Broward County's City of Sunrise is basking in the glow of achievement, having clinched the Complete Streets Community Award at this year's Safe Streets Summit in Miami. This honor, as reported by official city statements, recognizes local governments or organizations that have substantially contributed to creating roadways designed to safely accommodate everyone — whether on foot, bicycle, behind the wheel, or aboard public transit, regardless of age or ability.
The City set to firmly embrace its vision when it adopted the Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan in 2015, and its commitment has only grown stronger. In collaboration with the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (Broward MPO) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), they constructed Broward's first Complete Streets Suburban Demonstration project on Sunset Strip, back in 2018. A city statement highlighted, this effort was pivotal in positioning Sunrise as a leader in transit and mobility excellence within the county.
Accolades have also been given to Sunrise for its trailblazing infrastructure, such as the county's first raised bicycle lane on NW 44th Street. This achievement helped the city earn the title of a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. The bar has been set high with multiple projects adhering to the Complete Streets principles, and even more advancements are on the local government's radar, ensuring a future of inclusive and safe transit for all.
The Safe Streets Summit serves as an annual reminder of the critical importance of street safety and inclusivity. "The Complete Streets Community Award is presented to a local government or organization that has significantly contributed to implementing Complete Streets," as per a statement from the City of Sunrise. As communities nationwide continue to strive for safer and more accessible avenues for their residents, the City of Sunrise has exemplified what it means to not just envision, but to actively make strides toward a future where the streets belong to everybody equally.
