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Citing Longtime Work on Women’s Issues, Bob Doyel Touts Endorsement from the National Organization for Women (NOW)

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Today, Democratic candidate for Florida Senate District 22, Bob Doyel, announced an endorsement from the National Organization for Women (NOW) while citicing his long time work to end violence against women.

Bob Doyel has been a vocal activist for the testing of more than 13,400 untested rape kits in Florida. Today, the democratic challenger took to his campaign’s facebook account to share with supporters that he has received the endorsement from the Florida Chapter of the National Organization for Women.

“I am proud and honored to have the support of the National Organization for Women as I work to make women’s equality a priority in the Florida Senate,” Doyel wrote. “I’ve been fighting to shine a light on the issue of violence against women for many years, and have worked hard to give a voice to women in the judicial process. That work will continue in the Florida Senate.”

Doyel’s work was recently highlighted in his local newspaper, “The Ledger,” after 47 year old Stephen Berouty was convicted earlier this month for a rape that happened back in 2003.

“This is a public safety issue,” Doyel told The Ledger. “Testing these kits could identify a serial rapist that we need to get off the streets.”  

Bob Doyel is a retired circuit court judge, law professor, and vietnam veteran who has lived in Polk county for more than three decades. Doyel is running in one Florida Democrats’ most competitive State Senate Districts and is hoping to unseat incumbent Kelli Stargel of Lakeland.  

Hopping, Green & Sams Welcomes Eileen Stuart as Government Affairs Shareholder

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Hopping, Green & Sams (HGS), one of the state’s top environmental, land use and special district law firms, today announced the addition of Eileen Stuart as Government Affairs Shareholder with the firm.

“We are thrilled to welcome Eileen to the firm. Having worked closely with her over the last decade, we appreciate firsthand Eileen’s substantial talents,” said Gary Hunter, shareholder, Hopping, Green & Sams. “Her deep relationships, substantive command and understanding of the key levers in state and federal government will greatly enhance our growing presence in the Florida government affairs arena. Most important, our clients will benefit from her expertise.”

A well-respected name in Tallahassee, Stuart most recently served as Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs for The Mosaic Company, directing the Fortune 500’s state and federal government affairs strategy and engagement in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.  She also previously served as Vice President, Public Affairs and led the company’s strategic communications and community engagement.

Prior to joining Mosaic, Stuart’s experience included positions in the Executive Office of the Governor where she served as Deputy Policy Director. She also has served in roles in the Florida Senate, the Florida Public Service Commission and on a gubernatorial campaign. Her expertise in environmental, energy, permitting and tax issues will complement HGS’ deep roster of professionals. 

“Hopping, Green & Sams is a powerful combination of the state’s top environmental and land development lawyers along with a robust and loyal client base. The firm’s widely recognized expertise and reputation provide an unparalleled platform, and I am excited to work alongside the exceptional team at HGS to help our clients achieve their objectives,” said Stuart.

Stuart earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law. She and her husband live in Tallahassee with their two sons.

Breaking News From GOP Insider Brief

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President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that a top North Korean official is headed to New York for talks on an upcoming summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as diplomatic efforts also accelerated in Asia, The Associated Press reports. Trump said in a tweet that Kim Yong Chol — a former military intelligence chief and now a vice chairman of the North Korean ruling party’s central committee — was traveling to New York as part of ongoing meetings between the two countries to arrange the on-again, off-again summit on the future of North Korea’s nuclear weapons.

Blasting a Way into Crime or Just Clean Fun?

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Many children are drawn to using toy weapons in creative play and will spend the summer chasing siblings, yelling bang or exchanging the foam bullets of a Nerf gun with friends. But, does this behavior indicate a propensity for future violence?

In a recently published paper, Blasting A Way into Crime: Aggressive Play with Weapon Symbols and Its Implications for the Law, Christopher Ferguson, Ph. D., and Sven Smith, Ph. D., of Stetson University examined the relationship between weapon play and concurrent aggression, and later violent crime. The pair found toy weapon use to be an unlikely risk marker for criminal behavior.

Ferguson and Smith also examined the role of violent video games in the development of youth psychopathy and as a crime indicator in A Longitudinal Analysis of Shooter Games and Their Relationship with Conduct Disorder and Crime, concluding that the role of violent video games in the development of youth psychopathy is very little, if any.

In both studies, Ferguson and Smith examined survey data collected from the Bristol’s Children of the 90s longitudinal study which recruited pregnant mothers and gathered data from the moms at different stages of their children’s lives until the child reached 15.5 years old. 

Blasting a Way into Crime

Many scholars and policy makers are concerned that violent toy play will encourage aggressive behavior in a way that influences the public’s well-being. In the past, researchers agreed stating that children’s mere exposure to the use of weapons encourages deviant displays of aggression. However, there was little research in the past 20 years regarding weapon play as an indicator of violence. The research conducted by Ferguson and Smith was designed to determine if there was a link between play with toy weapons and criminal behavior, while controlling other factors that could encourage crime.

“In recent years, we have heard some people complain that boys playing with guns might contribute to what’s being called ‘toxic masculinity,’” said Ferguson, professor of psychology at Stetson. “Our analysis could not find evidence for this concern. It appears that playing with toy weapons, whether among boys and girls, is a fairly innocuous activity and is not associated with negative outcomes in kids long-term.”

Ferguson and Smith examined data collected from more than 2,000 mothers on the Children of the 90s study when children were age 3 and 15, for correlations between children’s play and criminality. While the initial analysis shows a significant relationship between toy weapon play and later criminality, when other variables were introduced that may account for this correlation — including gender, diagnosis of ADHD and diagnosis of depression — the relationship was noticeable reduced. The study found the relationship between toy gun use and later teen criminality was trivial in size and, therefore, not a risk marker for later criminology.

“Parents can probably feel a lot better letting their kids play with toy weapons if their kids are so inclined. This does not appear to be a risk factor for negative outcomes among kids,” added Ferguson. 

Shooter Games and Their Relationship with Conduct Disorder and Crime

As school shootings continue to devastate far too many communities, the media and law makers are often quick to point to violent video game play as a cause of violent behavior. For more than 30 years, there has been a concern among the public and lawmakers that violence depicted in video games may have an impact on violent behavior and delinquency in youth and young adults. Similarly, scholars have disagreed about whether violent video games impact behavior.

In this study, Ferguson and Smith examined Children of the 90s data to determine the impact of the shooter game genre use in childhood on later adolescent conduct disorder and criminal behavior. It compared violent video game use to later violent behavior, along with other variables that could impact behavior.

The research revealed that early childhood mental health symptoms at age 7 related to ADHD, depression and early conduct disorder predicted criminal behavior at age 15. Male gender also increased the likelihood of violent behavior at 15, but exposure to shooter games did not predict adolescent conduct disorder or criminal behavior at any statistically significant level.

“Our analysis adds to a growing body of literature that indicates shooter game play is not associated with violence or severe conduct problems among kids. If policy makers are serious about tackling issues of violence in society, they would be better suited to consider other issues that are more clearly linked to violence and conduct related outcomes,” said Ferguson.

