Malabar Road Widening Project: Reducing Congestion and Improving Safety in Palm Bay

Public Hearing Set for November 14, 2024: Learn What's Coming

Palm Bay, FL — October 21, 2024

The City of Palm Bay will host a public hearing for the Malabar Road Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study on November 14, 2024, at Palm Bay City Council Chambers, 120 Malabar Road SE, Palm Bay, FL 32907. The hearing will focus on presenting findings and proposed plans to widen Malabar Road from two lanes to four between St. Johns Heritage Parkway and Minton Road. This effort aims to meet future traffic demands and improve safety for all road users. Residents are encouraged to attend to learn about the next steps in the process and understand how this significant infrastructure project will impact their daily lives.

Why Widen Malabar Road?

The Malabar Road widening project has been in discussion since the early 2010s. The proposed plan aims to widen a 4-mile section of Malabar Road to four lanes. This expansion will significantly reduce traffic congestion, improve commute times, and provide safer passage for all users, including motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Traffic Conditions and Safety Concerns

Malabar Road currently faces significant challenges with congestion and safety, which have driven the need for widening:

Traffic Congestion and Capacity Issues

• High Traffic Volumes: Malabar Road often experiences congestion that exceeds its capacity, especially during peak hours. This leads to significant delays and impacts both commuters and local businesses. Expanding to four lanes aims to alleviate this congestion.

• Impact on Commuters and Local Residents: Excessive traffic not only increases commute times but also negatively affects local businesses by limiting accessibility. This congestion significantly affects the quality of life for those living and working near Malabar Road.

Safety Concerns

• High Injury Corridor: According to the traffic safety map provided by Signal Four Analytics, Malabar Road has been identified as a high-injury corridor for vehicular accidents. Over the past five years, the number of crashes has increased by 56%, with notable clusters at intersections such as Minton Road and Jupiter Boulevard. The visualization of crash locations highlights the frequent and severe nature of incidents in this area, underscoring the need for improvements.

• Accident Concentrations: The data dashboard clearly indicates clusters of serious injuries and fatal crashes along Malabar Road. Intersections at Minton Road and other high-traffic locations have particularly high crash rates, emphasizing the urgent need for roadway improvements.

• Drainage and Infrastructure Issues: Historical accounts suggest that the current drainage infrastructure, which includes an open canal running parallel to Malabar Road, may contribute to road safety issues, especially during heavy rain when flooding can occur. In the past, similar issues were mitigated by diverting sections of the canal to underground systems during previous road widening projects, such as the segment between Babcock Street and Minton Road. The possibility of diverting the remaining open canal to an underground drainage system is currently under evaluation, with the intent to improve stormwater management, reduce flooding risk, and enhance roadway safety.

Addressing the Need for Road Widening

The planned widening of Malabar Road is designed to address these critical issues:

• Alleviate Congestion: Increasing the number of lanes will reduce congestion, particularly during rush hours, helping to ensure smoother traffic flow.

• Enhance Safety: By increasing road capacity and potentially upgrading the drainage infrastructure, the project aims to decrease the frequency and severity of accidents.

• Support Future Growth: The improvements will help Malabar Road accommodate the growth that Palm Bay continues to experience, ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with population and economic expansion.

Timeline of Key Developments

• Early 2010s: Discussions and preliminary planning to widen Malabar Road began, as the city recognized the need for expanded capacity due to growing congestion and increased development pressures. During this time, the project underwent various assessments and planning phases, reflecting its complexity and necessity for the community.

• July 2022: The City Council approved using $7 million from the Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) to fund the design phase of the project, focusing on the section from Minton Road west toward the St. Johns Heritage Parkway. The Council also authorized the submission to the FY 2022 TPO (Transportation Planning Organization) call for the project design.

• March 2024: The City Council held a presentation regarding the Malabar Road Widening Study. The presentation explored various alternatives for the project, including adding dedicated pedestrian and bicycle paths, as well as critical intersection improvements.

• July 2024: A project manager from Kittelson & Associates provided an update on the ongoing PD&E (Project Development & Environment) study, which included a revised project cost estimate of $154.7 million, reflecting inflation and other adjustments since the initial estimates.

