Looking to get out of the seminar room and gain first-hand perspective transportation projects? Make sure to sign up for the "get out and experience" technical tour of your choice. Descriptions of each tour along with date, time, and fee are below. You can register for these tours through the ITE 2015 Annual Meeting & Exhibit website.
Florida DOT District Four SMART SunGuide Regional Transportation Management Center (TMC) - Monday, August 3, 2:00 – 5:30 p.m. (Registration Fee: $50)
The FDOT District Four SMART SunGuide Regional Transportation Management Center (TMC) is a nationally recognized leader in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). SMART SunGuide operates 24/7 in Broward County as the communication hub for traffic information along I-95, I-75, and I-595 (monitored and maintained by I-595 Express, LLC) in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties. RTMC Operators coordinate with the Road Rangers, Road Watchers, Florida Highway Patrol and other RTMC partners (i.e., FDOT District Six TMC, Florida's Turnpike Enterprise TMC, and I-595 Express, LLC TMC), to determine incident and congestion locations.
The TMC provides real-time traffic information to the public through Dynamic Message Signs, Highway Advisory Radio, the SMART SunGuide website, and Florida’s 511 Traveler System. Broward County Traffic Engineering Division (BCTED) is collocated with the SMART SunGuide RTMC. Starting in 2014, BCTED and FDOT have partnered to establish the Broward County Arterial Management Program (AMP) in which the principles of active arterial management are starting to be refined and implemented for Broward County needs. FDOT provides support to BCTED as BCTED operates and maintains the countywide computer controlled traffic signal system consisting of more than 1400 signal installations. The facility also houses the BCTED Signs and Marking Section which incorporates an active sign fabricating workshop.
Guided tours will be given of the SMART SunGuide TMC and BCTED facilities. Participants will observe and speak directly with operators and learn more about on-going projects such as the countywide “Green Lights Program” which was launched in 2010 as a major initiative for retiming signals throughout Broward County. Rotating tours will be conducted in small groups (up to 15 persons) allowing for more one-on-one conversations and close-up viewing of the facilities. The tours will cover:
- FDOT SMART SunGuide/511/Road Ranger area presentation
- BCTED Signal Operations area and computer room presentation
- Arterial Management Program (AMP)/console area presentation
- BCTED sign shop presentation
- BCTED signal controller lab/video detection/cabinet buildup area presentation
Complete Streets Tour - Tuesday, August 4, 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. (Registration Fee: $70)
City of Fort Lauderdale, traditionally known as the springbreak town, has established itself as a world-class international business center. The City has invested a lot in recent years, in terms of both policies and infrastructure, to transform its downtown from an auto-centric environment into a multimodal, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly community. Downtown Fort Lauderdale has become the regional activity center and attracted the group of young people, the Millennials who are driving less and looking for transportation options, to live and stay in this vibrant environment.
The Complete Streets session will give you an overview of complete streets in Fort Lauderdale in both the planning and the engineering prospective. The Complete Streets tour will take you through downtown Fort Lauderdale to witness this transformation, and see the exciting multimodal development and facilities, transportation innovations, and future transportation infrastructure, etc.
Pedal the Beach Tour - Tuesday, August 4, 8:00–10:30 a.m. (Registration Fee: $65)
If you love the ocean breeze in your hair and sands between your toes, this is the one tour you don’t want to miss! This 10-mile bicycle ride will take you along the one-of-a-kind oceanfront promenade Hollywood Beach Broadwalk that stretches nearly two and a half miles along the Atlantic, making few stops along the way to a nature center, guided by those who are lucky enough to call this paradise home.
Named one of America's Best Beach Boardwalks by Travel + Leisure magazine, this brick-paved thoroughfare is a haven for joggers, bicyclists, roller bladers and all who prefer to take in the action from the comfort of one of the countless eateries and cafés along the way. Two broadwalk parks attract kids of all ages to play paddleball at the historic Garfield Street courts or cool off in the whimsical dolphin play fountain.
With stops along the major attractions along the beach and at the Hollywood North Beach Park and possible travel to Anne Kolb Nature Center to view Intracoastal Waterway and mangrove sanctuary. There will also be an opportunity to visit the B-Cycle Station to hear about their Bike Sharing Program in Broward.
Note: This ride will take place on both exclusive and shared bike lanes. Medium level of rider experience recommended. Bikes and helmets provided.
Miami International Airport/Miami Intermodal Center/Tri-Rail Tour - Tuesday, August 4, 2:00 – 5:30 p.m. (Registration Fee: $50)
This exciting three-in-one tour includes stops at the Miami International Airport and Miami Intermodal Center, together with an on-board Tri-Rail presentation!
Miami International Airport (MIA) offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. airport, is America’s second-busiest airport for international passengers, boasts a lineup of 100 air carriers and is the top U.S. airport for international freight. Generating business revenue of $33.7 billion annually and welcoming 70% of all international visitors to Florida, MIA is on track to become a recognized hemispheric hub to a global airport of choice that offers customers a world-class experience and an expanded route network with direct passenger and cargo access to all world regions.
Located just east of the Miami International Airport, the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC) is a massive $2 billion ground transportation hub being built by the Florida Department of Transportation. When complete, the MIC will provide connectivity via various modes of transportation between Palm Beach County, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and the Florida Keys, making regional travel easier for residents and visitors. It is already decongesting the roadways in and around the busy airport.
Operated by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), Tri-Rail serves Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, the fifth largest urbanized area in the United States with more than five million residents. With the completion of the $330 million double-tracking effort and to keep up with the record-breaking ridership, the SFRTA is strategically planning for several needed transit projects to provide for the future regional mobility needs of South Florida’s resident and visitors. These projects complement existing and planned transit service by transportation partners, and will provide the backbone of an expanded regional transportation system that may include light rail, busways, streetcars and rapid bus transit, as well as others.