Palm Beach County leaders, in collaboration with consultant WSP, are seeking the community’s input to help shape future transportation in the county. Officials will be holding a series of public meetings on draft recommendations for the Palm Beach Countywide Transportation Master Plan (CTMP).
The CTMP will establish a shared vision for mobility across modes of travel and guide decisions for short- and mid-term needs for the next few decades. All 39 municipalities in the county will be included in the plan, which will serve as an advisory framework for safe, efficient transportation connections between communities.
The public will be able to share their thoughts on the proposed recommendations at the meetings.
“No amount of data can substitute for lived experience,” said Murriah Dekle, assistant vice president at WSP. “Public input has already helped shape the plan, and this is another opportunity to influence what comes next. Attendees will hear more about the details and offer feedback that will guide the final recommendations.”
The first CTMP draft recommendations meeting will be specifically for the western parts of the county on Tuesday, June 30, at the Belle Glade Public Library (725 NW 4th Street) from 6 to 8 p.m.
Local officials from the western communities are encouraging their residents to participate in the process because of the importance they have to the county.
“Much of the county’s growth is occurring in our western communities, and residents here experience transportation challenges and opportunities that differ from those in other parts of the county,” Wellington Mayor Michael Napoleone said. “While Palm Beach County benefits from multiple north-south transportation options… We continue to face significant challenges with east-west connectivity. It is essential that Wellington and neighboring communities have a strong voice in identifying the projects, improvements and transportation solutions that will best serve our residents now and in the future.”
Last year, officials from Palm Beach County and WSP held multiple public meetings to gather input on residents’ experiences and priorities with transportation. A survey was also opened to gather feedback from others who could not attend. The information from these outreach efforts was used to create some of the recommendations that will be presented to the public.
“The future of transportation in Palm Beach County should not be decided solely by planners and elected officials,” Royal Palm Beach Mayor Jeff Hmara said. “It should be informed by the people who use the system every day. I encourage everyone to take advantage of these public meetings and be part of the conversation.”
Leaders from smaller municipalities like Loxahatchee Groves said that they are hoping that their input will lead to recommendations that will respect the rural and agricultural character of their town. They believe some developments have negatively impacted their community, and they want to ensure the plan addresses some of those concerns.
“The Countywide Transportation Master Plan is important because western communities such as Loxahatchee Groves have needs that are different from more urban areas of Palm Beach County,” Loxahatchee Groves Mayor Lisa El-Ramey said. “Our rural character, agricultural heritage, equestrian community, limited transit options, local road safety concerns, and increasing traffic pressure on major corridors such as Southern Blvd., Okeechobee Blvd. and connections to State Road 7 all need to be considered in any long-range transportation planning.”
Aside from the June 30 meeting in Belle Glade, other meetings will be held Wednesday, July 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Palm Beach Gardens Public Library; Wednesday, July 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center; and Thursday, July 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Clayton E. Hutcheson Agricultural Services Center in West Palm Beach.
Each meeting will specifically address a different part of the county.
To learn more about the upcoming CTMP meetings, visit www.pbcmoves.com.
Those unable to attend can visit the site’s online classroom to review project information and provide feedback from June 30 to July 10.