Christopher Ferguson is a professor of psychology at Stetson University and co-author of Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong. He has clinical experience particularly in working with offender and juvenile justice populations as well as conducting evaluations for child protective services. In 2013, he was awarded a Distinguished Early Career Professional Award from Division 46 (media psychology and technology) of the American Psychological Association. In 2014, he was named a fellow of the American Psychological Association through Division 1 (General Psychology, effective January 2015). In addition to his academic work, he has published a historical mystery novel entitled Suicide Kings.

Sven Smith is a legal and an organizational sociologist and an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Stetson University. His life’s work incorporates thought from a variety of disciplines. He has worked at the think tank for the American Bar Association, the American Bar Foundation in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked as a lead researcher/supervisor on The American Jury Project, interpreting data from a set of videotaped, actual jury trial deliberations using social-psychology, sociology and legal theory. He is also an attorney and has extensive trial and appellate experience, trying cases and arguing appeals in the criminal, civil and administrative arenas.

UF Taps Proven Leader As its First Chief Diversity Officer

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The University of Florida has named Antonio Farias, currently vice president for equity and inclusion/Title IX officer at Wesleyan University, as its first chief diversity officer and senior advisor to the president.

Farias will assume the new post effective July 9. His annual salary will be $280,000.

In his new position, Farias, 52, will hold a cabinet-level spot while overseeing universitywide efforts to advance equity, diversity and inclusion, and establish a new standard of inclusive excellence. 

“I am thrilled that Antonio will be joining the University of Florida,” UF President Kent Fuchs said. “He has a strong track record and enjoys tremendous respect at a national level. We created this position because UF, like many other Southern universities, has a legacy that includes not always welcoming people of diverse backgrounds. This is a significant step in addressing the cultural changes that must continue to take place at the University of Florida. Antonio is well-equipped to tackle these challenges.” 

At Wesleyan, where he has worked since 2013, Farias has worked closely with the offices of Academic Affairs, Admissions, Student Affairs, and University Relations on issues of inclusion and equity as they relate to race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, political affiliation, and national origin in the areas of recruitment, admission, retention, hires, promotion, and fundraising. He has been responsible for maintaining proper university reporting procedures and policies as they pertain to federal and state laws. 

From 2005 to 2013, Farias was chief diversity officer for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where as the inaugural CDO, he helped develop a metrics-driven, leadership and values centered inclusion and diversity strategy for the academy that eventually shaped strategy for the 47,000-member organization. He also developed retention programs for faculty as well as students of color, first-generation students, women, LGBTQ, and students of various faith/non-faith backgrounds; implemented pre-orientation programs for first-generation and students of color; and conducted inclusion and diversity workshops throughout the Coast Guard leadership framework. Prior to that, he held positions at Mercy College, Hunter College and Colgate University, all in New York.

 “As a product of public education, and an educator who has been graced with seeing real lives impacted by educational opportunities, I’m deeply honored to have been selected as the inaugural CDO at a time when UF is poised to make the next great leap in excellence. My wife and I very much look forward to fully immersing ourselves in the Gainesville community and contributing to the Gator Good.”

Farias said he looks forward to meeting with UF student, faculty and staff and members of the Gainesville community soon after his arrival.

Farias holds a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature and a master’s degree in comparative ethnic studies, both from the University of California, Berkeley. He later earned a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from the University of California, Riverside.

Contact: Steve Orlando, 352-846-3903, [email protected]

University of Florida News Center http://www.news.ufl.edu| [email protected]| 352-846-3903

FDOT Palm Beach County Weekly Traffic Report for week of May 25, 2018 to June 1, 2018

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Palm Beach County traffic will be affected this week by ongoing construction projects and maintenance work, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials report. Weather permitting; closures will be in effect on I-95 and in other areas throughout Palm Beach County for construction activities.

For around-the-clock, real-time, I-95 traffic information, call 511. To view real-time video of I-95 in Palm Beach County, visit the Florida Department of Transportation’s Palm Beach SMART SunGuide Transportation Management Center (TMC) website at smartsunguide.com. FDOT and the SunGuide™ Partners provide these free services. For updated lane closure information, please refer to d4fdot.com. Follow us on Twitter at MyFDOT_SEFL.

Please note: There are no scheduled FDOT construction related lane closures for Monday, May 28, in observance of Memorial Day.

 

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

INTERSTATE 95

I-95 Interchange from Hillsboro Boulevard to SW 10th Street
Construction on this 1.5-mile project began Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, in the City of Deerfield Beach. Work consists of widening southbound I-95 to add an auxiliary lane from the Hillsboro Boulevard entrance ramp to the SW 10th Street exit ramp, widening the existing southbound I-95 exit ramp to SW 10th Street, addition of a free flow right turn lane to westbound SW 10th Street, widening of  westbound SW 10th Street to add an acceleration lane, utility relocation, milling and resurfacing, bridge widening, installation of barrier walls, curbs, sidewalks, guardrail, drainage, overhead signs, signing and pavement markings, signals, lighting, and retaining walls. This is the first of five interchange improvement projects throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties. The combined project cost for all five projects is an estimated $32.5 million. Work is being performed by Community Asphalt Corp. and is expected to be completed summer 2018.

Restrictions: The outside lanes of I-95 southbound, between Hillsboro Boulevard and SW 10th Street, will be closed, nightly, with the first lane closing at 9 p.m., the second lane closing 10 p.m. and the third lane, if needed, closing 12:30 a.m., until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Two lanes of westbound SW 10th Street will be closed, nightly, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. The north sidewalk on SW 10th Street, between SW 12th Avenue and SW Natura Boulevard, is closed completely through June 2018 for construction activities. Pedestrians will be detoured to the south sidewalk; signage is in place to assist.

Ramp Impacts: The I-95 southbound exit ramp to SW 10th Street will undergo a full closure, nightly, as needed, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Traffic will be detoured via Hillsboro Boulevard. For more information, please contact Andrea Pacini, Community Outreach Specialist, 561-214-3358. 

I-95 from south of SW 10th Street to south of Glades Road (95 Express 3B-1)
This 4.8-mile project will extend the High Occupancy Toll lanes from south of SW 10th Street to south of Glades Road in Broward and Palm Beach counties. The scope of work includes widening and converting the existing I-95 HOV Lanes to Managed Lanes which will result in two tolled Express Lanes in each direction; the number of General Use lanes will remain the same. Other activities include reconstruction of I-95 on the northbound and southbound approaches to the Hillsboro Canal bridges, milling and resurfacing of I-95, construction of northbound and southbound auxiliary lanes between Hillsboro Boulevard and Palmetto Park Road, and construction of a northbound auxiliary lane between the SW 10th Street entrance ramp and the Hillsboro Boulevard exit ramp. Other project improvements include: guardrail, barrier wall, attenuators, shoulder gutters, drainage, dredging of Hillsboro Canal, bridge widenings at Palmetto Park Road and Camino Real, bridge replacement at Hillsboro Canal, temporary and permanent retaining walls, noise wall construction, sign structures, portable traffic monitoring sites, toll gantry installation, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) installation, signing and pavement markings; Express Lane markers, lighting, ramp metering signals, utility relocation, and landscape relocation. Contract time for this $102 million project began Monday, July 10, 2017, with design activities currently underway. Construction began Monday, January 8, 2018. Work is being performed by Prince Contracting, LLC and is expected to be completed spring 2022.

