Signature City Spring 2024

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ki Ki Hobbs

Candice Temple

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Robert Seay

Candice Temple

David L. Williams II

CONTACT US

signaturecity@pbgfl.com

Signature City Questions: 561.799.4152 Main City Line: 561.799.4100

SignatureCity magazine is a free publication produced quarterly by the City of Palm Beach Gardens Public Communications Department. SignatureCity is mailed to every household in Palm Beach Gardens, as well as distributed at city facilities. SPRING

CITY BRIEFS

UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Thursday, July 11, 2024

City Council meetings are generally held on the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, first floor, City Hall, 10500 N. Military Trail, unless otherwise scheduled.

OTHER WAYS TO WATCH

Our City Council meetings are streamed live via the City’s website. Can’t make it to the meeting in person? Stay informed from the comfort of your own home!

LiveStream: www.pbgfl.com/LiveStream Archives: www.youtube.com/citypbg

Annexation Update:

The referendum vote held on March 19, 2024, failed to pass in all five proposed annexation areas. We look forward to remaining good neighbors to these communities and will continue providing excellent services to our existing residents!

Nearly 150,000 Americans die each year from a stroke. It is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. Did you know that 80% of strokes are preventable? Here are some other facts:

• High blood pressure (hypertension) is the leading cause of strokes.

• Women are more likely to experience strokes than men

• Time is brain. 1.9 million brain cells die every minute during an ischemic stroke

Know your risk factors:

• Family history

• Age

• Gender

• Ethnicity

• Lifestyle Factors (Smoking, exercise, eating healthy)

• Atrial Fibrillation

In Palm Beach Gardens, the average time that a person waited to seek emergency assistance from the onset of their stroke symptoms until calling 911 was 2 hours and 57 minutes in 2023. That’s 336.3 million brain cells!

(l to r) Councilmembers Robert Premuroso, Dana Middleton, Vice Mayor Carl Woods, Mayor Chelsea Reed & Councilmember Marcie Tinsley.

Your resource for the burning question: “What are they building over there?”

Avenir Town Center

Residents of Avenir and the western portion of the City have a lot to look forward to! Avenir Town Center is under construction and it is anticipated to open later this year. Publix will receive its Certificate of Occupancy by middle of September 2024. In addition to Publix, the plaza will have a Publix Liquors and a Walgreens. Much more to come for Avenir Town Center, but it is off to an exciting start.

Street Address: Coconut Boulevard

Alton Hospital

The Alton Hospital is well underway with construction! The installation of the six-foot-tall wall and landscape plantings along the southern/eastern perimeter berm should be completed in May 2024. Vertical construction of the hospital building will begin shortly thereafter this summer. Based on this schedule, the anticipated completion/opening of the hospital is late 2025.

A LEGACY OF SERVICE

Written and Photographed by Candice Temple

As a parent, you never know how your profession will influence your child but research has given some indicators. The General Social Survey in 2020 revealed that it is very common for children to follow in their parent’s footsteps when it comes to the selection of a profession, especially when it’s a trade. Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue (P.B.G.F.R.) has several examples in its department of parents, children and even spouses who share career choices.

One example is Saen and Jared Olsen. Jared recalls that his earliest memories of a fire station are from around age six when he remembers his dad Saen taking him to a Palm Beach Gardens fire station. Being immersed in public safety was something he never forget.

“I think just him bringing me to the station really attracted me to the job. I remember the professionalism and the green trucks really spiked my interest”, he says with a chuckle. “I don’t know, I just kind of fell in love with it.”

Now retired, his father Saen started his career in the fire service as a volunteer firefighter with Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue in 1976 when he was only fifteen years old. He went on to become one of the first paid shift personnel to work for the department. After thirty-three years of service, he called it quits in 2014.

Although he retired ten years ago, those early trips of taking Jared to the fire station made a lasting impression. But Saen says he didn’t always know that his son would decide to put on the boots.

“I really didn’t think that far in the future for him. He’s always been an athletic person. He joined the military and was in the Army for four years. He’s a good kid”, Saen shares proudly.

