Last Call!  MPO Photo Contest Ends Aug. 31

Grab your cameras, phones, and drones!

Professional and amateur photographers alike are encouraged to submit photos that may be used by the MPO for future transportation documents, and for the MPO website and social media. Top submissions will be recognized by the MPO Governing Board and included in a future issue of TRANSPORTATION MATTERS e-news updates. Photos are being solicited for all travel modes covering air, land and sea! Be sure to comply with contest rules to be eligible. Click for details.

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Walk to School Day and Vision Zero Webinar Aug. 30
Walk to School Day is Oct. 5

"How Cities are Growing Safe Walking and Biking Options" is the theme of the 20th anniversary of Walk to School Day. The day will be used to advance safe walking and biking to school and destinations throughout communities. Click for details including registration for the Aug. 30 webinar, information on planning and registering Walk to School Day events for Oct. 5, and to receive updates from Safe Routes to Schools.

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National Recreation and Water Trails Webinar Sep. 8

American Trails invites all to register for a free webinar, "Understanding the National Recreation Trails Program and the National Water Trails System," to find out how your local trail efforts can shine in the national spotlight. Click for details.  The webinar is presented by the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Florida Office of Greenways & Trails.

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Share Your Online Comments About Transit Research by Sep. 8

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is seeking online comments by Sep. 8 as input for a five-year research strategic plan that will set the stage for the types of research FTA should support to improve public transportation. Click to read more.  

8th Annual Regional Climate Leadership Summit Oct. 5-6

The Palm Beach County Convention Center will be the site of an annual summit for climate change leaders preparing for a sustainable southeast Florida. The summit will focus on real stories of real success in communities, business and political sectors, examining the environmental, economic and direct consequences of climate change. In addition to addressing management strategies, participants will update the Regional Climate Action Plan. Click for summit details. 

Thank you to Royal Palm Beach Vice Mayor Jeff Hmara, an Alternate representative to the MPO Governing Board, for the invitation to have MPO Executive Director Nick Uhren present a program for the Royal Palm Rotary Club meeting of Aug. 11. The MPO welcomes opportunities to speak to civic organizations, neighborhood associations and similar groups in our communities.
 

"Innovations in Accessible Mobility" is a new grant opportunity intended to support program innovations and approaches that increase accessible transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities, and to maximize the utilization of Section 5310 and other federal funding investments. Click for information.

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Big Jump Project
Grant Applications Due: Oct. 28

Applications are due Oct. 28 for the Big Jump Project, a new effort by People For Bikes. The project hopes to identify 10 great places where community leaders have ambitious plans to create safe and comfortable places to ride bikes, and are eager to benchmark and monitor increases in biking for healthier people and better communities. Click to read more.

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$5 Million Knight Cities Challenge
Grant Applications Due: Nov. 3

What's your best idea to make cities more successful? The Knight Cities Challenge has a pool of $5 million from which they will award grants for innovative and effective ideas in 26 eligible communities including Palm Beach County. Applications will be accepted from Oct. 10 until Nov. 3 at noon ET, and don't have to include fully prepared plans. The Knight Cities website highlights the diversity of creative ideas from past grant recipients. The challenge is for innovative ideas and plans to make communities at the city, neighborhood or block level, more vibrant places to live and work. Ideas should focus on one or more of the key drivers of city success: attracting and keeping talent, expanding economic opportunity, and creating a culture of civic engagement. Learn more at this Knight Blog post. For questions about the challenge, join Knight foundation staff members for virtual office hours or in-person events. The schedule, which is regularly updated, can be accessed here.     
 

45th St. / I-95 Interchange - West Palm Beach
Tuesday, Sep. 13 
Open House at 5:30 PM - Presentation at 6:00 PM
Location: Homewood Suites, 2455 Metrocentre Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33407 

The Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) is holding a kickoff meeting to inform the public of the start of a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study for the I-95 interchange at 45th St. The purpose of the project is to reduce traffic congestion and enhance safety. Click for flyer.  

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US One / Federal Hwy. Bridge - Jupiter
Tuesday, Sep. 20
Open House at 5:30 PM - Presentation at 6:00 PM
Location: Jupiter Community Center, 200 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458

The Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) is holding an Alternatives Public Workshop for the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate bridge replacement alternatives that will resolve the structurally deficient conditions of the existing bridge and enhance multimodal mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists. Plans will be on display during the open house, and staff will be available to answer questions. A formal presentation will present the alternatives developed at this point in the study, and offer members of the public an opportunity to comment. Click for meeting flyer. For more information on the project, go to the project website at www.JupiterUS1bridge.com. 

Access online agendas, backup materials, presentations, minutes and audio recordings of past meetings of the MPO Governing Board, MPO advisory committees, and the Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board: PalmBeachMPO/meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to attend all meetings of the MPO Governing Board and its advisory committees and ad hoc committees.  Public Notice:  Please be advised that one or more members of the MPO Governing Board or any of its advisory committees may attend any of the following meetings.

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Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Team - Final Meeting
Mon. Sep. 19, 3:00 PM
Location: Palm Beach MPO, 2300 N. Jog Rd., 4th Floor Conf. Rm.#4E-12,West Palm Beach, FL 33411
The purpose of this final meeting will be to discuss countermeasures for the types of accidents experienced at previously identified hot spot locations and corridors.  
Click to review the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Study map. 
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Complete Streets Meeting
Wed. Sep. 21, 2:00 PM
Location: Palm Beach MPO, 2300 N. Jog Rd., 4th Floor Conf. Rm.#4E-12,West Palm Beach, FL 33411
The purpose of this 
Click for more information on complete streets.
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September MPO Board and Committee Meetings

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Complete calendar of all MPO meetings, events and related community activities:
PalmBeachMPO.org/calendar

• Transportation Statistics - There's an App for That! 
  The Pocket Guide to Transportation is an annual compilation of statistics that provides key information and highlights major trends for the U.S. transportation system. It is intended to make transportation statistics readily available to the public. Curious about the most congested urban areas or the busiest Amtrak stations? Now there's a smartphone app for the Pocket Guide. Click for information on the new app.

• Public Notices for FDOT District 4
  Click here for public notices for District 4 which includes the following counties: Palm Beach, Broward, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River
   
• Map of FDOT Construction Projects in Palm Beach County
  Click here for the interactive map. Click on traffic cone icons for project names and information.

Multiple roadway closures are anticipated in upcoming weeks due to All Aboard Florida rail construction, with most lasting four or five days. Upcoming closures include Glades Road, Palmetto Park Road and Spanish River Blvd. in Boca Raton; and Boynton Beach Blvd./ E. Ocean Ave. in Boynton Beach. Click for current information on FEC grade crossing closures. For more information including an interactive map of all Palm Beach County grade crossings along the FEC corridor, click here. Construction continues on all three of All Aboard Florida's south Florida train stations including the West Palm Beach station where Brightline service is scheduled to begin in 2017.