A Palm Beach County transit agency is warning that the delay of a road expansion project due to a lawsuit alleging risks of environmental damage will cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
Valerie Neilson, executive director of the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency, told the Florida Record in an email that rising costs of labor and building supplies resulting from a civil lawsuit filed last year by the city of West Palm Beach will result in the State Road 7 extension project increasing in price by nearly $50 million
“The cost of labor and cost of supplies is increasing, as is the case for all transportation projects right now,” Neilson said. “The cost of the (SR 7) project has increased from $80 million to $127.1 million due to the delay.”
Other factors, however, will help to mitigate future road extension costs resulting from the lawsuit, which alleges that the project would degrade the Grassy Waters Preserve (GWP), a remnant of the Everglades owned by West Palm Beach that is a key source of drinking water, she said.
“(The) right of way was acquired several decades ago, so that cost is already taken care of,” Neilson said. “Additionally, the engineering portion of the project is complete, so it is ready to be built. If engineering needs to be revised to resolve either or both of the ongoing lawsuits, that could also add to the project cost.”
The SR 7 extension has been a priority for the county agency since 2004, and construction is now expected to start on a portion of the project in fiscal year 2028, she said.
West Palm Beach filed its lawsuit last March in the state’s 15th Judicial District.
“The storm water drainage from the road project will flow into GWP causing violations of state water quality standards,” the West Palm Beach lawsuit states. “Construction of the road will adversely impact wetlands and wetland-dependent species in GWP, including endangered and listed species such as the Everglades Snail Kite.”
The legal complaint also argues the location of the roadwork poses risks of contaminating the city’ drinking water supply as a result of possible chemical spills near the wetlands.
In addition, the county agency has engaged in procedural irregularities, failed to engage the public to obtain meaningful input about the project and taken steps that fly in the face of the West Palm Beach Comprehensive Plan.