The road eventually led Jared to the fire service and, since he settled on the profession, he has been focused on reaching

Saen and Jared Olsen

Pictured (L to R) Saen Olsen, Jared Olsen and Fire Chief Keith Bryer

Photo by David L. Williams II

his goal of working for Gardens and making his way through school to become a paramedic. After becoming an Emergency Medical Technician and completing the Fire Academy, he was hired by Palm Beach Gardens where he had to endure an additional twelve weeks of intense training in the Recruit Academy. Gardens requires its recruits to pass rigorous physical qualifications in addition to learning the department’s high-level medical standards for the treatment of patients, which involves less textbooks and more hands-on experience.

Recruits stay on probation for a year before they participate in the department’s “Orange to Black” ceremony. The ceremony gets its name from the orange badge that recruits wear on their helmet for the first year on the job. Once they complete the probationary period, their badge is changed to black.

Another son following in his father’s footsteps with P.B.G.F.R. is Gabriel Mauri who has worked with the department for just over a year. His father Ernesto has spent twenty-two-years with the City of Palm Beach Gardens and was inspired to pursue his career route by his sister who works as a registered nurse. After initially going to school to become a nurse himself, Ernesto changed to Paramedic school, worked for a private ambulance company and at JFK Hospital emergency room in Atlantis. There he crossed paths with several people who were also employed with P.B.G.F.R.

“Training was tough at the time. It was a challenging and, now I can say, rewarding career” Ernesto says. “This line of work is definitely not for everyone. You have to be a well-rounded

individual with physical and mental toughness in order to be proficient and succeed in this career.”

Seeing a person during what may be the worst day of their life and being able to help takes more than just training. In fact, Ernesto shares that of his three children, only one is built to endure the kind of work that the fire service brings.

He started bringing Gabriel to the station as a baby and throughout the years growing up. It seems he was correct. Gabriel recalls that he has been long drawn to the profession. Once he went to school, he devoted a year and six months of his life to becoming a firefighter.

“Like most young children, the idea of becoming a doctor was what I wanted to do. I didn’t realize how medically involved the fire service was until I was a sophomore in high school”, he recalls. “I became curious and started to ask my dad more questions. I eventually joined the Explorer program for Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue. I did some ride-alongs at the station and knew immediately that I wanted to make a career out of the job.”

One thing is evident when speaking to those who have a family legacy of dedication to the fire service, they love their job and they are proud when another generation chooses to follow suit. The family connection may draw criticism from those who think it creates an unfair advantage, however most can tell you that the standards are so rigorous that success is an individual achievement.

Gabriel Mauri is pinned by his father Ernesto during his swearing-in

Big Boots to Fill: Gabriel Mauri with his father Ernesto Mauri

A FOND FAREWELL FOR A COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Written by Ki Ki Hobbs

Teary eyes, laughter, and smiles were the prominent expressions on the faces of many attendees as they gathered to celebrate Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Clint Shannon’s final days at City Hall. Chief Shannon, who has served the City for over 13 years, announced his retirement back in February. A few weeks later, on March 7, dozens of people from Palm Beach Gardens and across Florida packed into a multi-purpose room at Christ Fellowship to honor him for a job well done.

“We are grateful for Chief Shannon’s exemplary service as Police Chief and his unwavering commitment to this community. Our Police Department has faced challenges over the years as the city continues to grow and Chief Shannon has led the department with integrity”, said City Manager Ron Ferris. “We extend our heartfelt best wishes for a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement.”

Retired Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Clint Shannon is pictured with his wife, children and grandchildren at his retirement ceremony.

Chief Shannon’s law enforcement career began nearly 50 years ago, in 1979 where he joined the North Miami Police Department in Miami-Dade County. He eventually served North Miami as Police Chief, spending a total of 31 years with the department.

He came to the City of Palm Beach Gardens in August 2010, where he joined the Police Department as Assistant Chief. Eight years later, he was promoted to Chief of Police.

“I could not be prouder of the dedicated team of officers and support staff that I have had the pleasure to work with. They have shown unwavering commitment and professionalism in keeping our community safe,” said Chief Shannon in his retirement letter to City Manager Ron Ferris.

At Chief Shannon’s retirement celebration, it was clear that his gratitude and pride were reciprocated not only by members of his department but also by City staff, community members, his family, and residents.

Pape

Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Dominick Pape was sworn in on Monday, March 11, 2024.

The auditorium was packed. Seats filled up quickly, and many people stood against the wall eager to celebrate his accomplishments, including law enforcement from nearby municipalities and federal agencies. Speeches lasted well-over an hour and the line to give Chief Shannon a parting hug wrapped around the room.

