Miami considers downtown pedestrian zone

As Miami’s global profile grows, city commissioners want to ensure its downtown keeps pace.

The commission is scheduled to vote on a proposed Downtown Pedestrian Priority Zone during Thursday’s meeting, the Miami Herald reported. If approved, the city would widen sidewalks, add new landscaping and reduce speed limits in the zone to 25 miles per hour. The goal is to make downtown more pedestrian friendly after the last development boom dramatically increased the area’s residential population.

In the proposed zone, all downtown crosswalks would be marked and traffic lights would be coordinated. Boundaries have not been finalized, but the entire Central Business District is expected to be included in the zone.

Miami’s Downtown Development Authority spearheaded the initiative. [Miami Herald] — Eric Kalis