The Downtown Mobility Plan, initiated in 2018, showcases the City of West Palm Beach’s commitment to a people-centric approach to street design. Among the various street projects, the Datura and Evernia Streetscape project stands out as an early implementation of the city’s long-term vision for revitalizing Downtown streets and public spaces. Leading this endeavor is Alta, responsible for developing both short- and long-term strategies to enrich residential life, promote regional commerce, and invigorate public experiences.
The proposed alternatives include creating shared streets without curbs, converting two-way streets to one-way to prioritize pedestrians and reduce vehicle speed, establishing mobility hubs with smart city technology integration, and transforming waterfront-adjacent blocks into extensions of existing parks. Throughout the process, the project maintains its community-driven focus by adopting a charrette format to generate ideas.
However, due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Alta and the City collaborated to adapt the charrette process online, hosting a virtual event that encompassed a project website, a four-day online workshop via platforms like Facebook Live, YouTube, and Zoom for community and stakeholder meetings, and an interactive online survey to gather community input. As a result, the planning process culminated in a community-generated strategy aimed at enhancing daily life in Downtown West Palm Beach.
