At the September 25, 2025 City Commission Regular Meeting, the City Manager updated the Commission on the feedback received from residents during a Town Hall Meeting held on September 18. The total attendance of in person and virtual participants was approximately 140 residents, with about 80% of them opposed to the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Hiatus Road and NE Lake Boulevard.
The main reasons for opposing the roundabout were cost and the expected impact to the entrance of Embassy Lakes (landscaping, crosswalk, etc.). Residents felt that speeding could be controlled by reducing the speed limit, police enforcement, rumble strips, a different solution, and did not believe there were sufficient accidents to justify the expense.
Following the community meeting, the Police Chief evaluated the crash data at the intersection between January 1, 2015 and September 18, 2025. In total, there were 37 reported crashes at the intersection. The analysis by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Cooper City District showed:
41% caused by failure to yield while crossing the intersection.
38% caused by failure to yield during left turns.
Visibility issues were noted in at least 10 cases.
Speed was a factor in only one reported crash, indicating that the core issue lies with yielding and intersection design rather than driver speed.
Commission Direction
The City Commission is not supporting the construction of a roundabout at this intersection.
The City and the County will work to reduce the speed limit in the corridor to 35 MPH and establish a routine enforcement process. The City will first work with Broward County to lower the speed limit. If the County is not inclined to act, the City will exercise its authority to make the adjustment.
City staff will look for alternatives to reduce speed in the corridors like raised pavers, smaller lanes, more landscaping, etc.
The City Commission also directed staff to retain the grant dollars that were awarded for the roundabout project for as long as possible. The City will explore all possibilities to keep grant funding, with the goal of reassigning dollars toward other traffic or safety improvements.
In recognition of the reasons for the crash data at the intersection, which is not driven by speed but by the awkward movements and lack of visibility at the intersection, other options will be explored such as right turn only, pavement markings, etc.
Why Not Install a Four-Way Stop or Traffic Signal?
The City's consultant and Broward County have independently conducted intersection analyses to evaluate both options. Unfortunately, the intersection failed to meet the criteria set by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which defines standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices.
Why Not Install a Speed Hump?
Regarding speed humps, they are not feasible on this corridor due to the volume of traffic on Hiatus Road.
Next Steps
Moving forward, Cooper City will:
Engage with Broward County regarding the speed limit reduction.
Continue evaluating engineering, enforcement, and education measures to improve safety.
Work to reallocate existing grant funds, with the goal of helping the city improve the safety of the corridor.
The City remains committed to addressing safety concerns at this intersection while respecting the overwhelming feedback of our residents.