Successful road diet in Florida

"In April and May, there wasn't one car accident in that stretch of road," said city engineer Randal Krejcarek. "The crash rate in that area is one of the worst in the state, and we have to improve that."

Officials in April closed one lane of Southeast and Northeast Fifth and Sixth avenues (southbound and northbound Federal Highway) between Southeast 10th Street and George Bush Boulevard. Temporary barriers were installed, allowing city officials to study the effectiveness of fewer and narrower lanes, new signal timing plans and driver operating speeds. . . .

Krejcarek said the city hired a consultant to work with the Florida Department of Transportation since Federal Highway is a state road, to create a plan and goals that both constituencies were comfortable with. Slower speeds, a more pedestrian-friendly environment, bicycle lanes, more parking and landscape beautification are some of the benefits the city and the department cited. . . .

"It slows down the traffic and has calmed the speeding down," she said. "Parents don't want to bring their kids on this side of the road because of that. I'm glad they are doing this because Delray is growing and a lot of people walk around here."