On Monday, March 11 a few days after gathering to celebrate Chief Shannon’s retirement, Palm Beach Gardens Police, City Staff and community members once again came together, this time to attend the swearing-in ceremony for new Chief of Police Dominick Pape.

Chief Pape began his law enforcement career in 1982 with the Gainesville Police Department. After working his way up to Sergeant, he joined the Florida Department of Law Enforcement then joined G4S, a multinational security company, as Director of Security Operations.

In 2015, he came to our signature city, joining the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department as a Police Major overseeing the Investigations Bureau. Three years later, he was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police for the Investigations/Administrative Division.

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve with the members of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department. We have a super bowl team in a super bowl level city. I look forward to working alongside the members of the city staff on issues that will make our city stronger.”

Police Chief Dominick

receives the Palm Beach Gardens Police flag from Retired Chief Clint Shannon at Pape’s swearing-in ceremony.

Calendar of Events

NOW-APRIL 30

GardensArt Exhibition

Cynthia Maronet

“Horizons” Oil Paintings, Drawings & Prints Dawn to Dusk

Sandhill Crane Golf Clubhouse

NOW-MAY 14

GardensArt Exhibition

Diane Prater

“Intelligent Design”: Inspired Treasures from the Sea Watercolors

M-Th, 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fri, 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sa & Su, 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Clubhouse

*Hours may vary due to special events or other programs

NOW-MAY 16

GardensArt Exhibition

En Plein Air Artists at the Gardens GreenMarket & Palm Beach County Group exhibition featuring the vibrant mood and rich colors of our very own weekly green market and local areas of beauty in Palm Beach County. Weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. City Hall Municipal Campus

APRIL

APRIL 16

FREE Hands-Only CPR Class 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Fire Station 61

APRIL 17, 24

After School Clinic 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

APRIL 19

Tot Time: Spring Fling 10 - 11 a.m.

Mirasol Center

APRIL 20

Keep Palm Beach Gardens Beautiful Service project for teens, Grades 6 – 12 9 – 11 a.m.

The Gardens North County District Park

Pre-registration required at pbgrec.com

Adult Rec Singles Tournament

11:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

Jamie’s Angels Youth Adaptive Tennis Clinic

1 – 2 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

APRIL 20,27

Junior Drop-In 9 - 10 a.m.

Little Tykes 9 - 9:45 a.m.

Get Golf Ready

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Sandhill Crane Golf Club

APRIL 24

Walk the Exhibition with Cynthia Maronet

1 p.m.

Sandhill Crane Golf Clubhouse

APRIL 27-30

“Little Mo” East Regional Junior Tennis Tournament

Sa-Tu, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

MAY

MAY 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

After School Clinic

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

MAY 1

Butterflies & Blossoms: Senior Spring Picnic

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The Gardens North County District Park Large Pavilion

MAY 2

City Council Meeting

6 p.m. at City Hall

MAY 2 - AUGUST 20

GardensArt Exhibition

Helga Jensen-Ruopp

“Florida Fauna and….”

Acrylic Paintings

Sandhill Crane Golf Clubhouse

MAY 3-5

USTA National Wheelchair Clay Court Tennis Tournament

Fri-Su, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

*Daily start and end times may vary over the duration of the tournament.

MAY 4

Stories in the Park (feat. Mother Goose)

10 – 11 a.m.

Burns Road Park

MAY 4, 11, 18, 25

Junior Drop-In

9 - 10 a.m.

Little Tykes

9 - 9:45 a.m. Get Golf Ready

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Sandhill Crane Golf Club

MAY 5, 12, 19, 26

The Gardens GreenMarket

8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

City Hall Municipal Campus

MAY 11

Jr. Rec Singles Tennis Tournament

11:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

MAY 14

Planning, Zoning & Appeals Board

6 p.m. at City Hall

MAY 16 - AUGUST 28

GardensArt Exhibition

Kris Davis

“Above and Below”

Oil Paintings

M-Th, 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Fri, 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sa & Su, 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Clubhouse

*Hours may vary due to special events or other programs

MAY 17

Tot Time: Summer Splash

10 – 11 a.m.

