Letters

When Uptown Delray, the Strand, Atlantic Crossing, SofA I & II, SofA Offices & Lofts and Depot Square apartments are occupied, Safety as Floridians Expect estimates that there will be 448 more bicycles and more than 2,000 new downtown residents bicycling and walking on Atlantic Avenue.
    A few years later, Tri-Rail Coastal Link will bring 3,000 to 5,000 visitors per week directly to Atlantic Avenue. And, when they get off the train, they will either be walking or bicycling. Obviously, we need to be ready for them.
    And that means we should have a network of sidewalks stretching six blocks in all directions from the passenger rail station, at least one bicycle lane nearby connecting the beach with Military Trail, a shared-use pathway along the FEC right of way, and shared lanes on Atlantic Avenue because we need to encourage bicyclists to get off the sidewalks.
    In all our neighborhoods today, pedestrians are walking on poorly lit streets with few sidewalks.
It’s unsafe.  
We need to accelerate LED replacement lighting and build pedestrian/bike facilities throughout all our neighborhoods.
    For the past four years, the city of Delray has not invested in building sidewalks or bike lanes.
    SAFE suggests that we begin investing 1 percent of our operating budget each year toward the construction of new ped/bike facilities.
    Also, SAFE asks the Community Redevelopment Agency to join the city’s effort by providing safe paths to all schools and parks within its district.
    Delray has a choice: It may continue making no investment in ped/bike facilities and become a gas-guzzling, traffic-congested, unsafe city; or it can make the investment required and build a human-powered transportation system that is people-friendly and preserves the quality of life we all cherish.
    It’s up to us to choose the right path.
Jim Smith,
SAFE Chairman
Delray Beach