Page 1 - PGA Community News - October '21

VOL. 31 NO. 10 FAX 561-624-9088 • E-MAIL canpga@yahoo.com OCTOBER 2021

PGA POA Jottings

By Dawn Levinstein, but it certainly wouldn’t have been so important as to run work is permitted, the area prepared and the new equipment is
PGA POA someone over so again, please slow down and pay attention. delivered, you will have a beautiful new playground. I promise
AROUND PGA While I’m on my soapbox about traffic, there is also a it will be worth the wait. Marlwood Park is also getting new
I’m sure everyone “Yield to Pedestrians” sign on Avenue of the Masters at Old equipment so, again, thanks for your patience.
noticed the new paving on Meadow Way. For those who don’t know where that is, it’s WHO IS SUPPOSED TO FIX THIS?
Avenue of the Champions. where the road widens at the end of the Glenwood community. Someone recently sent me info that was on the Next Door
Northern Palm Beach There is a school bus stop on the corner; the road is wide to PGA “social media” site. I could not believe how many posts
County Improvement District allow for turn lanes into Glenwood, Patio Homes and Glengary. and complaints there were and all kinds of misinformation and
(“NPBCID”) did another There is a lot of pedestrian traffic crossing at this point and incorrect replies but no one ever called the POA to find out
great paving job! The next a lot of young children and parents with strollers trying to what to do. The PGA POA staff will try to direct you to the
road on the schedule is cross from one side of Glenwood to the other side where their proper person/department. We may not be able to get them to
Avenue of the Masters. community pool and playground is located. There are also a respond and give you the answer you want to hear, but at least
The City and NPBCID worked together to get a long lot of drivers in a hurry who aren’t paying attention to why the you’ll be reaching out to someone who might be able to help.
awaited crosswalk installed on Fairway Drive closest to car in front of them is stopped (clue: it’s for a pedestrian!) and In this case, it was about the lakes/water bodies. NPBCID is
the ellipse (sometimes called a circle although it’s an oval they go into the turn lane to pass the stopped car. If you are responsible for the maintenance of the lake and canals but be
divided roadway). Please note that part of that crosswalk is guilty of this, I sincerely hope you don’t hurt or kill someone aware that there are different designations (marsh, lake, canal,
a push button and flashing light to alert drivers that someone in your rush. You’re home….please slow down! etc.) with different criteria for acceptable levels of plants for
is crossing. If you are driving, please slow down and pay PLAY TIME each. None of the water bodies are “sterile” (with no plants
attention! Right after it was installed, a woman pressed the The Burwick Park playground has been closed for what around the perimeter) and this is for the aquatic health of the
button and the lights flashed a warning just like they are seems like forever. Equipment was selected but it was not water bodies and the fish. I’m not the expert but they can
supposed to. A car turning right onto Fairway stopped for satisfactory commercial grade quality. The PGA POA Board answer your questions. Just call 561-624-7830 if you have
her (just as they are supposed to) but the car behind them of Governors really is conscientious about how your money questions or concerns about the lakes or canals.
went whipping around the stopped car, almost ran down the is spent so even through it caused considerable delay, better
pedestrian. I don’t know if they had a dire emergency or what equipment was chosen. It is now on order so as soon as the PGA POA Jottings on page 4
Commissioner’s Update

Rail Connects Our holiday trains. See the following link for schedules: https://www. South Florida is the fifth largest urbanized area in the U.S.
tri-rail.com/pages/view/reduced-service-weekday-schedule.
with more than five million residents, projected to grow by
Communities The service, operated by the South Florida Regional another three million people within the next 20 years. Planning
Transportation Authority (SFRTA) on which I serve as the for this future growth, SFRTA is embarking on large-scale
By County Commissioner Palm Beach County Commission’s representative, provides projects, including Coastal Link, which will reintroduce
Maria Marino a comfortable, safe commute to connect you with business, passenger service along an 85-mile stretch of the Florida East
Tri-Rail, the commuter rail educational, retail and recreational venues in the Tri-County Coast (FEC) Railway corridor between downtown Miami
service linking Palm Beach, region for a reasonable fare. Fares run from $1.25 to $17.50 and Jupiter, connecting the rail networks. Transit-oriented
Broward, and Miami-Dade based on zones traveled and discount eligibility. Frequent developments (TOD) at stations along the eastern Coastal
counties recently reached a riders may choose to preload an EASY card (similar to a Link corridor are in the study phase. Development at locations
significant milestone – 100 SunPass card) with fares validated as passengers board and where SFRTA owns land would result in a revenue stream
million riders. exit the train. Passes and paper tickets are available at Tri- for the agency. One of the proposed new stations for which I
You may wonder how Rail stations and not sold onboard the train. Information on strongly advocated while serving as mayor and councilmember
that affects you, particularly calculating your fares in order to plan for your trips is located for the City of Palm Beach Gardens, would be located at the
if you are not currently a at https://www.tri-rail.com/pages/view/fare-information- southwest corner of PGA Boulevard and Alternate A1A and
rider. Consider this: for every calculating-your-fare. would likely include a significant development of hotel, retail,
person who takes Tri-Rail, that is potentially one less vehicle Daily weekday ridership on Tri-Rail is approximately office and residential uses with convenient access to the train.
on the highway. Taking the train can save you wear and tear 15,000, and is currently operating at 92 percent of pre-COVID The station could potentially serve both Tri-Rail and Brightline,
on your vehicle, help reduce the carbon footprint, and afford service. Compared with other cities’ rail services around the the private high-speed-rail train service currently constructing
you a window of time to perhaps read the news, catch up U.S. that have experienced a slower recovery, Tri-Rail is a tracks to provide service from Miami to Orlando and from
on work or studies, and avoid the aggravation of crowded service, tourism and construction industry-based ridership Orlando to Tampa.
highway driving. that cannot telework. With Tri-Rail connecting to all three There is also heightened interest in conducting a feasibility
Tri-Rail commenced operations on Jan. 9, 1989. It covers a major airports in the region, the SFRTA anticipates that airport study for a Tri-Rail station at the Veterans Administration
service area of 73.4 miles between the three counties, with 18 ridership will return to 100 percent by the end of 2021. Medical Center in Riviera Beach. This would enhance
stations. The hours of operation are 4 a.m. to 11:35 p.m. on 50 The three counties connect rail riders with their transportation options for veterans to access services as well as
weekday trains and 5:17 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. on 30 weekend and respective bus services, light rail and people movers to present an opportunity for residents in the western communities
take riders to their final to access the train. Additionally, Palm Tran is working with
destinations and back. For SFRTA on plans to achieve fare collection interoperability
stations in Palm Beach between the transit systems in all three counties, to promote a
County, Palm Tran – the seamless fare system in the region.
public transit bus system With road networks reaching capacity, a multimodal
– provides shuttle service transportation system is essential to maintaining our economic
from Tri-Rail stations to competitiveness, high quality of life, and protecting our
destinations, along with environment. This is the vision of the SFRTA.
taxis and transportation As always, please contact me if I can be of assistance to
network companies such as you by calling (561) 355-2201 or send an email to mmarino@
Uber and Lyft. pbcgov.org.