SANFORD, FL
‘Get in the Sanford Mode’ helps develop transportation options
Neel-Schaffer assisted the City of Sanford in preparing a grant application under the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity that helped fund a Multimodal Connectivity Study.
Selected for award out of over 100 applications, the grant supported a multimodal master plan of the Sanford waterfront and downtown areas that reviewed transit, bike/ped/trails, golf carts, parking, trolley, SunRail and blueway connectivity.
The Neel-Schaffer team brought concepts to life by holding a transportation relay to introduce the public to different modes of transportation. Branded by Neel-Schaffer as “Get in the Sanford Mode,” the event included connected rides on a regional bus system, the downtown trolley, a walk down the alley transformed by art, a ride on a pedal-driven Limocycle, and a golf cart taxi ride.
Concepts from the project generated numerous local televised news stories, newspaper articles and a podcast. Projects identified through this plan are continuing to be developed and funded.
The Multimodal Connectivity Plan helped develop a coordinated transportation system that links Sanford’s historic downtown with the scenic Lake Monroe Waterfront, by exploring opportunities that unite those assets with the additional nature-focused attractions across the lake.
To accomplish that goal, the Multimodal Connectivity Plan analyzed existing modes of transportation in Sanford, with respect to current destinations and planned development and infrastructure for the City, to identify network gaps and uncover potential for unifying the community through transit
connections, projects and ideas. In this way, the Plan generated a comprehensive transportation vision for a community connected through a regional waterway, trail and transit network.
Concepts identified in the Multimodal Connectivity Plan included:
- Creating a Waterway Transportation Hub with a water taxi system, scenic boat tours, and recreational boating
- Encouraging alternative transportation travel by developing an outer beltway for Trolleys, Golf Carts and Bicycles
- Creating wayfinding signage and using on-street pavement markings as a unique expression of directions to visitors
- Expanding partnerships with downtown merchants to include alleyways for events and art