Restrictions: I-95 will have two inside lanes closed in each direction nightly, as needed, between Hillsboro Boulevard and Camino Real, with the first lane closing at 9:30 p.m. and the second lane closing at 10:30 p.m., until 5:30 a.m., Tuesday through Thursday. For more information, please contact Andrea Pacini, Community Outreach Specialist, 561-214-3358. 

I-95 Interchange at Spanish River Boulevard
Construction on this 2.5-mile project began Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, in the City of Boca Raton. Work consists of constructing a new interchange at Spanish River Boulevard and I-95, widening Spanish River Boulevard west of FAU Boulevard, constructing 13 bridges between Spanish River Boulevard and Yamato Road, signalized intersection improvements and the addition of auxiliary lanes on Yamato Road, and sound wall construction along Yamato Road and on the east side of I-95 north of Yamato Road. The project costs an estimated $69 million. The work is being performed by Astaldi Construction Corporation and is expected to be completed spring 2018.

Restrictions:

Mainline impacts: I-95 northbound and southbound, between Glades Road and Congress Avenue, may have up to three lanes closed, as needed, nightly, with the first lane closing at 9 p.m., the second lane at 9:30 p.m., and the third lane, if needed, at 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. I–95 southbound, between Linton Boulevard and Congress Avenue, will have up to two lanes closed, as needed, nightly, with the first lane closing at 9 p.m., and the second lane at 9:30 p.m., and the third lane, if needed, at 11 p.m.

  • Ramp impacts:  All I-95 ramps to and from Spanish River Boulevard are open to traffic. The I-95 southbound exit ramp to Spanish River Boulevard will be closed nightly, as needed, 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Motorists will be detoured via the I-95 southbound exit to eastbound Yamato Road and NW 2nd Avenue. The I-95 northbound entrance ramp from Spanish River Boulevard will be closed nightly as needed, 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Traffic will be detoured via Technology Way and Yamato Road. The I-95 northbound entrance ramp from Yamato Road will be closed, 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Traffic will be detoured via Congress Avenue. The I-95 northbound exit ramp to Yamato Road will be closed, 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Traffic will be detoured via I-95 and Congress Avenue. The I-95 southbound exit ramp to Yamato Road will be closed, 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Traffic will be detoured via Glades Road. The I-95 southbound entrance ramp from eastbound Yamato Road will be closed, 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Traffic will be detoured via Congress Avenue. The I-95 southbound entrance ramp from westbound Yamato Road will be closed, 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Traffic will be detoured via Congress Avenue. The I-95 northbound exit ramp to Congress Avenue will be closed, 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Traffic will be detoured via I-95, Congress Avenue and Linton Boulevard. The I-95 southbound entrance ramp from Spanish River Boulevard, will be closed, 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Motorists will be detoured via Broken Sound Boulevard, Technology Way and the I-95 southbound entrance ramp from eastbound Yamato Road. The new I-95 northbound exit ramp to Spanish River Boulevard will be closed,10 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Traffic will be detoured via Yamato Road and NW 2nd Avenue. Please Note: The I-95 southbound entrance ramp from eastbound and westbound Yamato Road will not be closed at the same time. The I-95 northbound exit ramp to Yamato Road and Spanish River Boulevard, and the I-95 northbound exit ramp to Congress Avenue will not be closed at the same time.
  • Spanish River Boulevard impacts: Spanish River Boulevard, from Broken Sound Boulevard to Airport Road, will have one lane closed in each direction, daily, 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and nightly, 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning.
  • FAU Boulevard impacts: The northbound outside lane of FAU Boulevard, from south of PSI Drive to Spanish River Boulevard, will be closed, daily, 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
  • Yamato Road impacts: Yamato Road, from the southbound I-95 entrance ramp from eastbound Yamato Road, to the northbound I-95 exit ramp to eastbound Yamato Road, will have one lane closed in each direction, daily, 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane closed, nightly, 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning.
  • Airport Road impacts: Airport Road, from the intersection of Spanish River Boulevard to just north of the Reliable Jet Maintenance driveway, will undergo intermittent lane closures, as needed, daily, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
  • Trail impacts: The T-Rex Trail and the El Rio Trail, including the two newly constructed pedestrian underpasses under Yamato Road and the SFRTA/Tri-Rail railroad tracks, are open. For more information, please contact Andrea Pacini, Community Outreach Specialist, 561-214-3358.

I-95 Interchange Improvements at Woolbright Road
Construction on this 0.354-mile project began Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in the City of Boynton Beach. Work consists of widening Woolbright Road from SW 18th Street to SW 2nd Street, including roadway approaches and bridges over I-95 and the railroad tracks to provide dual eastbound left turn lanes onto northbound I-95, widening the I-95 northbound entrance ramp to receive the newly constructed dual eastbound left turn lanes, reconstructing the southbound exit ramp to provide free-flow right turn onto westbound Woolbright Road, retrofitting the railings on the Woolbright Road bridges over I-95 and the railroad to meet current criteria, and milling and resurfacing the entire width of Woolbright Road, and along the I-95 ramps within project limits. Other improvements include utility relocation, bridge construction, installation of barrier walls, curbs, sidewalks, guardrail, drainage, overhead signs, signing and pavement markings, signals, lighting, and retaining walls. This is the fourth of five interchange improvement projects throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties. The combined project cost for all five projects is an estimated $32.5 million. Work is being performed by Community Asphalt Corp. and is expected to be completed summer 2018.

Restrictions: I-95 southbound, between Boynton Beach Boulevard and West Atlantic Avenue, will be closed, nightly, with the first lane closing at 9 p.m., the second lane closing 10 p.m. and the third lane, if needed, closing 12:30 a.m., until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Woolbright Road, from SW 8th Street to SW 2nd Street, will have one lane closed in each direction, nightly, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. The north sidewalk on Woolbright Road, between SW 8th Street and SW 2nd Street, is closed completely through June for construction activities.  Pedestrians will detour to the south sidewalk; signage is in place to assist.

Ramp Impacts: The I-95 southbound exit ramp to Woolbright Road will be closed, nightly, as needed, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Traffic will be detoured via Boynton Beach Boulevard. The I-95 southbound entrance ramp from Woolbright Road will be closed, nightly, as needed, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Traffic will be detoured via Congress Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. The I-95 northbound entrance ramp from Woolbright Road will be closed, nightly, as needed, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Please note: The southbound I-95 exit ramp to and southbound I-95 entrance ramp from Woolbright Road will not be closed at the same time. For more information, please contact Andrea Pacini, Community Outreach Specialist, 561-214-3358. 

I-95 Interchange at Hypoluxo Road
Construction on this 0.5-mile project began Monday, June 22, 2015, in the Town of Lantana. Work consists of reconfiguring the existing Hypoluxo roadway approaches and bridges over I-95 and the CSX railroad tracks, constructing dual eastbound left turn lanes onto I-95, widening the existing southbound exit ramp to lengthen the turn lanes, retrofitting existing bridge railings to meet current criteria, utility relocation, and installation of barrier walls, curbs, sidewalks, drainage, overhead signs, signing and pavement markings, signals, lighting and retaining walls. This is the second of five interchange improvement projects throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties. The combined project cost for all five projects is an estimated $32.5 million. Work is being performed by Community Asphalt Corp. and is expected to be completed summer 2018.

