​Commissioner Hal Valeche

Transportation.  Something we take for granted almost as much as getting out of bed in the morning.  For a coastal community like Palm Beach County with just a few major expressways, moving people where they need to go can be a challenge. 

More than simply a means of getting from point A to point B, our transportation corridors serve diverse interests. Whether you recreate on foot or bicycle, or have limited means to access transportation and rely on public transit, it is incumbent upon engineers, planners and elected officials to look to convenient and cost-efficient transportation options to benefit all residents and visitors, while ensuring the utmost safety for all users.

Earlier this year, I informed our readers about the Route Performance Maximization initiative, a comprehensive evaluation and system redesign conducted by Palm Tran, the county's public bus service.  The aim of this effort was to develop a more direct, convenient and faster transit system in Palm Beach County.  This process has involved extensive public outreach to learn what routes and services are most essential to our riders.  The process has resulted in an enhanced coverage network, which improves the existing network footprint while utilizing existing resources.  Rollout of the new route changes will begin on September 30, 2018.

Riders in Northern Palm Beach County will see tweaks to Route 1, which runs up US1 and loops around the Gardens Mall to the transfer station there.  A new Route 20 will travel up Military Trail from Northlake, cross over Holly Drive to Riverside Drive and end up at the Gardens Mall, and a change to Route 10 will start at the Gardens Mall, head west on Kyoto Gardens Drive, and then north on Military Trail up to Indiantown Road.  Additional routes will take riders from West Palm Beach to the Gardens Mall location.  Customer service representatives will be out in the field to help riders access the new route system, and as we receive more input from the public, we will consider adjustments to the system.

I have the pleasure of serving as Chair of the Palm Beach County Transportation Planning Agency (TPA), formerly known as the Metropolitan Planning Organization.  This is a 15-member board representing Palm Beach County, the county's largest municipalities, and the Port of Palm Beach.

The TPA is responsible for transportation planning and programming for the entire county, and it is our job to forecast needs and propose transportation projects funded by State and Federal dollars to improve roads, highways and alternate forms of transportation in our communities.

One of the many programs advocated by the TPA is the Complete Streets Policy.  "Complete Streets" is a nationally recognized term referring to streets and sidewalks designed, operated and maintained to enable safe and convenient access and travel for all users.  In advocating this policy, Palm Beach County is seeking grants and additional funding sources to install enhanced signs and signalization at pedestrian crossings throughout the county.  As an example, pedestrian enhancements will be included in the redesign of the intersection of Central Boulevard and University Boulevard in Jupiter's Abacoa community.

Of the many calls I receive from members of the public, residents frequently comment on the increase in traffic they observe on our local roads.  I do understand, that as cities advance their business development and housing plans, along with development approved in the unincorporated areas, our roads experience greater congestion, particularly during the winter season.  While we cannot erect a gate at the county line prohibiting any further residents from moving into Palm Beach County, and you can build only so many roads, we are constantly looking at new technology to help manage traffic.  In recent years, the County has been working with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to install Adaptive Traffic Control Systems at major intersections on state roads.  These systems dynamically adjust signal timing with fluctuations in traffic demand and improve the overall progression through the traffic signals.  I have been working closely with County Engineering to fine-tune the newly installed system along PGA Boulevard to better synchronize those signals for improved traffic flow.

Additionally, the County has a designated Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Traffic Management Center to monitor and manage traffic signals and traffic conditions throughout the county. This is also a combined operational facility with FDOT for monitoring traffic flow conditions on I-95 in Palm Beach County.

The County Commission recently appointed me to serve on the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which operates Tri-Rail.  Through a subcommittee on which I serve as part of the Transportation Planning Agency, I am taking part in discussions on plans to extend Tri-Rail service north of its current terminus in Mangonia Park, through Lake Park, Palm Beach Gardens and into Jupiter.    As always, please contact me if I can be of assistance to you at (561) 355-2201, or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.