West Palm Beach plans tidal valves and a $5 million Broadway redesign to address flooding and safety

Mayor Keith James told residents that the city is taking near-term and longer-term steps to reduce nuisance flooding and harden infrastructure against sea-level rise. He said the city is installing tidal valves at stormwater outfalls along the Lake Worth Lagoon and beginning drainage improvements in Roosevelt Estates. James said the city planned to install 18 tidal (brake/tilt) valves at an initial cost of $800,000 and that an additional 25 valves were planned at a further cost of $2,500,000. He described the valves as intended to “prevent seawater from backing up into drainage infrastructure, while still allowing the water to go out.” Context: West Palm Beach is on a low-lying lagoon and the mayor said the administration has been pursuing both short-term measures and longer-term resiliency work. The city also convened an expert panel after a cyanotoxin incident in the previous Memorial Day weekend and is implementing the panel’s recommendations for water system resilience. Broadway redesign: The mayor described a “Broadway reimagined” project intended to protect adjacent neighborhoods while maintaining vehicular capacity. He said the redesign would keep two lanes in each direction — consistent with FDOT requirements — and focus on pedestrian safety, trees, lighting and roadway improvements. Design work will be done in coordination with FDOT beginning in 2023, and the mayor said construction was expected to start in late 2024 or early 2025 on a $5,000,000 project. Rail crossings and quiet zones: James discussed safety at railroad crossings and said the city is partnering with Brightline, Palm Beach County and FDOT; he noted “it is a federal requirement” that gates be down near a train, and that Brightline’s northbound service and infrastructure improvements are a precondition for some quiet-zone work. He said Brightline’s work and associated improvements are expected to begin as Brightline expands service north, with the mayor giving “February 2023” as the target for such improvements to start. What was not decided or confirmed at the meeting: The mayor described planned valve installations, drainage work and a Broadway construction estimate, but no procurement contract or amended ordinance was presented for a vote at the meeting. Detailed construction schedules, permitting documents, grant awards and contractor selections were not provided. Next steps: The mayor said the city would seek grants and proceed with design and community communications; residents were told to expect updates as design work and grant applications proceed.