St. Johns Heritage Parkway Widening Meeting Set for Oct. 9
Palm Bay will host a public meeting Oct. 9 to discuss plans for widening St. Johns Heritage Parkway from Malabar Road to north of Emerson Drive.
Palm Bay, FL – Residents will have their first chance to weigh in on the proposed widening of the St. Johns Heritage Parkway during a public meeting on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Palm Bay City Hall, 120 Malabar Road SE. The meeting will follow an open-house format, meaning attendees can drop in at any time during the two-hour window to view project displays, talk one-on-one with engineers and city representatives, and share comments or questions for the record.
The city, working in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) under the Local Agency Program (LAP), is designing plans to expand the existing two-lane parkway into a four-lane divided suburban roadway. The three-mile segment runs from Malabar Road to north of Emerson Drive, including intersection upgrades, new turn lanes, drainage improvements, median islands, and a new bridge over the C-1 Canal.
Why This Meeting Matters
1. First Public Step Toward Four-Laning
This meeting marks the first opportunity for public input since design funding began in December 2024. The two-lane parkway was built with expansion in mind but now sees daily congestion, especially during peak hours. This meeting represents the project’s transition from concept to design reality.
2. Residents Can Influence the Design
Because the project follows FDOT’s LAP process, citizen input collected now will guide crucial design choices. Feedback can shape median locations, intersection layouts, bridge aesthetics, drainage systems, and lighting. Once design progresses past the 60-percent stage, those elements become largely fixed.
3. Critical for Evacuation and Emergency Response
The St. Johns Heritage Parkway is one of Palm Bay’s few north-south evacuation routes west of I-95. Widening the corridor will improve hurricane evacuation flow and reduce emergency response times for police and fire services, especially in the rapidly growing southwest sector of the city.
4. Highlights the Funding Gap
The city has secured $3.2 million for design, but construction funding remains unfunded. Officials are expected to present cost projections and discuss how Palm Bay plans to get construction included in the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (SCTPO) Transportation Improvement Program. This meeting sets the groundwork for that push.
5. Signals How Palm Bay Handles Growth
The parkway was engineered with future expansion in mind—proof of long-range planning that anticipated western growth. How city leaders communicate and prioritize this project will indicate Palm Bay’s broader ability to manage infrastructure demands before congestion worsens.
6. Ensures Transparency and Accountability
Under Title VI and ADA requirements, all public feedback gathered during this meeting becomes part of the official project record. That means citizens can hold city and FDOT officials accountable for follow-through on promises related to safety, drainage, and access. Comments submitted by October 20, 2025, will be included in the formal design review package.
Project Overview
Project Name: St. Johns Heritage Parkway Four-Lane Widening
Limits: Malabar Road to North of Emerson Drive (approx. 3 miles)
Design Completion: Summer 2026
Estimated Design Cost: $3.2 million
Construction: Currently unfunded
Consultant: Scalar Consulting Group, Inc.
City Project Manager: Christeen Sullivan, (321) 726-5665 x6215 | Christine.Sullivan@palmbayfl.gov
Residents may review project details and submit comments online at https://tinyurl.com/SJHP-Widening.
For Palm Bay, the widening of the St. Johns Heritage Parkway isn’t just about traffic flow—it’s about readiness, resilience, and responsible growth.