This helps to ensure streets are safer for all people, balance the needs of different modes, and support local land uses, economies, cultures, and natural environments." Complete streets improve quality of life and transforms the overall development patterns of a community and generates greater potential for economic growth. It differs from traffic patterns of the past 50 years which favored the use of the automobile as the primary way of transportation. This created wider roads, larger parking lots, and smaller sidewalks. To create alternatives where a person's mobility experience is valued, planning professionals have re-adapted streets to meet current needs and provide an adequate space for pedestrians as well as cars. This is an attempt to make streets and the public realm equally comfortable for people, cars and transit. The City of Sunrise has already begun introducing the concept of Complete Streets.
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