Restrictions: The outside lanes of I-95 southbound, between Lantana Road and Hypoluxo Road, will be closed, nightly, with the first lane closing at 9 p.m., the second lane closing 10 p.m. and the third lane, if needed, closing 12:30 a.m., until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Hypoluxo Road, from Seacrest Boulevard to just west of the I-95 southbound exit ramp, will have two lanes closed in each direction, nightly, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. The north sidewalk of Hypoluxo Road, from Seacrest Boulevard to just west of I-95, is closed for construction activities; pedestrians will be detoured via the south sidewalk.

Ramp Impacts: The southbound I-95 exit ramp to Hypoluxo Road will undergo a full closure, nightly, as needed, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Traffic will be detoured via Lantana Road. The southbound I-95 entrance ramp from Hypoluxo Road will undergo a full closure, nightly, as needed, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Traffic will be detoured to Gateway Boulevard via Congress Avenue. For more information, please contact Andrea Pacini, Community Outreach Specialist, 561-214-3358. 

I-95 Interchange Improvements at 10th Avenue North
Construction on this 0.579-mile project began Monday, Nov. 2, 2015, in the City of Lake Worth. Work consists of widening 10th Avenue North, from Barnett Drive to “A” Street, including roadway approaches and bridges over I-95 and the railroad tracks to provide dual eastbound turn lanes onto I-95, widening the I-95 northbound entrance ramp to receive the newly constructed dual eastbound left turn lanes, and widening the existing three-lane I-95 southbound exit ramp to four lanes to provide dual left and dual right turns. Other improvements include utility relocation, bridge construction, installation of barrier walls, curbs, sidewalks, guardrail, drainage, overhead signs, signing and pavement markings, signals, lighting, and retaining walls. This is the third of five interchange improvement projects throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties. The combined project cost for all five projects is an estimated $32.5 million. Work is being performed by Community Asphalt Corp. and is expected to be completed summer 2018.

Restrictions: The inside lanes of I-95 northbound and southbound, between Forest Hill Boulevard and 6th Ave., will be closed, nightly, with the first lane closing at 9 p.m., the second lane closing 10 p.m. and the third lane, if needed, closing 12:30 a.m., until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. 10th Avenue North, from Barnett Drive to North A Street, will have two lanes closed in each direction, nightly, as needed (eastbound and westbound will not be closed at the same time), 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. As part of the widening of 10th Avenue North, the north sidewalk is closed through July 2018. Pedestrian traffic is detoured to the south sidewalk, with crossing guards providing assistance at Barnett Drive and North A Street during school hours; signage is in place to assist.

Ramp Impacts: The I-95 southbound entrance ramp from 10th Avenue North will undergo a full closure, nightly, as needed, Tuesday night through Friday morning. The I-95 southbound exit ramp to 10th Avenue North will undergo a full closure, nightly, as needed, Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Traffic will be detoured via Forest Hill Boulevard. The I-95 northbound exit ramp to 10th Avenue north will undergo a full closure, nightly, as needed, Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Traffic will be detoured via 6th Avenue North. The I-95 northbound entrance ramp from 10th Avenue north will undergo a full closure, nightly, as needed, Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June. Traffic will be detoured via Congress Avenue. Please note: The southbound ramps and the northbound ramps will not be closed at the same time. For more information, please contact Andrea Pacini, Community Outreach Specialist, 561-214-3358.

I-95 Interchange Improvements at Donald Ross Road
Construction on this 0.555-mile project began Sunday, Apr. 3, 2016, in the Town of Jupiter. Work consists of widening the I-95 northbound exit ramp and the I-95 southbound exit to accommodate a triple right turn and a triple left turn to eastbound Donald Ross Road, modifying lanes on Donald Ross Road to provide a triple left turn onto the I-95 southbound entrance ramp, widening the southbound entrance ramp to I-95 to accommodate the triple left turn from Donald Ross Road, and removing old asphalt and resurfacing existing pavement. Other improvements include utility relocation, installation of barrier walls, curbs, sidewalks, guardrail, drainage, overhead signs, signing and pavement markings, signals, lighting, and retaining walls. This is the fifth of five interchange improvement projects throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties. The combined project cost for all five projects is an estimated $32.5 million. Work is being performed by Community Asphalt Corp. and is expected to be completed summer 2018.

Restrictions: Donald Ross Road, from 54th Way North to Heights Boulevard, will have two lanes closed in each direction, nightly, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through June, with the first lane closing at 9 p.m. and the second lane closing 10 p.m.; traffic has been shifted to the outside to allow for median construction. The north sidewalk will be closed intermittently, as needed, for construction activities. Pedestrian traffic will be re-directed to the south sidewalk. For more information, please contact Andrea Pacini, Community Outreach Specialist, 561-214-3358.

I-95 Resurfacing from Indiantown Road (Exit 87) to Bridge Road (Exit 96)
Construction on this 9.838-mile project began Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in the Town of Jupiter and Martin County. Work consists of resurfacing I-95 from south of Indiantown Road (State Road 706) to north of Bridge Road (County Road 708), as well as the I-95 interchange ramps at Indiantown Road (Exit 87) and Bridge Road (Exit 96), and minor shoulder and guardrail repairs. The project costs an estimated $17.18 million. The work is being performed by Community Asphalt Corporation and is expected to be completed fall 2018.

Restrictions: I-95, from Indiantown Road to Bridge Road, may have two lanes closed in each direction, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Kathleen Dempsey at 772-359-5118.

 

SOUTHERN PALM BEACH COUNTY PROJECTS:

State Road 7, from the Broward/Palm Beach County Line to south of Glades Road
This 2.6-mile improvement project began Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, in Boca Raton. Work includes removing old asphalt and resurfacing the roadway, minor shoulder widening, upgrading drainage structures, upgrading pedestrian features including handrails, 10-foot sidewalks on the west side and 5-foot sidewalk on the east side, detectable warning surfaces at crosswalks, upgrading signalization, including pedestrian signals and detectors and vehicle video detection, upgrading signs and pavement markings to include a 7-foot bike lane in each direction, and upgrading lighting. The work is being performed by General Asphalt Corp., and is expected to be completed Spring 2019. The estimated construction cost is $6.8 million.

Restrictions: One lane in each direction of State Road 7 from the Broward/Palm Beach County Line to south of Glades Road will be closed Tuesday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for concrete, drainage, and sod placement. One southbound lane of SR 7 from SW Sandalfoot Boulevard to the Broward/Palm Beach County Line will be closed Tuesday through Friday between 4 a.m. and 3 p.m. for concrete operations.