• September 2024: The Palm Bay City Council scheduled a meeting for October 3, 2024, to discuss the Wastewater and Water Master Plans, which are integral to the Malabar Road widening project. Ensuring utility readiness is a critical part of preparing for road expansion.

• October 2024: A formal public hearing was announced for November 14, 2024, to gather community feedback and present the preferred plan for the roadway expansion. This step marks a significant point in the public involvement phase of the project.

PD&E Study: What Happens Next?

The Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study is essential for assessing the feasibility of the Malabar Road widening project and evaluating all possible alternatives. As of July 2024, the updated project cost estimate was $154.7 million. This increase reflects factors such as inflation, rising material costs, and labor shortages, as well as adjustments from initial estimates.

The PD&E Study is a foundational step in Florida's infrastructure project planning, intended to evaluate the feasibility and impact of a proposed improvement. This process ensures that the benefits of a project like the Malabar Road widening justify any potential economic, social, or environmental costs.

The study has focused on identifying the best possible approach to widen the road while addressing key concerns such as noise pollution, impact on local wildlife, air quality changes, and disruptions to local businesses. This makes the study comprehensive in considering both safety and environmental impacts. The study has evaluated aspects such as traffic projections, environmental constraints, land acquisition needs, and design considerations for multimodal features, including bike lanes and sidewalks.

Once the PD&E Study is complete, the project will move forward into the following phases:

1. Preliminary Design and Engineering: A detailed engineering design will be developed, reflecting input from residents and ensuring that the selected design is effective and feasible.

2. Right-of-Way Acquisition: For projects of this scale, acquiring additional property is often necessary to accommodate the wider roadway and associated infrastructure, such as drainage improvements and sidewalks. This phase may include negotiations with property owners and compensation for acquired land.

3. Funding Allocation and Final Design: The final design phase will involve securing funding from federal, state, and local sources to cover the construction costs. This is followed by a detailed finalization of engineering plans.

4. Construction: The construction phase is the most visible and often most disruptive part of the project. For Malabar Road, construction will be phased to minimize traffic disruptions as much as possible.

Why This Project Matters for Palm Bay

The widening of Malabar Road is not just a road improvement project; it is an essential investment in Palm Bay’s future. As the largest city in Brevard County, Palm Bay has experienced considerable growth, with the population increasing by over 25% in the past decade, leading to a pressing need for infrastructure that can support both current and future residents. Compared to nearby infrastructure projects, such as the widening of Babcock Street or the recent improvements to Emerson Drive, the Malabar Road project stands out due to its importance in managing regional traffic and supporting economic development across Palm Bay. Malabar Road serves as a vital link for people traveling to work, school, and essential services, and its current state no longer meets the demands placed upon it.

By widening Malabar Road, the city aims to address current congestion issues and prepare for future development. This project will facilitate smoother commutes, enhance safety by reducing bottlenecks, and provide modern features like bike lanes and pedestrian paths to promote active transportation.

How to Get Involved

The public hearing on November 14th is a critical opportunity for residents to engage with the project team, ask questions, and provide input. Public participation is a key element of the PD&E Study, ensuring that the concerns of the community are considered as the project progresses. The hearing will include a presentation detailing the preferred alternative for the road design, as well as an opportunity for attendees to share their comments and feedback.

Residents can attend the hearing in person at Palm Bay City Council Chambers or join online. Details for registration and participation are available on the City of Palm Bay's official website. Written comments can also be submitted before and after the hearing to ensure all voices are heard.

Looking Ahead

The widening of Malabar Road is a major infrastructure project that will take time, but its completion will mark a significant milestone in Palm Bay's development. With the PD&E Study nearing completion and public input being gathered, the project is moving steadily toward the design and construction phases. Once completed, the improvements to Malabar Road are expected to enhance mobility, promote safety, and support the ongoing growth of the Palm Bay community.

For residents, staying informed and involved throughout the process is key. The upcoming public hearing is an important step, providing transparency and an opportunity for direct community impact on the future of Palm Bay’s infrastructure.

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