US 1 Corridor Study Comes to North Palm

The Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) conducted a workshop
on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the North Palm Beach Council Chambers (NPBL Photo)

​U.S. Route 1 (US 1) is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,369 miles (3,813 km), from Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canada–US border, south to Key West, Florida, making it the longest north–south road in the United States -- Wikipedia

Members of the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) came to North Palm Beach Saturday, Sept. 23 to present details of the US-1 MultiModal Corridor Study. The focus of the study is less than 2 percent of the total miles that US 1 runs -- namely, the 42 miles from Boca Raton to Jupiter.

The purpose of the study is to "develop a comprehensive plan to improve transit as well as connect sidewalk and bicycle facilities." The outcome envisioned is improved access to jobs and education, as well as health and community services, provide a stimulus for economic growth and enhanced safety for walkers and bicyclists.

About a dozen people attended the Saturday morning session at the North Palm Beach Council Chambers, the fifth of six planned stops on the study roadshow. The workshop shifts to the Marina Event Center, located at 190 East 13th Street in Riviera Beach, for an open studio/charrette Monday-Wednesday, September 25-27, from 10 am-7 pm.

One of the main topics of conversation was the proposal that came from last year's Master Plan study -- reducing the number of lanes on US 1 from six to four from the Parker drawbridge to Northlake Blvd. One resident noted he had already collected 1,000 names on a petition in opposition to any reduction.

MPO staffers again pointed out the level of traffic doesn't justify the extra lanes, but it will ultimately be up to FDOT working with local municipalities to decide the issue.

For more details on the study, visit the MPO website, www.US1PBCorridorStudy.com.

"Build-A-Street" was one of the options at the workshop

A chart from the workshop