Palmetto Park Road, from State Road 7 to NW 2nd Avenue
This 6.279-mile improvements project began Friday, Apr. 20, 2018, in Boca Raton. Work includes widening the existing shared-use path & installing new curb ramps to meet current ADA standards, improving pedestrian and bicyclist access to mass transit options along Palmetto Park Road, minor roadway resurfacing at various side streets, and widening the westbound turn lane at Cardinal Avenue’s entrance to the Boca Raton Museum of Art School. The work will take place on the south side of the roadway, parallel to the eastbound lanes, from State Road 7 to NW 12th Avenue, and on both sides of the roadway from NW 12th Avenue to NW 2nd Avenue. The work is being performed by General Asphalt Co., and is expected to be completed spring 2019. The estimated construction cost is $4 million.

Restrictions: The outside eastbound lane, between Lyons Road and Florida’s Turnpike, may be closed, around-the-clock, for pathway installation through June. This temporary permanent lane closure will allow pedestrians to pass through the work zone at any time; however, if there is ample Right-of-Way (land) to detour pedestrians along the side of the roadway, all travel lanes will remain open when possible. Work will be done in sections within this zone, with the location of the lane closure shifting slightly as needed. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Meredith Cruz at 561-641-6440.

Lyons Road, just south of Glades Road from Norte Lago to Pine Springs Drive
This 0.693-mile improvement project began Thursday, July 13, 2017, in Boca Raton. Work includes reconstruction of the three existing horizontal curves along the corridor, milling and resurfacing, drainage improvements, signing and pavement markings, sidewalk installation, curb ramp upgrades to meet ADA compliance, and the addition of a right turn lane from Lyons Road to Norte Lago in the southbound direction. The work is being performed by Weekley Asphalt Paving, Inc., and is expected to be completed late summer 2018. The estimated construction cost is $3.5 million.

Restrictions: One lane of traffic is permanently closed in each direction, around-the-clock, through summer 2018. The left turn lane from eastbound Norte Lago at The Cypresses to access northbound Lyons Road is currently closed through June due to weather delays. Motorists may turn right to access southbound Lyons Road, then U-turn just south at Boca Lago Boulevard to head northbound on Lyons Road. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Meredith Cruz at 561-641-6440.

Glades Road, from State Road 7/US 441 to State Road 5/US 1
This 7.3-mile Transportation System Management (TSM) project began Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Boca Raton. Work includes milling and resurfacing, guardrail, sidewalks, driveways, drainage improvements, arterial signage and fiber optic installation, pedestrian signals, mast arm signalization including temporary signalization, vehicle detection systems, lighting, and signing and pavement markings. The work is being performed by Weekley Asphalt Paving, Inc., and is expected to be completed fall 2018. The estimated construction cost is $3.5 million. 

Restrictions: West Boca Raton: The northbound inside lane, north and south of State Road 7 at Glades Road, is closed around-the-clock through June 2018. One eastbound and westbound outside lane of Glades Road, and one northbound outside lane of State Road 7, at the intersection, may be closed daily, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Glades Road and State Road 7 may have up to two lanes closed in each direction, nightly, 10 p.m. until 6 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning. Work near Florida Atlantic University/Within City of Boca Raton Limits: One northbound lane of the entrance to Florida Atlantic University at NW 13th St. (E. University Dr.) will be closed, 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., Thursday night, May 31. In conjunction with this closure, one left turn lane from eastbound Glades Road will also be closed. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Meredith Cruz at 561-641-6440.

Unrelated Permit closures at State Road 7/Glades Road—Restrictions: One lane of State Road 7, just north of Glades Road in Boca Raton, may be closed in each direction, around-the-clock, through Friday, June 1, for curb and pavement replacement.For more information, please contact Project Managers Filipe Oliveira at 561-945-2417 or Jorge Tavera at 954-651-1208.

Unrelated Permit Work—Restrictions: Glades Road, east of Lyons Road in Boca Raton, will have the outside eastbound lane and shoulder closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Tuesday, May 29, through Friday, June 15, for AT&T equipment installation. For more information, please contact Project Manager Latess Hill at 561-631-0663.

 

CENTRAL PALM BEACH COUNTY PROJECTS

Military Trail, from just south of Lake Worth Road to just south of Southern Boulevard
This 3.931-mile resurfacing project began Thursday, Mar. 30, 2017, in Lake Worth, the Village of Palm Springs, and the City of West Palm Beach. Work includes milling and resurfacing the roadway, drainage installation, signing and pavement markings, detectable warning devices and signalization improvements. The work is being performed by Ranger Construction Industries, Inc., and is expected to be completed summer 2018. The estimated construction cost is $8.5 million.

Restrictions: One lane of Military Trail may be closed in each direction, daily, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., with up to two lanes closed nightly, 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday, through summer 2018. Please note: Intersections within the project limits from Southern Boulevard to Lake Worth Road may have additional east/west intermittent lane and turn lane closures, nightly, 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., Tuesday night through Friday morning, through July, for paving operations. During this time, slight traffic shifts may be required. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Meredith Cruz at 561-641-6440.

Unrelated Permit Work—Restrictions: Military Trail, between Forest Hill Boulevard and Acacia Lane, in West Palm Beach, may have one southbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 15, for driveway construction. For more information, please contact Project Manager Ron Martin at 561-774-3774.

Southern Boulevard (SR 80) Bridges Replacement Project
This 0.76-mile project includes replacing the existing bascule (draw) bridge and tide relief bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway (ICWW) and Lake Worth Lagoon between the Town of Palm Beach and the City of West Palm Beach. The project limits are between Washington Road in West Palm Beach and State Road A1A/South Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach. New decorative lighting, pedestrian features, traffic signals, signage and drainage are included. A temporary bridge will be built north of the existing bridge to maintain traffic while the replacement bascule bridge is under construction. The work is being performed by Johnson Bros. Corp. Construction began April 3, 2017, and will last until early 2021. The estimated construction cost is $93 million.

Restrictions:

Southern Boulevard Causeway: The eastbound lane of the tide relief bridge will be closed from 9:30 p.m. Thursday, May 31, to 6 a.m. Friday, June 1. Flaggers will maintain two-way traffic in the westbound lane – one direction at a time – to allow exploratory drilling for the replacement bridge foundations.

Southern Boulevard: FPL Permit Work: The eastbound right-turn lane on Southern Boulevard between Washington Road and Flagler Drive will be closed daily from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. starting Tuesday, May 29, until Friday, June 29, as FPL performs utility work in the area. For more information, please contact Raul Zamparripa at 772-473-5150.

Marine Restrictions: The navigable Intracoastal Waterway (ICCW) through the Southern Boulevard Bridge will have half-channel closures from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday starting May 17, 2018. A double-span opening (full channel open) may be requested during those times if four-hour notice is provided by calling Project Superintendent Clay Bores at (407) 488-0738. During half-channel closures, the horizontal clearance through the bridge is 40 feet. The Southern Boulevard Bridge opens for marine traffic twice per hour at 15 minutes and 45 minutes past the hour. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Angel Streeter Gardner at 561-886-8773.

Flagler Memorial Bridge Replacement Project
This 0.66-mile Design/Build project includes replacing the existing bascule (draw) bridge with a new bascule bridge connecting the Town of Palm Beach and the City of West Palm Beach over the Lake Worth Lagoon and the Intracoastal Waterway (ICWW). The Flagler Drive overpass will be replaced with an “at-grade” intersection. New lighting, pedestrian features, traffic signals, drainage and landscaping are also included. The Design/Build team for this project is PCL Civil Constructers and Hardesty & Hanover. New Millennium Engineering, Inc. provides Construction Engineering and Inspection services on behalf of FDOT. Active construction began on Sept. 10, 2012 and will last until spring 2018. The estimated construction cost is $107 million.

