Palm Beach County Bags $4.4 Million USDOT Grant for Traffic Safety Upgrades Including Flashing Yellow Arrows

A $4.4 million funding boost for Palm Beach County’s traffic signal improvements, including the Flashing Yellow Arrow (FYA) system, was recently approved by the USDOT as part of its Safe Streets and Roads for All project. This funding will fund the implementation of FYA at 28 signalized intersections throughout Palm Beach County, per the announcement made yesterday and posted on the county’s official website.

Following its implementation for left turns in late 2019, the FYA was adopted as a county standard. Now, with the USDOT award, Palm Beach, which initially tested the FYA for left turns and, following an evaluation, integrated it into countywide standards for new traffic signal construction, can proceed with additional expansion, including pilot testing for right turns. The Flashing Yellow Arrow, which indicates that drivers should turn with caution, has a proven track record in Palm Beach. According to studies, the yellow flashing signal can lessen collisions involving both turning cars and pedestrians crossing the street.

Funds for a study aimed at defining future standards for FYA implementation are also included in the grant, which could have an impact on traffic planning outside of county boundaries. According to the county’s official release, Palm Beach County hopes to establish a precedent with these infrastructure enhancements and the related safety assessment, as 37 junctions now use the FYA system for left turns.

In Palm Beach, turning is permitted by a flashing yellow arrow, but vehicles must yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. As part of the USDA’s commitment in the region, this new traffic light attempts to improve pedestrian safety, traffic flow, and street safety. Drivers must be vigilant and adapt to the new system.

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