Boca Raton CRA Regular Meeting - December 15, 2025: East-West Connectivity, Boca Connect Ridership, and Downtown Mobility Updates
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Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency Regular Meeting - December 15, 2025
The Boca Raton CRA held its regular meeting on December 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM at 6500 N. Congress Avenue. The meeting focused on downtown mobility updates including Boca Connect ridership growth, the East-West connectivity study, autonomous vehicle pilot, and quick-build traffic safety projects. Commissioners also discussed public concerns, parking policies, and future infrastructure priorities. The meeting adjourned at 2:20 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the Regular Meetings of November 17, 2025, and December 1, 2025, unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Pam Paschke (341 SW 2nd Street) expressed concern that yellow public hearing signs near the Camino Square property were not placed in a prominent location as required by city ordinance (Section 288). She argued the city failed to post notices on Southwest 3rd Avenue where the property entrance exists. She also requested that future CRA meetings be held within the CRA district rather than at 6500 N. Congress Avenue. City Attorney deferred to development services, noting the ordinance requires visibility from an abutting street but does not define "prominent location." Staff will review signage practices.
Director’s Report: Mobility & Infrastructure Updates
- Boca Connect Ridership: As of November 2025, total passengers exceeded 3,500, a 6.5x growth since launch in June 2024. Average wait time is 7 minutes 45 seconds. Connection rates during peak demand (4–7 PM) have dipped to 86–87%, below the 95% target. Staff will provide a cost and level-of-service analysis for potential expansion to the barrier island and addition of vehicles.
- Autonomous Vehicle (MICA) Pilot: The service operates Thursday–Sunday, 5–8 PM, with five stops. The pilot phase runs through Q1 2026. Goal is to connect Meisner Park and Royal Palm Place. The vehicle is not ADA accessible, but Boca Connect provides ADA-compliant vans. Commissioner Drucker noted partnerships with other AV providers and safety benefits.
- East-West Connectivity Study (Brad Davis, Kimley Horn): Phase 1 (idea generation) complete. Stakeholder input included the 344 group (pedestrian bridge over railroad), Palm Beach County (safety improvements on high-injury networks at Palmetto, 2nd, and Camino), and Brightline (no immediate plans for bridge). Three potential grade-separated crossing locations identified: north of 2nd Street, between 2nd and Palmetto, and south of Palmetto. Technical feasibility and cost (range $7M–$100M) under analysis.
- Palmetto Park Road Quick Builds: Signal warrant study at First Avenue ongoing. Construction east of Intracoastal delayed due to utilities. In-road crosswalks with automated sensors (RFB) deployed to improve compliance. LIDAR technology being installed to track near-misses and evaluate turning radii. Chair Wigder noted some bollards already damaged; staff will adjust maintenance and evaluate data.
- AI Adaptive Traffic Signals: New system installed on Palmetto from 4th Avenue to Meisner (FDOT grant). Initial calibration underway; benefits expected after multiple peak seasons.
- Meisner Boulevard Lane Reduction: Staff advised that current US DOT policy disfavors lane elimination projects for grants, but they are monitoring policy shifts.
- Speed Management on Palmetto: Commissioner Nachlas requested ways to reduce speeding. Staff will consider speed feedback signs, enforcement review, and potentially lowering speed limits as part of holistic downtown evaluation.
Key Outcomes
- Staff directed to bring forward a budgetary and level-of-service analysis for Boca Connect expansion to the barrier island and possible vehicle additions.
- Staff to share Vision Zero crash data with commissioners for public transparency.
- Commissioner Thomson suggested a time-based free parking program (e.g., 29-minute "coffee parking") rather than vehicle-type differentiation for golf carts. Chair Wigder agreed a time-based program is preferable. Commissioner Drucker supported multimodal parking options and asked for a comprehensive review of golf cart ordinances and safety. Commissioner Singer advocated for a resident parking pass (modeled on Miami Beach). The 29-minute free parking pilot on First Avenue remains in effect; data will be collected and reported.
- No formal votes were taken on policy items; all discussions were informational. The next workshop meeting was scheduled to begin immediately after adjournment.
- Meeting adjourned at 2:20 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, everybody, let's call this meeting to order. It is a regular meeting of Book Reton's community redevelopment agency. Today's Monday, December fifteenth, twenty twenty five. Please. Thank you. Thank you. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the requirement for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Ms. Siddins, please call the roll. Chair Wake. Here. Vice Chair Thompson. Grateful to be here. Commissioner Drucker. Here. Commissioner Knackless. Here. Commissioner Singer. Here. All present. Thank you very much. Mr. Souhaine, are there any amendments to the agenda? Thank you, Mr. Chair. There are no amendments to the agenda. Very well. Are there any corrections or revisions to the minutes of November 17th, 2025 or December 1st, 2025? Otherwise, I will take a motion to approve. So moved. Second. Second, very well. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. The minutes are improved. There are no presentations today, nor are there any quasi-judicial or related public hearings. So we'll open the floor up to public requests for our CRA, our community redevelopment agency, responded to our downtown. Any person wishing can come to the microphone, state your name and address, and have up to three minutes. The card I have is Pam Pashke, of course. Please welcome. Pam Pashkey, 341 Southwest 2nd Street. About a month ago, I requested information on the placement of the yellow signs near the Camino Square property for the notice of public hearing. I was told that a meeting by the mayor I would receive a response from the city manager. However, I cannot find a response sent to my email. So I decided to look into this myself.
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