Florida DOT manual endorses traditional neighborhood streets

The Florida state Greenbook, developed by professional engineers representing every geographic district in the state, has historically supported conventional suburban development patterns and highways. The 2012 Greenbook includes a new chapter, number 19, titled “Traditional Neighborhood Development,” according to a report by DOT district secretary Billy Hattaway in the January-February issue of Better! Cities & Towns. Having a regulatory document that endorses lanes as narrow as 9 feet, yield streets, on-street parking, and the compact urban development patterns necessary for walkable neighborhoods removes potential resistance from design professionals who have seen narrow lanes and other such treatments as increasing their exposure to tort liability claims.