Speed Management Projects — 

West Palm Beach, Florida

VISION ZERO SUCCESS STORY — INFRASTRUCTURE

JULY 2020 | FHWA-SA-20-034

Background 

In August 2018, West Palm Beach became 

the fourth jurisdiction in Florida to adopt the 

Vision Zero initiative. The City focused on speed 

management as part of its Vision Zero efforts. As 

part of this focus, the City identified three speed 

management projects, all centered around 

reducing speeds and creating a safer space for 

pedestrians and bicyclists. These projects were 

initially developed under the City’s bicycle master 

plan and prioritized under Vision Zero.

One of the three projects was along Okeechobee 

Boulevard (figure 1), where 33 percent of the 

crashes in the downtown area occured. Fortyfive percent of the crashes that occured on 

Okeechobee Boulevard occured during either the 

morning or afternoon peak hour. Fifty-two percent 

of the bicycle or pedestrian-involved crashes 

occured at night. 

The other two projects were located on South 

Olive Avenue (figure 2) and Cumberland Drive 

(figure 3).

Implementation

The Okeechobee Boulevard project included 

implementing context sensitive solutions to 

manage speed on a street segment in the 

downtown area of West Palm Beach.2 The City 

built bike lanes in conjunction with planned 

redevelopment. 

Key Successes

Initial results from the Olive Avenue and 

Cumberland Drive projects yielded an 

8-percent and 52-percent reduction respectively 

in the 85th-percentile speed.1 In addition, West 

Palm Beach’s city-wide Vision Zero program 

yielded promising results. From 2018 to 2019, 

there has been:

18% -reduction in vehicle/pedestrian 

crashes.

35% -decrease in pedestrian/bike crashes.

55% -decrease in serious injury crashes.

33% -decrease in fatal crashes.

Figure 1. Graphic. Aerial view of the highestcrash intersection along Okeechobee Boulevard, 

Okeechobee at South Tamarind Avenue/ 

Parker Avenue.

© 2020 City of West Palm Beach

1 85th-precentile speed is the speed at which 85 percent of 

free-flowing traffic is traveling at or below. 

2 Federal Highway Administration. (2020). “Context Sensitive 

Solutions and Design.” https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/

css/
The City, in the long term, may remove the 

westbound right-turn lane at South Tamarind 

Avenue/Parker Avenue and Okeechobee 

Boulevard, which is the intersection with the 

highest number of crashes along the corridor.

The South Olive Avenue project was 

approximately 2.1 miles. The design included 

curb ramps, crosswalks, upgraded school zones, 

bike lanes, and a reduced travel lane from 11 

feet to 9.5 feet. 

The Cumberland Drive project included a 

protected cycle track (as seen in figure 3), 

a roundabout with protected bicycle and 

pedestrian paths, additional lighting, and a 

reduced travel lane from 15 and 24 feet to 

11 feet.

The City used its “Face of the City” community 

engagement process for all three projects. 

The City has an ordinance that requires it to 

conduct community outreach prior to receiving 

City Commission approval. In addition, the City 

conducted significant outreach for its bicycle 

master plan. City staff on numerous occasions 

have presented on the City’s mobility strategy 

and the comprehensive approach to achieve 

complete streets and connectivity.

Outcomes

The measures implemented along South Olive 

Avenue resulted in an 8-percent reduction in 

the 85th-percentile speed of vehicles along the 

corridor. The new design along Cumberland 

Drive resulted in a reduction of 85th-percentile 

speed from 37 mph to 20 mph. The City 

continues to compile results on the improvements 

on Okeechobee Bouldevard. 

Funding

Funds for Vision Zero and associated projects 

came from the City and grants. 

Figure 2. Graphic. Constructed protected bike lane along Okeechobee Boulevard.

Figure 3. Graphic. New roundabout with protected bicycle track at intersection of Cumberland Dr. and Saratoga Rd.

© 2020 City of West Palm Beach

POINT OF CONTACT

UYEN DANG 

CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH 

TRAFFIC ENGINEER 

KUDANG@WPB.ORG

 

TARA APPLEBAUM

CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH 

VISION ZERO COORDINATOR

TAPPLEBAUM@WPB.ORG

© 2020 VHB