Bay Hill Estates homeowners in Palm Beach Gardens want a traffic light in front of their community entrance.
Rich Hoffman who lives there said, "It's getting too dangerous out here for us." Homeowners are citing Northlake Boulevard is busy and will be more dangerous after the new communities across the street are completed." Kathy Kreisner, the president of the homeowners association said, "It's not going to solve every problem, but it will slow the traffic down."
According to a statement from the Palm Beach County engineer:
"The total left turn and the portion of the right turn volumes ranged between 30 and 47 vehicles per hour during the highest eight hours... The minimum traffic volume needed to meet the signal warrants is 70 vehicles". The statement also mentioned "Traffic signals are not considered based on projected future traffic volumes."
Mayor Maria Marino of Palm Beach Gardens said it's more than numbers. "We do not warrant a traffic light because of the amount of cars, but we want a traffic light because of the amount of people whose lives we are trying to save."
Last week a crash on Northlake Boulevard claimed a life. Since then Palm Beach Gardens police officers have been out in full force. Acting Chief of Police Dominick Pape said the officers are keeping track of traffic. "We issued 141 warnings, but the highest speed we recorded out there was 88 miles per hour. That speed zone is only 55."
Meanwhile homeowners like Kreisner are hoping drivers slow down and that a traffic light will be at the intersection in the near future. "We are going to do whatever it takes to get this traffic light installed."
The city says they have money for a traffic light. The county engineer told me he will be meeting with the city in a few weeks and the Traffic Division is scheduling another study of the intersection next week.