Mills 50 Midblock Crosswalk

This project was first identified in the 2018 Main Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Study as a needed safety improvement.

In 2024, a community request was submitted through the city’s Quick Build program for a crosswalk near this location. Because Mills Avenue is a state roadway (FDOT-owned), the project required additional coordination and permitting and was not eligible for the Quick Build program.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reviewed the request and approved the concept, but did not have funding available. The City of Orlando is moving forward with design and construction, pending FDOT permitting approvals.

• New zebra striped, midblock crosswalk across Mills Avenue at Canton Street
• New pedestrian refuge island in the center of the roadway in green and black, designed to allow pedestrians to cross the street in two stages
• Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) installed on both traffic directions to alert drivers when someone is crossing, with accompanying pedestrian warning signs
• New curb extensions (bulb-outs) to shorten the pedestrian crossing distance with ADA-accessible ramps aligned with the crosswalk
• New pavement markings and pedestrian signage with updated lane arrows, crosswalk striping, and multiple warning signs to highlight the crossing
• Access and turning movement modifications to improve safety at the crossing area by slowing down vehicles and better organizing traffic

As part of the project, the crossing area will be redesigned to improve safety by reducing vehicle conflict points and better controlling turning movements near the crosswalk.

What this means:

• The new center refuge island will limit certain turning movements across Mills Avenue at Canton Street.
• Left-turn access across Mills Avenue at this location will be limited, helping reduce crossing conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians.
• Right turns will remain possible, but the new curb design will make those turns slower and more controlled.
• The project will help reduce wide, fast, or unpredictable turning movements in the immediate crossing area.

These changes are intended to improve safety by making vehicle movements more orderly and reducing the likelihood of conflicts at a location with frequent pedestrian activity. While some turning movements may become less direct, these design changes are an important part of creating a safer crossing on a high-traffic roadway.