Fort Myers Looking at $350,000 Study To Turn Downtown Streets Into Walking-Only Areas

Fort Myers plans to spend $350,000 in state funds to study making parts of downtown off-limits to cars. The study will check if Broadway, Hendry, Jackson, or Lee Street should switch to walking zones.

The project aims to stitch downtown and midtown together. A car-free zone could cut fumes and boost foot traffic. Bowman's team will study traffic patterns and check how changes might help local shops. They'll also map out ways to fund the switch.

Shop owners split on the idea. "These streets run slow, but dodging cars makes people jumpy. Any steps toward better walking space would help," said Maxime Miville from The Franklin Shops, according to Gulf Coast News.

Yet some fear losing spots where customers park. Myah Russell, who runs Kava Culture Kava Bar, said, "It would hit our foot traffic hard — parking's tough enough now."

Russell pointed out practical snags in the plan. "Most folks drive here. Banning cars won't make people bike or walk downtown since there aren't many houses nearby," she explained.

Other cities across America have tried similar car-free zones. Charlotte visitor Whitney Mebane backed the concept: "You can stop watching for cars. Just be in the moment, check out stores, and soak up the vibe."

The city wants input from locals before making any big moves. Officials expect to wrap up their research by early 2027.