Public Involvement

Event Archives 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008

Taking It To The Streets 2004

COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Each participant who filled out a transportation survey received an MPO t-shirt. Everyone leaves the exhibit learning something new about the MPO. The Broward County MPO exhibit wins 3rd Place. Broward County Pioneer Days October 16th -17th, 2004 Among the many events that the MPO participated in during 2004 was the celebration of the 32nd Annual Broward County Pioneer Days held on October 16th and 17th. In 2004, the City of Dania Beach hosted the event at Dania Beach City Hall with help from the Dania Beach Historical Society. Event organizers saluted Dania Beach as the first city in Broward County to celebrate a centennial year. The 2004 Broward County Pioneer Days commemorated Broward County's 89th anniversary and honored the men and women that have made Broward County thrive. MPO staff was on hand with a Mobile Information Station (MIS) and the MPO community outreach display booth. The staff shared current and future transportation improvements with the community, while focusing on significant components of Broward County's history, growth and development. As the MPO staff provided transportation history and transportation decision process education to event attendees, some 63 participants took the time to complete MPO survey forms in English and Spanish. The majority of the written comments focused on public transit/tri-rail improvements, bus transit, bicycle/pedestrian facilities, and safety concerns. Many event attendees expressed an interest in the regionalization of transportation, one of the current endeavors in which the MPO is involved.

Mr. Ben Williams addresses the students at Dillard Elementary School. Dr. Patricia Dixon explains how important the transportation planning process is. Mr. Ben Williams and Commissioner Josephus Eggellation present a Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Dixon for the school's participation in the Pilot Program. Dillard Elementary School Broward County, FL June 3, 2004 The Broward County MPO tested a new educational program designed to reach Broward County School children with the MPO's transportation planning process on June 3, 2004. The interactive program was presented to a group of 50 fourth and fifth graders at Dillard Elementary Schooland was designed to increase community awareness and participation in transportation planning process. The learning experience for the students and the faculty was filled with laughter, and applause, as Buddy, a talking, remote-controlled car, took center stage. Between Buddy and MPO consultant, Derek Hudson, the duo kept the hour-long session fun and interesting by giving students the opportunity to participate in several learning activities. In one exercise, students took part in designing a sample sidewalk project for their own school. Presented with a budget, the students determined how wide the sidewalk should be and where it should be built. Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion and School Board Member Benjamin Williams -- each a Dillard Elementary alum-attended the learning activity. Dr. Patricia Dixon, Broward County Principal of the Year was delighted with the results. "The big picture is to empower them (the students) and show them they have a voice," Dixon said. Mr. Williams, who was also a former Dillard Elementary School teacher, pointed out that the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), prioritizes projects just like the one in the exercise, and that decisions like this must be made with the public's input. The educational program was a great success and will be refined and presented at other schools in the future.

Many festival participants were visitors from neighboring South Florida counties. MPO staff was on hand at the event to answer transportation planning questions. The 19th Annual Mango Festival June 19, 2004 The 19th Annual Mango Festival, proved to be not only a place for residents and visitors of Deerfield Beach to celebrate music and multiculturalism, but also an opportunity to participate in Broward County's transportation planning process. Broward County MPO staff was on hand at the event on June 19, 2004 to answer transportation planning questions and receive feedback from festival attendees. Festival attendees escaped the summer heat while completing transportation questionnaires at the MPO information display booth under the awning of the Mobile Information Station (MIS). Many festival participants were visitors from neighboring South Florida counties and expressed interest in regional and community transportation connectivity facilities including bicycle and pedestrian facilities, Tri-Rail, and bus scheduling. Traffic congestion was also a common concern. Some 41 individuals completed written survey forms.

