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Our Town by William Kelly: New landscape hours aimed at easing traffic snarls

Landscapers will arrive and depart earlier from the island under new work hours set by the Town Council on Tuesday.

The council unanimously approved the change, which is intended to help alleviate traffic congestion during morning and afternoon/evening rush hours.

The new schedule takes effect today – Wednesday, November 13. Landscape companies are now permitted to operate between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Previously, permitted hours were 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during summer and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during winter.

Council members were uncertain of how residents will react. For that reason, the change is considered temporary and we will be revisited by the council at its December 10 meeting. Meanwhile, Town Manager Kirk Blouin was given discretion to revise or reverse the new hours if necessary.

Blouin expressed some optimism about the change, which is intended to allow landscapers to beat the morning traffic rush and get a head start on the afternoon/evening rush.

“It will help at least a little bit with the traffic, in the morning for sure,” Blouin said.

Councilwoman Bridget Moran agreed, saying, “I think this is probably moving in the right direction for the times that we are facing now.”

There are hundreds of landscape service trucks coming onto the island each day, according to Scott Lewis, owner of West Palm Beach-based Scott Lewis’ Landscaping.

“It will make a difference,” Lewis said of the new hours.

Councilman Ted Cooney said residents are increasingly frustrated with the congestion, which is forcing drivers to endure longer waiting periods while traffic sits still or crawls, especially from around 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays.

“Everyone’s at a boiling point as far as quality of life,” Cooney said. “I’ve had two residents tell me they’re thinking of selling their houses because they really don’t enjoy living here anymore. We need to act as quickly as possible.”

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