Marine Restrictions: During presidential visits, the Flagler Memorial Bridge will open once an hour at the quarter hour between 2:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. on weekdays. The schedule of channel restrictions is published in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Local Notice to Mariners at navcen.uscg.gov. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Angel Streeter Gardner at 561-886-8773. 

State Road 80/Southern Boulevard, from Pike Road to Florida’s Turnpike northbound ramps
This 0.379-mile intersection improvement project, located in unincorporated Palm Beach County, began active construction on Thursday, May 17, 2018. Work consists of widening westbound Southern Boulevard (SR 80) to add 12-foot right-turn lanes and 7-foot buffered bike lanes at the Pike Road intersection and the northbound turnpike ramps intersection. Other improvements include milling and resurfacing, drainage improvements, sidewalk reconstruction, lighting, signage and pavement markings. The work is being performed by Weekley Asphalt Corp. and is expected to be complete in spring 2019. The estimated construction cost is $1.7 million. 

Restrictions: Southern Boulevard between Pike Road and Truck and Trailer Way may have westbound single-lane closures from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly between Tuesday, May 29, and Friday, June 1, for re-striping and placement of barrier wall. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Angel Streeter Gardner at 561-886-8773.

 

NORTHERN PALM BEACH COUNTY PROJECTS

State Road 710, from Australian Avenue to President Barack Obama Highway
This 0.819-mile widening project began Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, in the City of Riviera Beach. Work includes widening the existing roadway from two (2) to four (4) lanes, adding four (4) foot bike lanes and sidewalks, adding a new frontage road for residences, installing median, curb & gutter, and a perimeter wall (in 2 locations), drainage improvements, water and sewer improvements (funded by the City of Riviera Beach), and upgrades to signing and pavement markings, signalization, and lighting. The work is being performed by JW Cheatham, LLC, and is expected to be completed spring 2019. The estimated construction cost is $17.4 million.

Restrictions: President Barack Obama Highway at State Road 710 may have one lane closed in each direction, 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Australian Avenue at State Road 710 may have one lane closed in each direction, 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

Traffic has been shifted to one outside lane in each direction on the newly constructed eastbound and westbound roadways, so work can be completed in the median. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Meredith Cruz at 561-641-6440.

State Road 708/Blue Heron Boulevard at Avenue S
This 0.08-mile widening project began Monday, Mar. 12, 2018, in the City of Riviera Beach. Work includes milling and resurfacing the roadway, installing new sidewalk, driveways, signing and pavement markings, and upgrading signalization with pedestrian and vehicle detection devices. The work is being performed by Arc Electric, Inc., and is expected to be completed early fall 2018. The estimated construction cost is $853,000. 

Restrictions: One lane may be closed in each direction, daily, 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, through early fall 2018. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Meredith Cruz at 561-641-6440.

PGA Boulevard, from Avenue of the Champions (PGA National) to US 1/State Road 5
This 4.8-mile Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project began Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, in the City of Palm Beach Gardens. Work includes providing an Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) Adaptive Traffic Control System (ACTS) by replacing existing camera systems mounted on exiting traffic signal poles, adding cameras at 15 existing signalized intersections, providing four mid-block Microwave Vehicle Detection System (MVDS) on new poles, and adding an additional Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) connected to the Palm Beach County Traffic Management System. The work is being performed by Carr Construction, LLC, and is expected to be completed summer 2018. The estimated construction cost is $1.9 million.

Restrictions: PGA Boulevard, from Mirasol Drive to US 1, may have intermittent shoulder and/or outside lane closures, in each direction, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, through summer 2018. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Meredith Cruz at 561-641-6440.

US 1 Resurfacing, from south of Beach Road to north of County Line Road
This 1.4-mile lane reduction and resurfacing project began Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, in the Village of Tequesta. Work includes permanently eliminating the outside northbound and southbound lanes leaving two lanes in each direction, widening turn lanes, adding buffered bike lanes and patterned pavement crosswalks, milling and resurfacing the roadway, widening and replacing sidewalks, drainage and lighting improvements, pedestrian and mast arm signalization, vehicle detection systems, signage, and pavement marking upgrades. The work is being performed by J.W. Cheatham, LLC, and is expected to be completed fall 2018. The estimated construction cost is $3.2 million. 

Restrictions: The outside lane from Beach Road to County Line Road is permanently closed in each direction to widen sidewalks and add a buffered bike lane (per the project scope), leaving two lanes open to traffic in each direction. Tequesta Drive and Waterway Road at US 1 may have single intermittent lane closures in each direction, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, through June, for equipment staging and drilled shaft installations on the corners of the intersection. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Meredith Cruz at 561-641-6440.

 

WESTERN PALM BEACH COUNTY PROJECTS

State Road 80, from County Road 880 to east of Belle Glade
This 14.8-mile resurfacing project began Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, from County Road 880 to approximately four miles east of the City of Belle Glade at the US Sugar Railroad Crossing in western Palm Beach County. Work includes milling and resurfacing the roadway, installing rumble strips, thermoplastic pavement markings, and signage. The work is being performed by Ranger Construction Industries, Inc., and is expected to be completed fall 2018. The estimated construction cost is $14 million.

Restrictions: There are no lane closure restrictions for this project; the contractor may be on-site closing lanes at any time.However, the following lane closures can be expected: One lane may be closed in each direction, daily, 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., and nightly, 7 p.m. until 6 a.m., Tuesday through Friday, through fall 2018. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Meredith Cruz at 561-641-6440.

State Road 80/Southern Boulevard, from west of Lion Country Safari Road to Forest Hill Boulevard/Crestwood Boulevard
Construction on this 7.2-mile widening project will begin in summer 2018 in the Village of Royal Palm Beach, Village of Wellington and the Town of Loxahatchee Groves. Work includes widening the existing roadway from four to six lanes, adding a 12-foot shared-use pathway on the north side of the roadway, adding bike lanes, milling and resurfacing, drainage improvements, adding lighting and signalization, installing curb and gutter, guardrails, minor median modifications and signage and pavement markings. The work is being performed by Community Asphalt Corp. and is expected to be completed in summer 2021. The estimated construction cost is $33 million.

Restrictions: There are no lane closures at this time. For more information, please contact Community Outreach Specialist Angel Streeter Gardner at 561-886-8773.

 

MAINTENANCE, UTILITY, PERMIT & ADDITIONAL AGENCY PROJECTS

Restrictions: The I-95 southbound entrance ramp from Congress Avenue, in Boca Raton, will have one lane of the ramp closed, as well as the outside lane of I-95 southbound closed, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Tuesday night, May 29, for paving repairs. For more information, please contact Project Manager Paul Watt at 954-380-0895.

Restrictions: I-95 northbound, just south of Hypoluxo Road in Lantana, will have three inside lanes closed, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Wednesday night, May 30, for wall and paving repairs. For more information, please contact Project Manager Paul Watt at 954-380-0895.

