Yesterday, SAFE (Safety As FDOT Envisions) met with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and turned in the 6,845 A1A petitions that you and others had signed. Rick Chesser, Secretary of FDOT District IV, accepted the signed petitions on behalf of FDOT. He was very impressed about the number of petitions, and took notes as Judy explained the details of the petition drive.

     Mr. Chesser met with us (Judy Grillo, Charlie Bonfield, Al Weinstein, Anne Richmond, and Don Braverman) for an hour and was very candid with us about FDOT?s plan for making Sate Road A1A safer for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. We were very impressed with Rick's desire to build the safest road that he and his professional staff of engineers can.

     We left the meeting with renewed confidence in FDOT and its commitment to the same goals as SAFE.

     During the meeting, SAFE pointed out a sidewalk problem to FDOT that the City recommended plan did not address.

     Along the northern portion of the public beach, on the East side of State Road A1A, the sidewalk stops and pedestrian traffic is rerouted to the East side of a wall. The pavement on this walk way is substandard. About two weeks ago, Barbara McGee mentioned to me that she had tripped and fallen on this substandard walkway. She later called the City, the County, and FDOT; however, she could never find anyone who would admit that they were responsible for maintaining this walkway.

     At our meeting with FDOT, SAFE requested that FDOT bring this sidewalk up to standards as part of the widening project by simply extending the existing regulation sidewalk to the North. The City was deeded the property to the north of where the existing sidewalk ends and where SAFE recommends the sidewalk extension be built, many years ago, and there are no restrictions as to using this land for sidewalks and bicycle lanes. SAFE recommended that it should be used for both.

     After the meeting with FDOT, SAFE held a short Board Meeting and decided to ask Delray Beach again to meet with us. So far, the City of Delray Beach has refused to meet with SAFE to discuss the safety of motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

     The Chairman of our Executive Committee, Charlie Bonfield will be contacting the Mayor once again, requesting a meeting to discuss SAFE design for State Road A1A. We also will provide the City with copies of the petitions that we gave FDOT.

     SAFE believes that when the Delray Beach City Commissioners realize that the petitions reflect the true will of the majority of the people in Delray Beach and considers all the ped/bike crashes that have occurred in Delray Beach since it had sent its recommended plan to FDOT, it may change its mind about not having recommended a continuous sidewalk on the west side of State Road A1A from Bush to Litton, and a designated bicycle lane where R/W permits.

     FDOT will hold its next meeting with the City this coming Tuesday and hopes to complete its final design plan shortly thereafter.

     Mr. Chesser anticipates hosting a Civic Awareness Meeting in Delray Beach to explain all the details of FDOT?s final plan around the mid-February to the beginning of March period.

     That's it for now. Charlyne and I are expecting house guests later this afternoon, so you will not be hearing from me for a few days. If you happen to see a model ?T? cruising along State Road A1A or Atlantic Avenue that could be Tom & Gloria and Charlyne & I. Tom and Gloria are antique car buffs and they will be driving the ?T? up from Coal Gables to participate in a car show in Lake Worth on Saturday.

     I cannot end without thanking you enough for your help in the petition drive. The petitions could represent the tipping point in making State Road A1A in Delray Beach a safer road for years to come.

     One final request? I know that I told you in my last email that we had suspended the petition drive; however, we only need 155 more to reach 7,000. I would like to get to that level in case the Delray Beach City Commissioners agree to meet with us. Would you please fax me just a few more signed petitions. I've attached a blank petition form. The fax number is (561) 330-6798.

     Below are two newspaper stories from today's newspapers. The first is an article from the S-S about the FDOT/SAFE Meeting. The second is an article from the PBP about how the Palm Beach MPO Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenway Committee will be striving to raise the awareness of the health benefits of biking and walking.

Click Here for the A1A Pentition Drive Document.