The Construction Section constructs new intersection signal installations under Palm Beach County's jurisdiction. This includes setting poles, wires (span & messenger), vehicle signals, pedestrian signals, and vehicle detection loops associated with intersections. They install and maintain street lights at signalized intersections. They repair signal equipment at intersections damaged by vehicular accidents, and replace signalized intersections as part of the ongoing preventative maintenance program. They install fiber optic cable, conduit and pull boxes.

The Striping Section: installs and maintains all pavement markings and delineators on Palm Beach County maintained roads. They install the markings for all signalized intersections, school zones, and temporary markings on newly paved roads.

The Sign Section manufactures, installs and maintains the traffic signs for all roadways under the jurisdiction of Palm Beach County. They manufacture signs for other County departments and water management districts. They perform ongoing preventative maintenance sign program on all major County arterial roadways.

The Special Projects Section is responsible for researching and preparing reports for legal requests and other special requests. This section is also responsible for the management and coordination of the Street Lighting, Intersection Improvement, Roadside Vendor and Right-of-Way Obstruction Programs.

The Traffic Data Analysis Section conducts engineering studies in relation to the movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on Palm Beach County roads, maintains semi-annual counts for West Palm Beach Urban Area Transportation Studies, develops data used for the "Traffic Performance Standards" Ordinance (# 90-7), and supplies engineering assistance to municipalities upon request. They investigate traffic complaints related to signing and other traffic complaints such as sight obstructions, etc., and take the action necessary to bring these complaints up to prescribed standards. Also, the coordination of the Annual Pathway Program and the Traffic Calming Program is performed by this Section.

The Development Review Section is responsible for the review of Subdivision, Planned Unit Development, and Concurrency Application plans to ensure compliance with all applicable codes and standards. This section is also charged with the administration and interpretation of the Countywide Traffic Performance Standards Code and assisting with the Fair Share Impact Fee Ordinance. With the inclusion of Countywide Traffic Performance Standards in municipalities, the section reviews traffic impacts studies for development in the incorporated area. In addition, this section assists the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council in reviewing Developments of Regional Impact and the Florida Department of Transportation in the determination of roadway jurisdiction throughout the County. Comprehensive Planning issues related to traffic an the Thoroughfare Right-of-Way Protection Map are coordinated by this section through the Planning Division. This section works with the Data Analysis Section in developing the semi-annual Traffic Count Map for use in administrating Traffic Performance Standards. Advise on the effect of Traffic Performance Standards on the possible developments is provided to developers, realtors and appraisers.

The Traffic Accident Records Section is responsible for collecting, coordinating and analyzing all traffic accident reports and records for all law enforcement agencies in Palm Beach County. This includes all municipal police departments, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The sections maintains a computer data base for use by the Traffic Engineering Division, Law enforcement agencies, and private agencies in the investigative and insurance industries.

The Striping and Sign Design Section is responsible for the engineer-ing, design, production, coordination and inspection of all pavement marking and signing plans and projects. This section also reviews all pavement marking and signing plans submitted to the County by consultant engineering firms, and provides geometric plan design review and comments.

The Signal Design Section is responsible for the design, engineering, construction coordination and field inspection of all traffic signal installations maintained by the County. It is responsible for continuously monitoring and updating traffic signal timing and system coordination for more than 900 traffic signal devices and over 70 coordinated signal systems. It also maintains updated signalization plans for all signalized intersections under County jurisdiction.

Palm Beach County has an Annual Street Lighting Program to install lighting along the major roadways located within the unincorporated boundaries. Only Thoroughfare roadways with four or more lanes will be considered for street lighting under this program. Within municipal limits, contact the appropriate municipality with you request.

Street lighting outages - Florida Power and Light maintains 95% of the unincorporated Palm Beach County street lights. For major roadway call 1-800-927-5431. For residential streets call 561-687-8000 or access their web page at http:www.fpl.com to report outages.

Right-of-Way Obstruction Programs

The Florida Department of Transportation has developed and published minimum standards for construction and maintenance of public highways. Part of those standards require that roadsides remain free of obstruction in the event a motorist needs to leave the roadway to avoid an accident or hazard and to provide adequate sight distance for traffic control devices and vehicles entering the roadway. Any installation of landscaping materials in the County rights-of-way requires a permit from the Land Development Division. Hazards which are deemed capable of causing serious injury (i.e. blocking a traffic control device) are removed as soon as possible without regard to notice time limits. Once informed and investigated by staff, all others are removed by County forces, after proper notification.

Roadside Vendor

The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has determined that it is in the best interest of the citizens of Palm Beach County to allow for the regulated sales of specific products (flowers, food, produce and plants only) on County rights-of-way within the unincorporated areas of the County. All such sales are regulated by the Roadside Vendors Ordinance. The Roadside Vendor Ordinance allows the Traffic Division to issue a permit for a specific location that meets all the requirements of the Ordinance. The permit allows vending on County right-of-way during day light hours. A Roadside Vendor Ordinance can be mailed upon request by contacting the Traffic Division at 561-684-4030.

Note: The Zoning Division regulates vending on private property through their Special Permit Section.
Call 561-233-5200 for more information.

Annual Pathway Program

The Annual Pathway program is intended to retrofit pathway on existing County roadway. The primary emphasis of the program is to provide access to schools and parks.

Traffic Calming Program

The Traffic Calming Program is intended to slow motor vehicles through the installation of geometric changes to the roadway. The primary geometric change used is speed humps. Speed humps, unlike the shorter speed bumps sometimes found in private parking lots, are longer (generally 22 to 40 feet long) changes in the elevation. Their installation is limited to non-thoroughfare roadway which meet minimum requirements for both the number of vehicles and the percentage of vehicle exceeding the speed limit.

Urban Traffic Control System (UTCS)

The Urban Traffic Control System provides control for 450 of the traffic signals operated in Palm Beach County. The system allows signal timing to be changed remotely to address change traffic flow conditions.