Mirasol Center

MAY 18

Artist Reception

Kris Davis

Mimosas & Brunch Bites

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Clubhouse

Jamie’s Angels Youth Adaptive Tennis Clinic

1 – 2 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

MAY 20 - 24

Tennis & Pickleball Center Closed for “Spring Cleaning”

MAY 20 – AUG 15

GardensArt Exhibition

Lara Chapman “Wild Impressions”

Photography

Weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. City Hall

MAY 21

FREE Hands-Only CPR Class

6 – 7:30 p.m. Fire Station 61

MAY 25

“Memorial Mixer” Adult Mixed

Doubles & Lunch Tournament

10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

MAY 27

Memorial Day Ceremony

9 a.m.

Veterans Plaza Amphitheater

Color Surprise by Cynthia Maronet

Plein Air by Ralph Paga

Whale and Baby by Helga Ruopp

Water’s Edge by Kris Davis

JUNE

JUNE 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Junior Drop-In

9 - 10 a.m.

Little Tykes

9 - 9:45 a.m.

Get Golf Ready

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Sandhill Crane Golf Club

JUNE 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

The Gardens GreenMarket

8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

City Hall Municipal Campus

JUNE 3 - 7

Sandhill Crane Golf Club is closed for maintenance.

Code Enforcement

Appreciation Week!

JUNE 3 – AUGUST 28

Summer Swim Lessons

M-Sa, Various Sessions & Times

Aquatic Complex

Sign up at pbgrec.com/aquatics

JUNE 3 – AUGUST 9

Camp Gardens Classic & Specialty Camps

Various locations & times

More info at pbgrec.com/camp

JUNE 4 - 6

Summer Camp #1

8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

JUNE 4, 11, 18, 25

Splash into Storytime on Toddler Tuesdays

9 – 10:55 a.m.

Aquatic Complex

JUNE 6

City Council Meeting

6:00 p.m. at City Hall

JUNE 11

Planning, Zoning & Appeals Board

6 p.m. at City Hall

JUNE 11 - 13

Summer Camp #2

8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

JUNE 17 - 21

The Nest Par 3 is closed for maintenance.

Code Enforcement Appreciation Week

JUNE 17 - 21

“Love Serving Autism” Adaptive Tennis & Pickleball Camp

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

JUNE 18-20

Summer Camp #3

8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

JUNE 23

Market Motors Car Show

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The Gardens GreenMarket

JUNE 25

Special Magistrate Hearing

2 – 5 p.m. at City Hall

JUNE 25 - 27

Summer Camp #4

8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

JULY

JULY IS PARK & RECREATION MONTH!

Celebrate Every Sunday at The Gardens GreenMarket

JULY 4

Party at the Pool!

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Aquatic Complex

JULY 6

“Independence Mixer” Adult Mixed Doubles & Lunch

Tournament

10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

JULY 7, 14, 21, 28

The Gardens GreenMarket

8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

City Hall Municipal Campus

JULY 7 – 11

USTA Boy’s National Clay Court

Championships

Daily 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Tennis & Pickleball Center

*Daily start and end times may vary over the duration of the tournament.

JULY 9 - 11

Summer Camp #5

8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

JULY 9, 16, 23, 30

Splash into Storytime on Toddler Tuesdays

9 – 10:55 a.m.

Aquatic Complex

JULY 9

Planning, Zoning & Appeals Board

6 p.m. at City Hall

JULY 11

City Council Meeting

6 p.m. at City Hall

JULY 13, 20, 27

Get Golf Ready

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Junior Drop-In

9 - 10 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

The Mirage: A Columned Courtyard

Written & Photographed by Ki Ki Hobbs

As South Florida rapidly develops, Palm Beach Gardens remains committed to protecting and preserving green space, an endeavor that has earned our slice of paradise a Tree City, U.S.A. designation. From our beautiful parks, picturesque walking trails and stunning wildlife, anyone visiting or living in Palm Beach Gardens can feel the City’s connection to nature. That connection is well-reflected in The Mirage: A Columned Courtyard by Tracy Rosof-Peterson, which is a beautiful piece of public art, located just outside the Laser and Surgery Center on Kyoto Gardens Drive.

