Truck traffic getting attention

One of the biggest complaints from Wellington residents over the past few years has been traffic.

The village has nearly doubled in population in the past two decades, and despite having more open space than most other municipalities in the county, it has become a popular spot for businesses.

With new businesses comes commercial truck traffic, and residents have complained that it’s getting out of control.

That’s true especially in the winter season with horse trailers adding to the trucks on the road. “It gets a little hectic and a little bit bogged down,”Assistant Village Manager Jim Barnes said.

Some of that traffic needs to be on the road. Other than making sure they’re driving safely and everything is up to code, Wellington can’t do anything about trucks that Matt Morgan have destinations in the village.

But Barnes hopes to crack down on the trucks that are using Wellington’s roads to cut through to somewhere else.

This year the village council approved a budget that included money for a Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office commercial vehicle enforcement deputy. That person has the ability to pull over trucks just to make sure everything is up to code. They can ask if the person has business in Wellington and even follow them to their destination to make sure the driver is telling the truth.

“If they’re meeting all the requirements and regulations, they have nothing to worry about,” Barnes said, but added that if drivers know the deputies might pull them over, they may be a little more hesitant to go through the village if it’s not required.

Early returns show that the majority of truck drivers have business in Wellington, but others are cutting through.

Village officials also plan to have an expert look at the possibility of traffic-calming on some of the roads. This could mean speed bumps, rumble strips or other methods, but Barnes said it’s too early to say what, if anything, is on the table.

Problems have been exasperated lately with the construction on Forest Hill Boulevard. With reduced lanes, drivers are taking Binks Forest Drive and Big Blue Trace.

Workers are hustling to get those road construction projects done before the polo/horse jumping season starts and the traffic really picks up. Officials expect it to remain busy from both north and south village entrances through April, but they hope the extra enforcement will lighten the load.