Streets implementation in South Florida, and a networking happy hour with free trolley service provided to and from the venue. Summit registration was only $60 to attendees, with sponsors covering the rest of the costs associated with the event. All Summit attendees received a gift bag which included a free bike-share membership, related giveaways, and information on safe biking practices in South Florida. Project Summary: The Broward MPO’s 2016 Safe Streets Summit brought together technical community advocates, and elected officials to promote the economic, social, and health benefits of Complete Streets. Focused on the Broward region, the Summit discussed the importance of street design that focuses on the needs of all users of the road, not just vehicular traffic. The 2016 Safe Streets Summit was attended by over 200 people, and featured national experts in the fields of street design, Complete Streets policy implementation, and community development. Originality and Innovation: The Broward MPO is the first MPO in the tri-county region to organize and host the Safe Streets Summit focused on Complete Streets. At the direction of the MPO Board, and in the interests of furthering Complete Streets planning and implementation best practices, the MPO staff assembled a half-day training that grew into what is now the Safe Streets Summit; an annual event hosted by planner for planners. From its humble beginnings, just three years ago, the Safe Streets Summit welcomed over 200 attendees from throughout southeast Florida in 2016. What started out as a training session has into a large-scale event that incorporates elements such as individual and agency awards, and nationally recognized speakers. Safe Streets Summit panels offer diverse speakers that cover all aspects of Complete Streets from public and private sector, developers, universities, nonprofit agencies, and healthcare professionals. This approach encourages attendees take into consideration issues often outside their realm of expertise. The panels are followed by Q & A and have proven to be a constructive forum that has inspired thought-provoking conversations between elected officials, planning staff, and stakeholders across the Broward region.
It is an unfortunate statistic, but Broward County is one of the most dangerous regions in the country for cyclists and pedestrians. Working together, technical community advocates, and elected officials at the Safe Streets Summits present a unified voice to tackle the challenge of how to make streets safer and promote the economic, social, and health benefits of Complete Streets. The Broward MPO, in partnership with local governments, the Florida Department of Transportation, and other partners have begun the implementation of a $100 million investment in Complete Streets projects that includes 46 active transportation improvements spanning 12 municipalities in Broward. Engagement: Outreach for Safe Streets Summit was supported by MPOAC, AMPO, social media, local municipalities, local partners, Board/committee meetings, e-blast lists of over 2,000 individuals, sponsors and exhibitors. Many industry trainings traditionally do not involve the public. MPO, as part of its public participant process emphasizes engagement with traditionally under-represented communities. MPO’s Speak Up Broward program is a grassroots effort that provides education and outreach including, to under-represented communities. As part of a multi-faceted public involvement approach, MPO was able to features posts on its Speak Up Broward social media platforms and highlighted the Safe Streets Summit to more than 6,000 followers. Viewers were also able to access information from the event without having to be physically present. Safe Streets Summit is a comprehensive event that includes panelists from all walks of life with varying perspectives and planning background. The attendees also reflected this diversity. The Safe Streets Summit also highlights the importance of equity, an important issue that is often not considered when implementing Complete Streets. Role of Planners: The Safe Streets Summit is planned and executed by planners for planners. MPO staff assembled a robust agenda that answered the question, “What information do planners need to design, plan and implement Complete Streets?” Next, panels of practitioners, designers, engineers and advocates were assembled to share real-life success stories and tools to navigate the planning process and describe how to overcome challenges. Planners in attendance left the Summit well-equipped with the knowledge to advance Complete Streets practices in their respective municipalities. Another advantage of the