With Palm Beach County’s infrastructure sales tax expiring this year, officials are seeking public input on how to handle worsening traffic as the population surpasses 1.5 million. A yearlong transportation master plan, led by consulting firm WSP under a nearly $1 million county contract, has drawn input from more than 160 residents through public meetings. Surveys show most participants want more public transit and expanded roads, while bicycle lanes and sidewalks rank lowest in priority.
Rail services emerged as a key focus. Tri-Rail, the region’s public commuter system, faces a severe budget shortfall and could shut down by 2027 without new funding, even after moving a record 4.5 million passengers in 2024. Brightline, the private high-speed service connecting Miami and Orlando, carried 2.7 million riders last year but posted a $549 million loss, banking on real estate development around its stations to reach profitability. Meanwhile, residents in growing western communities like The Acreage cited limited road options as a major frustration, emphasizing the need for expansions such as the long-delayed State Road 7 extension to Northlake Boulevard.
Traffic technology was another recurring theme, with many calling for adaptive signal systems that respond to live traffic conditions. The county has begun implementing “smart light” projects along U.S. 1 and Okeechobee Boulevard, scheduled for completion in 2026. Yet residents remain skeptical about how large-scale improvements will be funded once the current tax expires. County commissioners may consider another voter referendum, possibly in November 2026, to raise the sales tax—currently 7% but set to drop to 6.5% next year following the expiration of the 2016 increase.
Across the eight meetings so far, the top transportation priorities by 2050 include more frequent trains (22%), additional and wider roads (26.5% combined), and expanded bus routes (11%). County officials will host one final public meeting on October 29 in Greenacres and continue to gather input online at PBCMoves.com as they finalize recommendations for commissioners by summer 2026.
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