Update: June 18, 2018 : A Win for Sea Turtles! There was a very good turnout at the Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting this morning. More than 30 speakers spoke on behalf of sea turtles and fiscal conservancy in opposition to the $7,000,000 lighting project. Speakers urged the MPO to withdraw the lighting project from the 2018-19 Transportation Improvement Plan, which they ultimately did by unanimous vote. Thanks to any of you who may have contacted MPO members on this.
YES to Turtles and NO to Decorative Lights
A turtle patrol monitor checking a turtle nest on Hutchinson Island at sunrise.
Sea turtles nest on dark beaches, leaving distinctive tracks that are visible to researchers the following morning.
The Guardians of Martin County recently sent a letter to the Martin Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) supporting FDOT’s June 13 recommendation that decorative lighting along 3.5 miles of State Road A1A be removed from the 2018-2019 Transportation Improvement Plan.
The Guardians oppose the decorative lighting component of the project due to the nearly $8 million start-up cost, the high annual maintenance costs, and the potential harm to sea turtles and other native species.
Read the letter HERE
Join us at the MPO Meeting and let your voice be heard!
Time: 9 AM
Location: Martin County Commission Chambers
2401 SE Monterey Road, Stuart, FL 34996
Phone: 772.221.1498Send an email now to MPO Board Members:
Sewall’s Point Mayor Vinny Barile, MPO Chairman vbarile@sewallspoint.org
Martin County Commissioner Ed Ciampi eciampi@martin.fl.us
Stuart City Commissioner Eula Clarke eclarke@ci.stuart.fl.us
Indiantown Representative Anthony Dowling adowling@indiantown.org
Martin County Commissioner Sarah Heard sheard@martin.fl.us
Martin County Commissioner Harold Jenkins hjenkins@martin.fl.us
Stuart City Commissioner Troy McDonald tmcdonald@ci.stuart.fl.us
Martin County Commissioner Doug Smith dsmith@martin.fl.us