MPO staff distributed fact sheets, bookmarks, newsletters, Citizen's Guides, and MPO fans to keep the crowd cool. One participant escaped the heat inside the Mobile Information Station (MIS). Kuumba on the Beach, Hollywood Broadwalk April 24, 2004 Kuumba is the Kwanzaa principle of creativity and Hollywood's annual Kuumba on the Beach Festival celebrated creativity in Florida style. On Saturday afternoon and into the evening the 2-½ mile promenade along the public beach (the Broadwalk) came alive with the sounds of African Caribbean music and Hip Hop. Cultural arts and crafts, information booths, and a car and motorcycle show were lined up along the Broadwalk. All this activity, plus ethnic foods and live dance performances, entertained visitors and residents alike. The Broward County MPO utilized the Mobile Information Station (MIS) and parked along the Hollywood Broadwalk in the middle of this festival. MPO staff distributed fact sheets, bookmarks, newsletters, Citizen's Guides, and MPO fans to keep the crowd cool. Many festival-goers completed the MPO transportation survey and all visitors were encouraged to come aboard the MIS to view the Broward MPO display boards and discuss transportation issues. Topics such as public bus services, road construction, and bicycle trails were focal points of these discussions. Overall, Kuumba on the Beach was a popular event, and the Broward MPO used creative ways to inform the crowd about transportation issues in Broward County.

Traffic congestion, public transit and bicycle facilities were some of the public’s interests. Over 80 surveys were collected. Lauderhill Spring Fling and Family Fun Day April 3, 2004 On April 3, 2004, the Broward County MPO exhibited at the annual spring festival held in the City of Lauderhill, where they joined area residents and their families to distribute information on the MPO such as newsletters and fact sheets and to surveythe Lauderhill population regarding the MPO. The public was interested in discussing traffic congestion, public transit and bicycle facilities. The MPO surveyed over 80 attendees.

The event was held at the War Memorial Auditorium in Ft. Lauderdale. Ms. Lahoma Scarlette discusses traffic issues with one of the participants. Broward County EXPO and Job Fair March 25, 2004 The MPO exhibited at the Broward County EXPO & Job Fair during the month of March along with several hundred other exhibitors at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale March 25, 2004. Presented by The Broward Chamber of Commerce, the Job Expo was a great way to reach residents and businesses in Broward County. The top three issues discussed during this event were traffic congestion, public transit, and commuter rail.

The MIS, a 34-foot Recreational Vehicle, acted as the MPO booth. Many area schools participated in the event.   Seminole Tribe Holds Annual Festival and the MPO is There! Febuary 13 and 14, 2004 Exhibiting amid the superior craftsmanship of sterling silver jewelry and Native American artwork, the Broward County MPO discussed transportation issues and the impact that transportation planning has on people in the Davie community. The event staff received a warm reception and many people took the time to learn more about how the MPO can assist them in the their daily lives. People from all over the County came to the event, held over Valentine's Day weekend. Some attendees were eager to discuss the impacts of the new Hard Rock Casino, its impact on the local economy, and traffic on State Road 7. Attendees also discussed road widening projects, bus service and traffic congestion. School children arrived at the festival early Friday morning by the busload with many area schools participating from Broward County. Over 60 people visited the Mobile Information Station (MIS), which acted as the MPO booth. One of the newest tools that the MPO has enlisted for 2004 is the use of a Mobile Information Station (MIS). The MIS is a 34-foot Recreational Vehicle conceptualized to link Florida's projects with Florida's communities.

Over 80 parents were surveyed at the daylong event. Yo-yos, t-shirts, and brochures were distributed when visitors completed the transportation survey. MPO Exhibits at Kids Konnection Event in Pembroke Pines January 24, 2004 What could be better than taking a trip to the park on a Saturday morning for an elementary-aged child? Going to one of the largest kids events in Broward County, that's what! Thousands of children and their parents joined sponsors of the event, South Florida Parenting Magazine, at Pembroke Shores Park to learn more on child nutrition, day care, education, tutoring, child safety, and the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Over 80 parents were surveyed at the daylong event with many of them requesting additional information and reading materials on how the MPO affects transportation planning. The MPO distributed promotional items: yo-yos, tee shirts and brochures when visitors completed the transportation survey. Most of the attendees were parents of elementary school students, but there were also many grandparents, aunts, uncles and guardians at the event, with a turnout of over a 1,000. Issues such as bicycle safety, pedestrian sidewalks and transportation funding were just a sampling of the topics discussed. One of the hottest issues was public transit. There were many good ideas given by the citizens regarding improving the system for the future.