Res 06-72 RESOLUTION NO. 6 - 72
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, REQUESTING THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OF THE STATE
OF FLORIDA TO BUDGET FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE CRITICALLY NEEDED PROPOSED SOUTH TWELFTH
STREET BRIDGE OVER THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY.
WHEREAS, the right of way has all been procured, and
the Coast Guard is holding hearings on the South Twelfth Street
Bridge in Dclray Beach, Florida; and
WHEREAS, the present Atlantic Avenue Bridge in Delray
Beach on State Road S-806 was opened in 1952 when the official
census for Delray Beach was 6,312; and
WHEREAS, the 1970 census for Delray Beach was 19,366,
estimated at present to be 21,500 and projected for 1975 to be
29,000, with 5,250 units in process as of December 31, 1971, to
which can be added facilities for 9,000 tourists which has
become a year round business; and
WHEREAS, this rapid growth in population has resulted
in more vehicle traffic over the 20-year-old Atlantic Avenue
Bridge which far exceeds the original design capacity; and
WHEREAS, the population growth all along the east
coast has created a large increase in boat traffic resulting
in more raisings and lowerings of the Atlantic Avenue bridge
for which the equipment was not designed thereby resulting in
breakdowns; and
WHEREAS, due to the low clearance of 14 feet for the
Atlantic Avenue Bridge, it is estimated that the bridge must
be raised for 50 per cent of the boats using the Intracoastal
Waterway; and
WHEREAS, during a recent period, the Atlantic Avenue
Bridge was opened for the passage of boats as many as 8 times
per hour and remained open for a period of 2.36 minutes
minimum to a maximum of 6.65 minutes; and
WHEREAS, the bridge was not useable by vehicles
numerous times as a result of breakdowns, which breakdowns
lasted for a period of'l to 4 hours; and
WHEREAS, at times when bridge was not useable, it would
take upwards of 45 minutes to detour and cross the 8th Street
bridge; and
WHEREAS, during times when bridge was not useable,
prompt and efficient fire, police, ambulance and other emer-
gency services for the citizens were not available to the
section of Delray Beach lying east of the Intracoastal Water-
way; and
Page 2. RESOLUTION NO. 6-72.
WHEREAS, the present traffic on S-806, also known as
Atlantic Avenue, in Delray Beach, is congested many times daily
with the stacking of traffic for bridge openings and breakdowns
and stacking of traffic for train crossing to such an extent
that north and south bound traffic on U. S. 1, in Delray Beach,
is impeded and sometimes blocked because of such stacking of
traffic; and
WHEREAS, the proposed South Twelfth Street Bridge in
Delray Beach will be of a maximum height which will necessitate
fewer openings for boat traffic and faster movement of vehicles;
and
WHEREAS, as a result of the fewer openings, the following
traffic will utilize the Twelfth Street Bridge in going to areas
east of the Intracoastal Water~ay, and thereby reduce the traffic
on Atlantic Avenue, namely:
(a) People using 1-95, whose destination is
east of the Intracoastal Waterway, will utilize the interchange
at 12th Street and avoid Atlantic Avenue traffic, traffic lights
and bridge openings and breakdowns.
(b) Most trucks and commercial vehicles would
utilize the South Twelfth Street Bridge for the resultant
savings in time as a result of avoiding the heavy traffic on
Atlantic Avenue and the uncertainty of bridge openings and
breakdowns.
(c) City garbage and trash trucks hauling to
the transfer station located south of 12th Street.
(d) The City's only snorkle fire engine which
is stationed on 12th Street with most high-rise buildings
being east of the waterway.
WHEREAS, the Town of Highland Beach with a population
in 1969 of 200 and today has 1,700 and has plans in process
for the construction of approximately 2,000 more living units
adds greatly to the Atlantic Avenue bridge congestion problem
and would use the new South Twelfth Street Bridge.
THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of Delray
Beach, Florida, that:
The Department of Transportation of the State of Florida
be advised of these matters to illustrate the necessity for
promptly moving forward by budgeting funds necessary for the
construction of the South Twelfth Street Bridge in Delray
Beach to help ease serious traffic problems with which the City
is confronted today and which will be getting worse with each
passing day.
PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on this 14th day
of February, 1972.
City Cle r~/~