Rosof-Peterson frequently explores the connection between humans and nature in her art. In an interview with the arts magazine chART, she describes her time studying indigenous American pottery in the Four Corners region of the U.S. Rosof-Peterson says one of the biggest influences on her art was seeing how the indigenous tribes’ ceremonies allowed them to connect with each other and with nature. With her public artwork The Mirage: A Columned Courtyard ,

Rosof-Peterson gives people in Palm Beach Gardens a chance to also connect with nature.

The Mirage is a cast iron and stone seating area with three stone, square columns decorated with sculptured tiles depicting Florida’s natural flora and fauna. The courtyard’s 8-foot-tall columns are teeming with life. Sculpted vines, roots and leaves lift from the facade while animals climb out of the frame.

On one column, a rabbit leaves its hiding spot to catch a glimpse of the viewer while a fox watches from the background. On another, a panther stalks the viewer, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. The animals’ unwavering gaze transforms the viewer from a passive observer into an active participant. We watch the sculpted animals in their natural habitats and in turn, they watch us in ours. For that brief moment of eye contact, we’re connecting not only with the art but also with the Florida wildlife it’s representing.

Growing the Gardens Way

Written by Ki Ki Hobbs | Photographed by David L. Williams II

It should come as no surprise that our corner of the world has become very popular in recent years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida is now the nation’s fastest-growing state, gaining about 319,000 new residents in 2022. Palm Beach Gardens is one of Palm Beach County’s fastest growing cities, says the Bureau of Economic and Business Research. While this population surge can be a boon for our local economy, it can also bring a new array of challenges for local leaders and longtime residents.

As more people pack their bags and head to the Sunshine State, demand for housing has skyrocketed, and in areas where supply can’t meet that demand, prices have risen rapidly. According to the Palm Beach Post, home prices in Palm Beach County are now at record highs. While the City can’t control

who moves here, it can prepare for the growth it sees on the horizon.

“It’s important to plan for and manage that growth in ways that are forward-thinking, best serve our residents, and maintain a quality of life that makes Palm Beach Gardens such a desirable place to live,” says Joann Skaria, Palm Beach Gardens Assistant Director of Planning & Zoning.

Skaria says the City’s Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Master Plan represents this vision of how Palm Beach Gardens can grow sustainably while keeping housing costs from ballooning. A TOD design is a walkable, mixed-use space located near a well-designed train station.

In our City, the TOD District is a half-mile radius surrounding the area of PGA Boulevard and the Florida East Coast Railway Corridor where a proposed train station would be built. The area is generally bound by Gardens Parkway to the north, Burns Road to the south, Military Trail to the west, and Campus Drive to the east.

Right now, most of the housing in Palm Beach Gardens is singlefamily homes. To accommodate our booming population, the City needs a mix of housing types, according to Skaria. That’s why under our TOD policies, more projects with multi-family housing, like townhouses and apartments, are being built, giving our City’s housing supply a much-needed boost.

If you’ve driven along PGA Boulevard in recent months, you’ve likely seen the work happening at PGA Station, where a residential apartment building is being built along Design Center Drive, just east of RCA Boulevard. The eight-story building will have nearly 400 units with 40 set aside for workforce housing.

The second stage of PGA Station, which was recently approved, would bring even more housing to the City: over 600 units including over 60 for workforce housing. In addition to the housing, there’ll be two parking garages, an eight-story office building, retail and dining.

PGA Station is just one of several projects bringing more housing to Palm Beach Gardens under the City’s TOD policies. In total, these high-density projects would add over 2,000 housing units to the City, including more than 200 for workforce housing.

Skaria says those workforce housing units are considered a critical part of an economically viable City and TOD plan. They allow Palm Beach Gardens to offer housing for a variety of incomes while also keeping and attracting well-paying jobs and companies.

“This is essential to keeping the City’s property taxes low and stable for residents,” says Skaria.

Housing isn’t the only challenge that accompanies a rising population. Many Florida drivers have noted their commutes to work have gotten longer due to a rising number of vehicles clogging up roadways like Northlake Boulevard, Beeline Highway, the Florida Turnpike, and even I-95.

While FDOT is widening some roads to ease that congestion, such as their ongoing work to widen Beeline Highway from

Northlake Boulevard to Blue Heron Boulevard, those measures are unlikely to offer long-term relief. FDOT says the project to widen Beeline Highway isn’t expected to finish until 2029. By then, Palm Beach County’s population is expected to rise by another 100,000 residents, according to State projections. “It is not feasible to continue to add unlimited cars to the roadways or to widen many of the City’s existing roadways,” Skaria says.

