Deadline is Friday for public comment on Flagler Memorial Bridge's temporary operating schedule

Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Daily News
·2 min read
The Coast Guard has temporarily altered the operating schedule for the Flagler Memorial Bridge, one of three spans across the Intracoastal Waterway that connect Palm Beach and West Palm Beach
The Coast Guard has temporarily altered the operating schedule for the Flagler Memorial Bridge, one of three spans across the Intracoastal Waterway that connect Palm Beach and West Palm Beach

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking comment from the public about a temporary change in the operating schedule for the Flagler Memorial Bridge, but the deadline is fast approaching to provide it.

Those wishing to share input about the alternate schedule, in which the Coast Guard has reduced the number of bridge openings from two per hour, to one per hour on weekdays between 7:30 and 9 a.m. and 4 and 6 p.m., have until Friday to do so.

Comments can be submitted through the Federal Decision Making Portal at www.regulations.gov/commenton/USCG-2023-0601-0001.

Related: As painting project begins, motorists can expect periodic lane closures on Royal Park Bridge

In July, the Coast Guard announced it would temporarily alter the Flagler Memorial Bridge's operating schedule following a request from the Town of Palm Beach and communities surrounding the bridge.

Those communities expressed concern about traffic gridlock in the area.

Through Jan. 22, the bridge will open on the quarter hour during the morning and evening rush hour commutes.

For the remainder of the day and on weekends and federal holidays, the bridge will assume its regular operating schedule of opening on the quarter hour and three-quarter hour.

Town officials are encouraging the public to submit comments to the Coast Guard about the bridge's temporary operating schedule.

"I’m sure we have all experienced traffic gridlock within [the] town and have noticed the extent congestion can be magnified during the morning and afternoon school commute when the Flagler Memorial Bridge goes up," Mayor Danielle Moore wrote in a letter to Palm Beach Public School Principal Christie Schwab that was shared with parents.

"We appreciate the Coast Guard’s willingness to test this reduced opening schedule in order to study the effects on traffic congestion on both sides of the Flagler Memorial Bridge.

"Please share this message with PB Public School’s entire community so families, faculty and staff can submit a comment to the Coast Guard’s public comment portal. Everyone’s input can serve a vital role in the future of Palm Beach’s ease of transportation and mobility, especially when it comes to the daily school commute."

The Flagler Memorial Bridge is one of three bridges that connect West Palm Beach to Palm Beach. The others are the Royal Park Bridge and the Southern Boulevard Bridge.

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Deadline is Friday for public comment on Flagler Bridge's operating schedule