October 2002 Design Institute
Palm City, Martin County
[See also the Results page]
In response to current and future growth pressures and thereby traffic
congestion in the area of Palm City, the Florida Department of
Transportation is proposing a second bridge at the location of Indian
Street to SW 36th Street. Martin County and members of the community
wish to see a bridge constructed that does not drastically alter
and divide the residential communities along SW 36th Street within
Old Palm City.
The Florida Public Official Design Institute at Abacoa devised a
strategy to allow development of the bridge while maintaining the
character of the community and Old Palm City's waterfront promenade.
Central to the plan is the proposition to minimize the elevation,
width, and associated right of way of the bridge and reduce the design
speed from 45 to 25 miles per hour and subsequently lessen potential
noise impacts. Additionally, the Institute’s recommendations
call for a linear park with bike paths within the median right-of-way
between the divided roadways. Multi-family residential frontage is
planned along both sides of the roadway as a buffer zone to the single
family residential behind it.
The bridge structure should be pushed toward the water as much as
possible. Commercial anchors should be encouraged on the west edge
of Old Palm City to link the older portion of the city with existing
residential and commercial development to the west. A name change
was also recommended to denote arrival and location of Palm City.
It is suggested that the SW 36th Street corridor and bridge be renamed
to the Palm City Boulevard. |