To alleviate traffic in the long term, Skaria says cities must provide residents with alternatives to driving that are viable, safe, and comfortable. She says Palm Beach Gardens’ TOD Master Plan puts an emphasis on mobility and offers people a variety of transportation options.

Skaria says City planners are consistently analyzing new projects for possible traffic impacts and looking for any areas that’ll require improvements such as added turn lanes, roundabouts, wider sidewalks, bike lanes, or making contributions to transit options.

“Managing growth and traffic is of the utmost importance to the City,” says Director of Planning and Zoning Natalie Crowley.

This focus on mobility can be clearly seen when looking at PGA Station’s development plans. Once completed, PGA Station will have housing, office space, dining, and retail, making it a walkable community where residents can live, learn, work, and play without needing a car to get around. Additionally, its proximity to a proposed future train station means future residents can travel as far South as Miami without driving.

When asked how the City developed such a comprehensive plan, Skaria says it was a team effort. The Federal Transit Administration and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council gave Palm Beach Gardens grant money in 2017 to develop and refine its TOD Master Plan. Residents and businesses also pitched in by attending public input meetings and workshops to help the City build its plan. Skaria says that public participation was critical for the plan’s development and continues to be critical for its success.

Quiet Zones

FROM THE CITY ENGINEER

Recently, discussion about rail line quiet zones has gained steam as many north county communities work to receive the Federal Railroad Administration designation. To establish a quiet zone, local governments or other agencies must show that the lack of the horn does not pose a significant safety risk. Some of the ways in which local governments may accomplish this include safety measures such as gates, medians, and other channelization devices.

Once the intersection safety improvements are complete and meet appropriate standards, local governments or agencies must file the appropriate notices and applications for the approval and establishment of quiet zones to the Federal Railroad Administration.

Quiet Zones are dependent on approved safety measures that are in place for motorists and pedestrians at railroad crossings. The City of Palm Beach Gardens has implemented some of these measures during new roadway construction or road redevelopment projects. When the All Aboard Florida proposal came to light (now known as Brightline) future safety measures were to be implemented as part of the Brightline transit project. With the delays to the Brightline project, the intersection improvements in Palm Beach Gardens that would allow for quiet zone application have also been delayed.

Brightline – the company that has commenced highspeed passenger rail from Miami to Orlando. As Brightline constructed their project to bring passenger rail north from West Palm Beach to Orlando, they installed safety measures at some intersections which help to remove the need for trains to blow horns. However, additional safety measures are found to be required in Palm Beach Gardens railway crossing locations. The City is evaluating the most practical safety improvements

for several railway crossings here. Additionally, we are working with the FRA to receive credit for the quiet zone establishment for projects already undertaken by Palm Beach Gardens. Once safety measures are in place and the risk score without horns is attained, the City will file for a quiet zone. Currently, there are no quiet zones established by a municipality in Northern Palm Beach County.

With that information in mind, the following summary and conclusions can be drawn:

Unfortunately, Quiet Zones aren’t as simple as passing an ordinance and/or simply notifying the Federal Railroad Administration or the railroad of a desire to have less train horn noise. Local governments will have to prove (at perhaps considerable expense) and illustrate that safety measures make horns unnecessary.

Each of the 6 railroad/vehicle intersections in Palm Beach Gardens has unique characteristics in terms of traffic counts, intersection design, and train speed. The safety improvements needed for one intersection aren’t likely to be the same for others. Each must be carefully studied and reviewed to ensure that the City’s investment reinforces safety and meets the criteria to be approved by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The City Council and Administration hear the concerns from the public about train noise very clearly. The initial step to establishing a quiet zone has been completed by filing the Notice of Intent with the Federal Railway Administration. The preliminary approach is to seek credit for alternative safety measures that are already in place with the City’s rail crossings from the Federal Rail Administration to establish the quiet zone.

Cognizant Classic

Bring on the tacos! Join us weekly for a rotating menu of delicious tacos.

Nothing hits the spot like a great burger! Feed your craving by building your own burger starting at $7 on Wednesdays.

Enjoy our perfectly cooked premium prime rib and all the fixins for $26.

We offer a special brunch menu with everything from sweet to savory!