KISSIMMEE, Fla. – At Sittin Pretty on Broadway in downtown Kissimmee, dogs get the VIP treatment. But getting pet owners safely in and out of the business is another story.
Bradley Edmonson, groomer at Sittin Pretty, says the traffic along Broadway already poses challenges, especially for older clients.
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“Elderly customers that come here, a lot of times, I will take their dogs out for them and literally stand at the back of their car in the road so they can get their car door open to be able to get in their car safely,” Edmonson said.
Now, with the City of Kissimmee’s Connect Kissimmee Complete Streets Improvement Project set to redesign roads along Main Street, Broadway and Emmett Street — from John Young Parkway to Vine Street — Edmonson worries things could get worse.
“I don’t see it helping the downtown area, but again, that’s my opinion on it,” he said.
The Connect Kissimmee Complete Streets Improvement Project represents a $29.9 million investment designed to create a safer, more connected transportation network for all users, including drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other forms of mobility.
At the heart of Phase 1 is what the city calls a “road diet” — a reconfiguration of approximately 0.4 miles of Broadway, from Neptune Road to Ruby Avenue, down to two lanes. The stretch runs directly in front of the groomer.
The project will also include widened sidewalks, enhanced pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, decorative pavers, landscaping upgrades, utility improvements and a new roundabout at Ruby Avenue and Stewart Avenue.
According to the city, the project will also strengthen connections to regional transit services, including LYNX, SunRail, Amtrak and Greyhound, while supporting the continued economic vitality of area businesses.
Edmonson is not convinced the road changes will have the intended effect on traffic.
“I don’t think it’ll make the impact as far as what they’re thinking. The people that are used to driving down here are probably still going to just keep [doing it]. People are creatures of habit,” he said.
But it’s a change that the city believes will make the area safer. The project aims to reduce the number of cars flowing through the corridor while also lowering their speed.
Some residents share Edmonson’s skepticism. Kissimmee resident Lydia Gilmore worries about what happens to the traffic that currently uses Broadway as a cut-through.
“By having less lanes and more traffic, I just [am] a little skeptical about how that’s going to all work out for everybody and how that is going to improve the situation,” Gilmore said. “Where are they going to go? The thing is, you don’t have all these Plan B’s outside from this area.”
Future Phase 2 improvements will include enhancements along W. Emmett Street and N. Main Street. No lane reductions are currently planned as part of Phase 2.
The project is a collaborative effort funded by the Florida Department of Transportation through the Local Agency Program, the City of Kissimmee and the Tohopekaliga Water Authority. Phase 1 construction is set to begin in 2027.
The City of Kissimmee is inviting residents, property owners, business owners and community stakeholders to a public meeting at 6 p.m. at Kissimmee Commission Chambers on 101 Church St. Those who cannot attend in person may submit feedback by clicking here.