Council backs State Road 7 extension, urges county and state to expedite project

The Palm Beach Gardens City Council on Oct. 9 passed Resolution 79‑2025, expressing the city’s support for immediate construction of the State Road 7 extension and calling on the South Florida Water Management District and Florida Department of Transportation to advance the project.

Council Member Kemp, who was unable to attend the meeting, submitted a written statement reiterating his long‑standing support and citing safety and infrastructure needs in the western portion of the city. Public commenters representing nearby improvement districts and long‑time local firefighters urged the council to support the extension for reasons of public safety, emergency response times and evacuation routes.

Richard Vasilotti, an Indian Trail Improvement District board supervisor and former Palm Beach County Fire Rescue member, said the extension would reduce response and transport times and provide another evacuation route; he told the council the project “will definitely save lives.” Elizabeth Accomando, board president of a neighboring improvement district, said the closure of a major corridor this summer illustrated how vulnerable the western road network can be and urged municipal support to move the long‑planned extension forward.

The council approved Resolution 79‑2025 by a 4‑0 vote and encouraged other Palm Beach County municipalities to adopt similar resolutions. Mayor and council members noted recent high‑impact traffic events and stressed the extension’s role in improving access for growing western neighborhoods.

Next steps: the city will share the resolution with the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Transportation and county officials and will notify neighboring municipalities of the council’s action.