Miami-Dade County upgraded in flood insurance
From David Volz
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell announced that Miami-Dade County will be upgraded to a Class 3 community in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System (CRS). The new rating will result in an estimated $12 million savings annually, by providing qualifying residents and business owners in unincorporated Miami-Dade County a 35% discount on flood insurance premiums.
“As hurricanes and storms become more frequent and severe, I am grateful that communities like Miami-Dade County are making critical investments to keep residents safe from these increasing climate threats. I want to commend Mayor Levine Cava and her team for taking resilience so seriously here in Miami-Dade,” said Criswell. “As a result of their efforts, not only is the community more prepared for future flooding events, National Flood Insurance Program policyholders across the County will now receive greater discounts to their premiums. Miami-Dade is a shining example of how communities across the nation–large and small–can take bold actions to reduce flood risk and lower flood insurance premiums for their residents.”
The upgraded classification is a direct result of the flood mitigation activities led by the Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) of Miami-Dade County’s Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) in order to protect lives, reduce property damage, and build resilience against flooding and sea level rise. Nationwide, only 19 of the communities participating in the CRS Program have earned a Class 3 or better and Miami-Dade County is the largest among them. The County went from a Class 5 to a Class 3, making this the first time FEMA has upgraded a community two class levels in a single cycle verification.
“This is a clear example of how investing in climate resilience pays off,” said Levine Cava. “While we build a climate resilient community that will protect people’s lives and livelihoods now and for the future, we are also providing much-needed relief for thousands of families struggling with rising costs and the direct impacts of climate change.”
Hollywood celebrates completion of Mobility Hub
From David Volz
The City of Hollywood is celebrating the completion of the State Road 7 Mobility Hub Public Transit Improvement Project at 5974 Taylor Street in Hollywood. There is a new pedestrian bridge connecting the neighborhood to the linear park and Mobility Hub at Taylor Street.
The Mobility Hub Improvement Project, a transformative initiative at Hollywood Boulevard and U.S. 441/SR7, was made possible through a $900,000 grant awarded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and administered by the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
The Mobility Hub is comprised of various pedestrian and transit infrastructure enhancements, including 44 new pedestrian-scale lights, two additional bus shelters, six new benches, two bicycle racks, five receptacles, and the strategically placed pedestrian crossing at Taylor Street over the storm water dry retention area.
The successful execution of the project can be attributed to the collaborative efforts by the City of Hollywood, the Broward MPO, and the Florida Department of Transportation. The project team worked closely to ensure compliance with regulations and the project goals. The ambitious initiative has enhanced mobility and safety options while addressing drainage and the evolving transit needs of the community.
