The Blueway Trail: Excerpts from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council meeting last month

Use this link for the entire PDF and go to pages 6–8. The minutes of this September 16th meeting just became available last Monday. Yes, Drew Martin was at this meeting and made public comment. And yes, he opposes this project too just like every other infrastructure project anywhere in Palm Beach County. Is anyone really surprised he only got 31% of the vote in the August primary?

After reading this blog post proceed to the one following or use this link to learn more about the Blueway Trail. Please contact your elected officials and tell them you support this project. Excerpts follow with highlights:

     Staff noted for the past several years, Council has been assisting the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and PBC local governments with the planning and design of a boat lift at the C-51 Canal to enable access for vessels between the chain of lakes, which is a series of inland lakes in central Palm Beach County, and the Lake Worth Lagoon.

[and. . .]

     Staff indicated funding for the project is the result of an appropriation from the legislature through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Staff stated Council’s responsibilities will include managing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process, and management of the engineering and preliminary design for the facility, cost estimates, data collection, surveys, and ultimately documents for permit submittal.
     Staff indicated the RFQ process has been completed with a recommendation by the selection committee that included local government representatives from Palm Beach County, the City of Lake Worth and the Town of Lake Clarke Shores, as well as two private sector representatives from the West Palm Beach Fishing Club and the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County.

[and. . .]

     [West Palm Beach] Commissioner [Paula] Ryan noted that recently the United States Senate passed the Water Resource Development Act of 2016, which is to help restore our ecosystems, create innovative technologies, and provide financing geared to clean water and protecting the waterways. She indicated this program would fit nicely into that.
     Staff indicated Congresswoman Frankel has been supportive of this project from its inception and has offered to help sponsor whatever may be necessary to secure federal funding. Mayor Gerwig asked if this project will impact local governments other than the City of Lake Worth and the Town of Lake Clarke Shores. Staff indicated several other municipalities in the area have passed resolutions in support of this project, because getting a blueways trail system in place will benefit everyone.

[and. . .]

     Councilmember [Douglas] Bournique moved approval of the staff recommendation. Commissioner [Paula] Lewis seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.