Restrictions: I-95 northbound, from Hypoluxo Road to Lantana Road, in Lantana, will have three inside lanes closed, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., Thursday night, May 31, for paving repairs. For more information, please contact Project Manager Paul Watt at 954-380-0895.

Restrictions: I-95 southbound will have a pacing operation beginning just north of Indiantown Road in Jupiter to just north of PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens, 11 p.m. until 4 p.m., Wednesday night, June 6, and Thursday night, June 7, for crane relocation from the west side of the roadway to the median. Traffic will be slowed starting north of Indiantown Road by the Florida Highway Patrol to complete work during this timeframe. For more information, please contact Project Manager Paul Schwager at 561-719-2291. 

Restrictions: State Road 715 (NW 16th Street), from W. Canal Street to NW Avenue E, in Belle Glade, will have one southbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Monday, June 11, for FPL pole replacement operations. Once this work is completed, one northbound lane will be closed Monday, June 18, through Monday, June 25, for FPL pole replacement operations at W. Canal Street. For more information, please contact Project Manager Art Rodriguez at 561-475-0064.

Restrictions: Military Trail, just south of Cecil Drive in West Palm Beach, will have the northbound outside lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 8, for turn lane improvements. For more information, please contact Project Manager Dave Landon at 561-440-0301.

Restrictions: Indiantown Road, from Carver Avenue to Center Street, will have the westbound outside lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Tuesday, May 29, for curb and sidewalk improvements. For more information, please contact Project Manager Ernesto Lassus at 561-588-2027.

Restrictions: State Road 80/Southern Boulevard, from Florida’s Turnpike east to Tall Pines Road, will have one eastbound lane closed, daily, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., with two eastbound outside lanes closed, nightly, 9 p.m. until 4 a.m., Sunday night through Friday, through Friday, June 22, for FPL pole replacement operations. For more information, please contact Project Manager Art Rodriguez at 561-475-0064.

Restrictions: Lake Worth Road at Sherwood Forest Boulevard, in the City of Greenacres, will have the property’s dedicated turn lane and sidewalk closed, around-the-clock, through Friday, July 20, for construction activities related to the RaceTrac Market. For more information, please contact Project Manager Danielle Watkins at 954-610-5394.

Restrictions: Military Trail, from Woodstock Drive to Green Pine Boulevard, in West Palm Beach, will have the outside northbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 22, for turn lane installation. For more information, please contact Project Manager Claudia Mendez at 561-719-0113. 

Restrictions: State Road 7/US 441, at 130 St. S in Delray Beach, will have one southbound outside lane closed, 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 1, for FPL pole removal and replacement. Please note, sidewalk closures may be required, as needed. For more information, please contact Project Manager Marlon Font at 561-495-7662.

Restrictions: State Road 7 at Atlantic Avenue, in Delray Beach, will have the northbound outside lane and sidewalk closed, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Tuesday, July 31, for FPL pole replacement operations. In conjunction with this closure, Atlantic Avenue at State Road 7 will have the outside eastbound lane and sidewalk closed as well. For more information, please contact Project Manager Marlon Font at 561-495-7662. 

Restrictions: PGA Pass (parallel to PGA Boulevard), from Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue to Alternate A1A, will have the westbound outside lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 1, for driveway construction. For more information, please contact Project Manager Moe Moussavi at 561-722-1389. 

Restrictions: State Road A1A, between Linton Boulevard and Casuarina Road, in Delray Beach, may have one lane closed in each direction, intermittently, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, Aug. 17, for water main connections and roadway improvements. For more information, please contact Project Managers Mark Garret at 954-931-6564 or Frank De’Alessandro at 954-275-8336.

Restrictions: State Road A1A, from north of Pelican Lane to north of Thomas Street, in Delray Beach, may have intermittent lane closures in each direction, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, Sept. 21, for FPL pole replacement operations. For more information, please contact Project Manager Art Rodriguez at 561-475-0064.

Restrictions: State Road A1A, north of Ocean Avenue (1725 State Road A1A – 452 State Road A1A) in the Town of Manalapan, will have the northbound lane and shoulder closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 22, for FPL pole removal and replacement. Sidewalks may also be closed as needed, and flaggers will be on-site to direct traffic. For more information, please contact Project Managers Jon Woolverton at 469-919-8772 or Sandi Parisian at 954-321-8205.

Restrictions: Lake Avenue, eastbound, and Lucerne Avenue, westbound, at North J Street in Lake Worth, will have one lane closed in each direction, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 15, for water main installation.For more information, please contact Project Manager Evelyn Aleman at 305-820-8333 x-106.

Restrictions: Southern Boulevard, between Washington Road and S. Flagler Drive, in West Palm Beach, will have one outside eastbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 29, for pole and cable installation.For more information, please contact Project Manager Raul Zamparripa at 772-473-5150.

Restrictions: S. Federal Highway, between Eve Street and Fladell’s Way, in Delray Beach, may have one lane closed in each direction, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, July 20, for FPL pole replacement. For more information, please contact Project Manager Latess Hill at 561-631-0663.

Restrictions: Military Trail, between Forest Hill Boulevard and Acacia Lane, in West Palm Beach, may have one southbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 15, for driveway construction. For more information, please contact Project Manager Ron Martin at 561-774-3774.

Restrictions: Okeechobee Boulevard, between Suwanee Drive and Chillingworth Drive, in West Palm Beach, may have one outside westbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, June 4, through Tuesday, July 3, for AT&T duct installation. For more information, please contact Project Manager Felipe Santillan at 561-702-5696.

Restrictions: Lake Worth Road, just east of Nassau Road in Lake Worth, may have one westbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Tuesday, June 5, through Friday, June 22, for gutter replacement. For more information, please contact Project Manager Joe Whitten at 561-662-3201.

Restrictions: State Road 7, from Lake Worth Road to Old Hammock Way, in the Village of Wellington, may have one inside lane closed in each direction, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 22, for maintenance work, irrigation repairs, and tree pruning along the median. For more information, please contact Project Manager Brian Hopper at 561-654-6797.

Restrictions: State Road 7 at Aldi Way, in Royal Palm Beach, may have one lane closed in each direction, intermittently, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 1, for lighting installation. For more information, please contact Project Manager Sean Carr at 863-447-0321. 

Restrictions: State Road 80, at the Palm Beach County/Hendry County line, may have one eastbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, July 13, for FPL pole replacement. For more information, please contact Project Manager Art Rodriguez at 561-475-0064. 

Restrictions: Southern Boulevard at 103rd Avenue, in Royal Palm Beach, will have one outside lane closed in each direction, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, July 27, for mast arm replacement. For more information, please contact Project Manager Jake Ridinger at 772-340-7474. 

Restrictions: Southern Boulevard, from Benoist Farms Road to Cleary Road, in West Palm Beach, will have one eastbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., daily, with two outside eastbound lanes closed, nightly, 9 p.m. until 4 a.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 22, for FPL pole replacement operations. For more information, please contact Project Manager Art Rodriguez at 561-475-0064. 

