Betty Argue

The Acreage community has been waiting over 30 years for the promised Seminole Pratt Whitney Road extension, a critical project intended to improve traffic flow and safety. Despite this longstanding commitment, it remains unfulfilled, leaving us with worsening conditions and unmet promises.

This extension should have been prioritized before initiating the construction on Northlake Blvd., which has left residents without viable alternative routes during construction. Despite progress such as right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions on the Mecca property and the turnover of the railroad crossing to Avenir CDD—an agreement that was not in the best interests of our area—the project remains deprioritized. The absence of this extension has directly contributed to the traffic nightmares we face today. I implore all of you to prioritize this road and build it today, not 20 years from now.

The construction on Northlake Blvd. has brought daily standstills, dangerous road closures, and tragic consequences. Residents of the Acreage, Westlake, Avenir, Bayhill, and IBIS (to name a few communities) endure gridlocked traffic that has caused fatalities, serious injuries, and reckless cut-through driving on ITID residential roads. This not only endangers our families but also deteriorates the quality of life in our community.

Regarding 60th Street, the County's current plan with Minto proposes the developer building the road between Seminole Pratt and 140th Avenue. However, there are no plans to improve the eastern portion of 60th Street beyond 140th Avenue or to protect ITID residential roads from spillover traffic. Currently, SR7 is channeling traffic through our community via 60th Street, Royal Palm Beach Blvd., and Coconut Blvd.—a route that previous studies had already dismissed as a viable alternative for SR7. Despite this, the traffic persists and is set to worsen significantly once 60th Street is connected to 140th Avenue. Additionally, the County has met with developers and municipal stakeholders, but ITID residents and representatives have been excluded from these critical discussions. Without these considerations, the safety and quality of life for Acreage residents will continue to decline. I urge you to reject this plan until State Road 7 is finally connected to Northlake Blvd., and 60th Street (east of 140th Avenue) is properly designed to mitigate cut-through traffic on ITID residential roads.

Another serious concern is the alignment of Avenir's entrance with 140th Avenue, yet another ITID residential road. This design risks funneling thousands of vehicles daily into our community. What measures are being taken to prevent this? I doubt any of you would support a road funneling such high traffic volumes through your own neighborhoods.

Despite collecting substantial tax revenue from this area, the County has failed to address these urgent issues. Development traffic studies repeatedly warned of these impacts, and residents have consistently voiced their concerns, yet meaningful action remains absent. Surrounding municipalities show little regard for the effects their developments have on our community. Who is advocating for the Acreage and ITID? Who will stand up for our safety and quality of life?

It is unacceptable to treat ITID residential roads as a band-aid for these traffic issues. The County must immediately prioritize sustainable solutions that protect our community. We deserve reasonable commute times, safe roads, and a preserved quality of life.

I am ready to meet and collaborate on actionable solutions. I urge you to stand with the Acreage community and Indian Trail in addressing these pressing concerns and prioritizing the safety and well-being of our residents. I look forward to hearing from you.