Sidewalk Master Plan
The City of Fort Lauderdale is committed to creating a connected multimodal community as identified by our residents during the Fast Forward Fort Lauderdale 2035 Vision planning process. One method to accomplish this vision is the recently completed Sidewalk Master Plan which will be used to guide the prioritized implementation of filling the missing gaps in the sidewalk network across the city.
The Sidewalk Master Plan represents the city’s first comprehensive review of sidewalk infrastructure, documenting where sidewalk gaps exist citywide. Staff utilized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and community input to generate a data-driven process that created a prioritized implementation strategy to be used by the city. This tool will then be used to finalize the work program with each neighborhood as funding is made available based on feasibility and neighborhood support.
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Sidewalk Master Plan Development
Review of existing data revealed that there are approximately 579 miles of existing sidewalks along public streets within the City of Fort Lauderdale. Alongside the existing network are approximately 436 miles of missing sidewalks, or gaps, the vast majority of which are found along neighborhood streets under the city’s jurisdiction. The plan prioritizes approximately 38 miles of initial projects consisting of the highest need gaps are proposed at a cost of approximately $20.34 million (2025 dollars) to help achieve better sidewalk coverage in the short- to mid-term. The result is a sidewalk network that provides a safe place to walk on at least one side of the road, with projects proposed across all four City Commission Districts and within 42 of the city’s officially recognized neighborhoods.
Community Engagement
Engagement activities were conducted to ensure the project was informed by input from neighbors across all City Commission Districts. In addition to soliciting direct feedback from neighborhood associations and the Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations (CFLCA), a citywide survey was launched to gather public perspectives on sidewalk availability, quality, and desired improvements. These tools helped identify priority areas and informed discussions around sidewalk gaps and the proposed prioritization methodology.
The survey data provided insights into how frequently sidewalks are used, for what purposes, and what improvements residents would like to see. The feedback received included, but was not limited to, daily use of sidewalks, safety, maintenance, and design os sidewalks, emphasizing the importance of sidewalks to neighborhood livability, and support for future funding.
In addition to the survey, city staff and their consultant attended and presented at several neighborhood-focused meetings.