#RUNTHECITY UPDATE – DONE FOR 2021!

In January 2021, I launched #RunTheCity, an initiative to run, clean, and improve all 475 miles of Boca Raton streets in 2021. It took a little longer than planned, but a couple weeks ago we finally finished the journey and here are the results:

  • Ran 475.82 miles
  • Cleaned up 1,276.76 pounds of trash, including 525 pieces of PPE
  • Identified 329 safety improvements to our roads and sidewalks

But the best part: we’ve had 427 volunteers join us to help keep their City clean and safe. Volunteers from neighborhoods, community groups, and non-profits across our City have partnered with #RunTheCity, including:

Christ Fellowship Church

Boca Raton Innovation Campus

Boca Raton Regional Hospital

Boca Raton Historical Society

Chick-fil-A Boca Raton

Riviera Civic Association / Boca Save Our Beaches

Spanish River High School Cross-Country Teams

Rotary Club of Downtown Boca Raton

Boca Raton Community Church

Addison Mizner School PTA

Junior League of Boca Raton

Waterway Advocates

#RUNTHECITY 2.0 FOR 2022

Now that we’ve finished #RunTheCity in 2021, what now? We’re running it back, starting over, and doing it all over again in 2022 in #RunTheCity 2.0. That means our progress map – which you can follow along at andythomson.com/run-the-city – shows all open road:

In 2022, our goal will be to (hopefully) pick up less trash but bring together more volunteers while doing it. As always, I’d love for you to join me. Whether you run, walk, or just meet up with us to give me your thoughts, I want your input. Let me know what your neighborhood or organization needs and what the City can do better. If you or your organization want to partner with us as we #RunTheCity, you can sign up at www.andythomson.com/run-the-city.

BOCA’S BRIGHTLINE STATION

On January 25, 2022, the City of Boca Raton broke ground on its Brightline station and garage. Once completed, the station will be Brightline’s fifth in the state, connecting travelers in Boca Raton to Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and soon Orlando. Located on a 1.8-acre site across from Mizner Park and adjacent to the Downtown Library, Brightline’s Boca station will feature approximately 38,000 square feet of space and premium lounge among other station amenities. The station will offer a seamless travel experience through modern technology, including a cashless environment, touchless turnstiles, and high-speed WiFi. Brightline’s Boca station is expected to be complete in the fall of 2022.

BOCA’S COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE

At the City of Boca Raton, we value good communication. That’s why Boca Raton recently introduced a new communications initiative that aims to build a stronger and more unified connection with our residents, visitors, and businesses with new communication platforms and a new website with modern and vibrant design elements.

The City’s website, www.MyBoca.us, now features a more modern, sleek design with improved features. The upgrades include a more aesthetically pleasing experience for website visitors, a more efficient layout, and new quick buttons to navigate to specific department pages faster.

The City also developed and rolled out a new smartphone app, MyBoca. The user-friendly interface provides a faster, at-your-fingertips tool to check beach conditions, pay your water bill, and discover things to do in Boca Raton. Even better, the free MyBoca app allows residents to submit service requests and instantly report concerns to the City by providing pictures, videos, and detailed descriptions. Reported issues are automatically sent to the City department that will perform the work, and status updates on the progress of the work are provided. This functionality has been especially useful in my #RunTheCity initiative; as we jog and observe potential safety improvements on our streets and sidewalks, we’re able to document and report them to the City as we see them and keep track of the progress.

The MyBoca app is available for download by searching “City of Boca Raton” in your app store.

Coastal Star: Councilman renews cleanup pledge 1 year, 475 miles later

WPTV: Recycled art project coming to Boca Raton

NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING

February 8, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.

6500 Congress Avenue

Visit www.myboca.us/calendar for details on all public meetings.