Sunrise, Florida used to be a stranger to development. In the 1960s, the original developer built an “upside-down house” to attract interest in the area. Those days are long gone.
Metropica, a sprawling, $2-billion mixed-use development in Sunrise, has started its second phase which will include over 3,000 residential units, multiple office buildings and hotels, and restaurants, shops, and entertainment spots. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 30, 2025, featuring Metropica Development LLC CEO Joseph Kavana, President Bernie Werner and Vice President Erick Collazo along with Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan, Assistant Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Guzman and Commissioner Latoya Clarke.
Metropica is planned to provide a mix of uses in a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) environment, spanning 50 acres between the Sawgrass Mills shopping center and Amerant Arena, home of the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers. Sunrise is a city in central-western Broward County, just west of Fort Lauderdale and just north of I-75/I-595.
Over the years, Wells + Associates has been honored to play a role in this megaproject – work which has included an analysis of transit access for residential work trips, a shared parking study, a valet parking study for a mixed-use town center, a residential parking study, and a transportation demand management plan.
Wells + Associates has been honored to play a role in this megaproject – work which has included an analysis of transit access for residential work trips, a shared parking study, a valet parking study for a mixed-use town center, a residential parking study, and a transportation demand management plan.
City of Sunrise: Expanding Population, Roadways, and Active Transportation Networks
Traffic and parking studies for the Metropica project must take into account the dynamic nature of development in the area. For example, there are plans to revamp the nearby Sawgrass Expressway interchange, an upgrade that is intended to support the surge in residents, office workers, and visitors who are expected to flock to the area as the Metropica project expands. Thus, our trip reduction forecasts occur within a dynamic environment.
Similarly, the city of Sunrise’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Greenways and Trails Master Plan was recently updated to “improve connectivity throughout our community by developing a multimodal network of vehicles, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities that make streets safer for everyone.”
W+A Project Work: Traffic, Parking and Multimodal Studies
Wells + Associates’ most recent involvement in Metropica included preparing a traffic impact assessment in conjunction with a proposed land use amendment to build additional residential units and office space. This study identified existing and forecasted levels of service for major roadways adjacent to the site, taking into account adjacent existing and planned mass transit routes and services. Our analysis of planned and proposed transit routes also took into account pedestrian and bicycle facilities to encourage non-auto use to connect transit facilities.
Our analysis of planned and proposed transit routes also took into account pedestrian and bicycle facilities to encourage non-auto use to connect transit facilities.
Our study determined that the site location, design, and transit-oriented nature of the site would encourage internal trip making and use of other non-auto modes through the implementation of a Commute Trip Reduction program. Notably, the City of Sunrise’s “Sunrise Freebee” service, featuring 100% electric vehicles, is a free, on-demand transportation service that picks up and drops off riders anywhere within the Sunrise Business and Entertainment District.
Our team also prepared the shared parking methodology as part of the Development Agreement to be used as a guide for future development. The site is planned to be developed in several phases for years to come.