2021 Safe Streets Awards - Winners

Meg Daly is founder and president of Friends of The Underline, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization leading the initiative to transform the underutilized land below Miami's Metrorail into a 10-mile linear park, urban trail and public art destination. In 2013 Daly broke both of her arms in a bike accident. Since she could not drive herself to physical therapy, she decided to take the Metrorail near her home, and then walked the rest of the way to her destination underneath the train tracks. Even during the month of July, she did not feel hot in the shade of the tracks. She noticed how wide the corridor was and how much space there was … and she was the only person using the space. Inspired by the High Line in NYC and other similar parks around the world, she thought that this space underneath the tracks should turn this land into a park below the train.  And so, The Underline was born.

Since its founding in 2014, Friends of the Underline has been committed to transforming the underutilized land below Miami’s Metrorail.  In 2020, some of her accomplishments with The Underline were:

• Launched Community Outreach Plan to grow connections along The Underline
• Began Art Master Plan and assembled The Underline Art Advisory Committee for art installations on The Underline
• Applied for numerous $2 million+ in grants, including several to help realize racial equity on The Underline
• Strengthened relationships with two historically underserved communities along The Underline, including one historically Bahamian neighborhood
• Commitment to ensuring safe crossings at each roadway intersection of The Underline

Ms. Daly has guided the Friends of the Underline to near completion of Phase 1 of The Underline, an approximate 0.5-mile section adjacent to Brickell area that includes pedestrian and bicycle trains, pedestrian and bicycle trails, basketball court, gym equipment, and spaces for exercise classes, yoga, and a sound stage for movies and concerts, along with a 50-foot long communal dining table, and should be opened in the early months of 2021.

In the last six months, the City of Miami Beach Transportation & Mobility Department developed, secured approvals, and implemented various pilot projects focused on transforming streets in South Beach from car-centric streets to streets where walking, cycling, and other forms of active mobility are not only welcomed, but also prioritized. Working closely with the Washington Avenue Business Improvement District, Ocean Drive Association, and the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association, the Miami Beach Transportation and Mobility Department successfully transformed the Art Deco Cultural District into a people-first zone with bicycle and pedestrian boulevards, parking-protected bike lanes, road diets, parklets, and open/slow streets.

Kristin Jacobs served as a Broward MPO Member for many years and her widespread influence helped to shape core initiatives the MPO champions today. She helped shift the agency’s focus from moving cars (congestion management) to moving people (Broward Complete Streets). She also championed resiliency ensuring Broward’s future by addressing climate change today.

Jacobs was a longtime advocate for innovative transportation projects, including light rail and complete streets. Throughout her career, Kristin worked to expand affordable housing, revitalize neighborhoods, encourage sustainable development and advocated for making solar energy a viable option for homeowners. One of her many accomplishments included spearheading the development of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact (SFRCC) (comprised of Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties) to address the current and future resiliency threats that South Florida faces. The SFRCC Compact created a non-partisan forum for 5.5 million residents to speak with one voice to their Federal and State representatives about the unique needs of the region.

Thank you Kristin for your leadership in improving the transportation system in South Florida and advocating for South Florida's concerns for climate change. The MPO is forever grateful.

Sheila Rose’s advocacy for Complete Streets reads like a roadmap going back decades. Among her many accomplishments, she facilitated the passage of a City resolution (one of the first in Broward County) adopting the Complete Streets Guidelines and under her direction, the City drafted a Complete Streets Plan to form the basis for amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code to implement the policies in the guidelines. She was also responsible for spearheading a resolution in support of the Lyons Road Mobility Project to introduce bicycle lanes, sidewalk and pedestrian amenities; the "MainStreet Design Standards" which was awarded the American Planning Association's Award of Excellence for infusing sustainable and green architecture and design; the City's Education Corridor, a centerpiece for a regional transportation corridor; developing the City's Master Greenway's Plan; establishing the City's Green Plan; and acted as the lead local agency coordinator and collaborator for a potential future pedestrian bridge over the Sawgrass Expressway.

The City of Weston has been very supportive of providing transportation alternatives to all types of users, even when the term “Complete Streets” was relatively new to the Broward region. The city formalized its commitment with the development of the Bicycle Master Plan in 2013, to provide guidance in prioritizing the next steps in continuing to make the City of Weston a bicycle friendly city. The City continues filling the gaps to connect and expand the existing network, most recently the City received the CSLIP Grant for Bike Lane/Sidewalk Project Bonaventure Boulevard from Indian Trace to State Road 84.

As a TPA Board Member, Council Member Thomson facilitated an important city council discussion of the potentially adverse impacts of roadway widening projects on community character and pedestrian and bicycle safety, ultimately resulting in a City position in support of Complete Streets investment in area transportation facilities in lieu of roadway widening.  He also led the discussion of a lane repurposing project within the City, weighing the potential safety benefits of a reduction from 6 to 4 vehicle lanes against the potential for increased traffic congestion that resulted in unanimous city support for the project.

In 2020, Council Member Thomson was one of 21 elected officials selected across the nation to participate in Smart Growth America's inaugural class of Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Champions Institute, a new initiative to help prepare a hand-picked group of elected officials to effectively advocate for and support safer and more complete streets. Council Member Thomson can routinely be found walking, jogging and biking along the area roadways with his children while promoting healthier communities and stewardship of our public spaces.

In 2020 the City of Boynton Beach adopted a Complete Streets and Mobility Policy directing the City's decision-makers to consider all transportation system users when making decisions regarding transportation and land use planning. Complete Streets prioritizes safe access for vulnerable users as well as underinvested and underserved communities by fostering social equity through improved access to jobs, healthcare and other community amenities. The City of Boynton Beach also adopted a Vision Zero policy. This policy further commits staff to work towards the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries on all roads within the City.

One of many exceptional projects as part of the 2017 Miami-Dade TPO's Protected Bike Lane (PBL) demonstration plan. First off, every PBL in this plan was important: As a whole, these projects helped to fix some standards issues that were standing in the way of safe protected bike lanes in Miami. Secondly, this particular segment stands as an example that it IS possible, in Miami-Dade County, to repurpose a full lane on a higher-speed arterial road into a basic, curb-protected bike lane with enough space for two riders. These projects are a testament to the commitment and tenacity of the TPO and teams behind their creation.