Major Coral Springs roads are set to undergo climate change studies, with a budget of $632,000 allocated for this initiative as part of long-range planning efforts
Coral Springs, Florida – What impact will rising waters, increasing temperatures, more intense storms, and other climate-related changes have on the two main roads in Coral Springs?
The Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization is addressing this question through two new studies focused on West Atlantic Boulevard, extending from University Drive to the Sawgrass Expressway, and University Drive, from Atlantic Boulevard to Commercial Boulevard.
The organization oversees the planning of long-term transportation strategies and the distribution of funds for the Broward area.
The organization has outlined plans to allocate $290,000 for a resiliency study focused on West Atlantic Boulevard, alongside an additional $342,000 for a similar study on University Drive.
This brings the total investment to $632,000, sourced from federal and state funds.
Peter Geis, who serves as a regional planning manager for the Broward MPO, recently shared details about the projects included in a 25-year transportation plan with the Coral Springs Coconut Creek Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“This resiliency assessment evaluates roads according to their susceptibility to upcoming storm surges, rising sea levels, groundwater intrusion, and heat,” he said. “Identifying these corridors aims to initiate an examination of the future impacts of climate stressors on our transportation network and to create comprehensive solutions for managing and/or alleviating the effects of these stressors.”
Increasing sea levels and groundwater encroachments can significantly affect roadways in various ways. He emphasized the significance of recognizing the necessary improvements that must be addressed.
The studies will be led by the planning organization, the Florida Department of Transportation, along with Coral Springs, he explained.
The Atlantic Boulevard project is scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2030.
According to Geis’ presentation to the chamber, the University Drive study is set to take place between 2031 and 2035.
