By John Pacenti
Delray Beach is advancing a multiagency effort to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety at the busy East Atlantic Avenue and Swinton Avenue intersection.
If adopted, officials say the measures are intended to reduce pedestrian conflicts, discourage unsafe crossings, and improve traffic flow along the heavily traveled downtown corridor.
Mayor Tom Carney said the project, developed with the Florida Department of Transportation and Palm Beach County, will focus primarily on signal timing and software changes.
“We’ve developed a very good relationship now with the FDOT,” he said, adding that Palm Beach County Commissioner Marci Woodward has been helpful with the FDOT.
Key measures under study include an all-red pedestrian phase that would stop traffic on all approaches to allow pedestrians to cross in any direction, and possible mid-block crossings near Old School Square and even diagonal crosswalks.
“So it would allow pedestrians to cross the road like in an X,” Carney said, noting the city’s goal of making downtown “a walkable and safe downtown.”
FDOT is completing vehicle and pedestrian counts and related studies required for design and approval. Carney said the costs will likely be shared by FDOT, the county and the city.
Delray Beach has secured a $240,000 federal grant through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program to address safety at the intersection of historic Atlantic and Swinton avenues.
“I am optimistic that something is going to come across our desks, at least in some form, in the next few months,” Carney said. “I really want to see that roll out in late July or early August.”
A public announcement is expected once FDOT completes its analysis and a recommended plan is ready for local review.
Comments