Restrictions: One lane of State Road 7, just north of Glades Road in Boca Raton, will be closed in each direction, around-the-clock, through Friday, June 1, for curb and pavement replacement. For more information, please contact Project Managers Filipe Oliveira at 561-945-2417 or Jorge Tavera at 954-651-1208. 

Restrictions: State Road 811/Alternate A1A at RCA Boulevard, in Palm Beach Gardens, will have the inside northbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 22, for left turn lane extension to the south. For more information, please contact Project Manager Joe Whitten at 561-662-3201. 

Restrictions: Spanish River Boulevard at Federal Highway, in Boca Raton, will have the outside westbound lane and sidewalk closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Monday, June 25, for FPL pole replacement and maintenance. For more information, please contact Project Manager Jon Woolverton at 469-919-8772. 

Restrictions: State Road 715, from W. Canal Street to north of Avenue G, in the City of Pahokee, will have one southbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, August 10, for FPL pole removal and replacement. For more information, please contact Project Manager Art Rodriguez at 561-475-0064. 

Restrictions: Blue Heron Boulevard, from Congress Avenue to President Barack Obama Highway, may have the outside eastbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., daily, and 7 p.m. until 5 a.m., nightly, Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 22, for AT&T conduit installation. For more information, please contact Project Manager Antonio Defrietas at 787-363-0126. 

Restrictions: Forest Hill Boulevard, from Sherwood Forest Boulevard to Jog Road, in West Palm Beach and the Village of Palm Springs, will have the eastbound outside lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through May 2018, for FPL pole replacement. Sidewalks may be closed as needed, and flaggers will be on-site to direct traffic. For more information, please contact Project Managers Jon Woolverton at 469-919-8772 or Sandi Parisian at 954-321-8205. 

Restrictions: Indiantown Road, just east of Central Boulevard at Chasewood Plaza in the Town of Jupiter, will have the outside eastbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 15, for lighting, sidewalk, and landscaping installation. For more information, please contact Project Manager Chase Smith at 561-242-9770. 

Restrictions: US 1 at SE 8th Street, just north of Camino Real (Via Mizner Hotel) in Boca Raton, will have the outside northbound lane and sidewalk closed, around the clock, Monday through Friday, through Friday, Aug. 31, for watermain relocation. For more information, please contact Project Manager Mike MacDonald at 561-689-2910 x-171. 

Restrictions: US 1, from Ocean Avenue to Lantana Road, in Lantana, will have the outside northbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, June 15, for new driveway construction. For more information, please contact Project Manager Danielle Watkins at 954-610-5394.

Restrictions: US 1, from Golfview Road to Carolinda Drive, in North Palm Beach, will have the outside southbound lane closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Monday, May 28, for directional boring operations and utility installation. For more information, please contact Project Manager Raul Zamparripa at 772-473-5150.

Restrictions: State Road A1A, from Casuarina Road to Linton Boulevard, in Delray Beach, may have the outside northbound lane, bike lane, and/or sidewalk closed, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, July 27, for directional boring operations. For more information, please contact Project Manager Mark Garret at 954-931-6564.

Restrictions: Glades Road, east of Lyons Road in Boca Raton, will have the outside eastbound lane and shoulder closed, 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Tuesday, May 29, through Friday, June 15, for AT&T equipment installation. For more information, please contact Project Manager Latess Hill at 561-631-0663. 

Restrictions: East Camino Real Bridge Closure at Intracoastal Waterway, City of Boca Raton, through April 2019—The Bridge is closed for construction through mid-April of 2019. East Camino Real will be closed from the Royal Palm Way/Boca Raton Resort and Club Roundabout to Cocoanut Road. Traffic will be detoured via Federal Highway (US 1), S.E. Mizner Boulevard, East Palmetto Park Road, and South Ocean Boulevard (State Road A1A). Local traffic accessing Spanish River Road will be closed at East Camino Real. Local traffic will be able to access Spanish River Road via Cocoanut Road and Ponce De Leon Road. The Hurricane Evacuation Route will be Palmetto Park Road. For more information, please contact the Palm Beach County Traffic Division at 561-684-4030.

Changing Lives from the Inside: Shelter Dogs Cared for and Trained by Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Youth

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The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) recently began the TAILS (Teaching Animals and Inmates Life Skills) program at one of its juvenile residential commitment programs, the Duval Youth Academy in Jacksonville. The TAILS program began in 2015 as a collaborative effort bringing together prison inmates and hard-to-adopt shelter dogs. This January, three dogs were placed at the Duval Youth Academy to pilot the TAILS program in a juvenile setting.

Under the guidance of the TAILS Program Director Jen Deane, youth selected for the program were taught handling and dog training skills. The boys worked in teams of two with one dog assigned to each team. The dogs lived full-time at the facility for the duration of their training. Twice per week Ms. Deane, who is a certified professional dog trainer, gave instructions to the boys who then worked with the dogs throughout the week. “We’re fighting hate with love,” said TAILS Program Director Jen Deane.

Though carefully assessed for suitability for training and living in a commitment program, the dogs had problems of their own to overcome. The three dogs selected for the pilot were saved from abusive situations, with one of the animals having been locked in an outdoor shed with no food or water for days on end. In April, all three dogs graduated from the program and six young men earned certificates of completion in dog handling and basic dog training. “While this program helps to place dogs in loving homes, the impact it has goes much deeper; it teaches our kids patience and kindness for another living creature”, said DJJ Secretary Christina Daly.

Asked to describe what the TAILS program did for them, one pilot participant said that it saved his life. His dog was his friend and made it possible for him to manage his depression. Another participant said that it made him rethink how he’s been living his life and what impact his choices have had on his family. “We taught each other things that will help us, like confidence, love, compassion, and patience,” said K.T., a dog handler and trainer.

Two of the dogs trained at the Duval Youth Academy have found new homes while the third will await adoption at the rescue facility managed by Ms. Deane.

Florida Democrats Holding “I Will Vote” Weekend of Action

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Activists Are Participating in 38 Events in 23 Counties Across the State

With less than 100 days until the August 28th primary, Florida Democrats are coming together this Memorial Day weekend for an “I Will Vote” weekend of action, with U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and FDP hosting joint “Nelson’s Neighbors” events across the state.
The weekend of action marks a kick-off to a summer of activism, where Democrats are committed to registering thousands of Floridians to vote-by-mail, knocking on doors in all 67 counties, registering thousands of new voters and communicating in new ways about our candidates.

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Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission (CFCRC) Meeting May 31, 2018

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The Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission (CFCRC), the SunRail advisory board comprised of elected leaders from the five local funding partners, will meet Thursday, May 31, 2018 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Metroplan Orlando offices, located at 250 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 200, Orlando, Florida 32801.

This meeting site is conveniently located near the Church Street Station platforms. Please check SunRail arrival and departure times at sunrail.com.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator at [email protected].

Persons who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Roger Masten, c/o SunRail, 801 SunRail Drive, Sanford, FL  32771; or by phone at (321) 257-7161; or by email [email protected].

Questions? Please contact Steve Olson of the Florida Department of Transportation at [email protected] /386-943-5479.

Please be careful around trains, railroad crossings, and while at station platforms. Be smart. Be safe. For more information about SunRail, including fares, schedule and station locations, please visit www.sunrail.com.