Editing Lake Worth Beach, Florida (section)

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===

[[File:Lake_Worth_Station_-_June_2018.jpg|thumb|Lake Worth Tri-Rail Station.]]
[[Interstate 95]] runs north-to-south along the west side of the city, with two ramps in Lake Worth Beach, one at 10th Avenue North and the other at 6th Avenue South.<ref name="atlas p. 81">{{cite web|url= http://discover.pbcgov.org/engineering/Atlas/MapPages/pg81.pdf|title=Roadway Atlas (Page 81)|publisher=Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works|access-date=November 9, 2021}}</ref><ref name="atlas p. 91">{{cite web|url= http://discover.pbcgov.org/engineering/Atlas/MapPages/pg91.pdf|title=Roadway Atlas (Page 91)|publisher=Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works|access-date=November 9, 2021}}</ref> Several highways traverse the city. [[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|U.S. Route 1]] ([[Dixie Highway (Broward–Palm Beach)|Dixie Highway]]) and state roads [[Florida State Road 5|5 (North Federal Highway)]] and [[Florida State Road A1A|A1A]] run north-to-south in Lake Worth Beach,<ref name="atlas p. 82">{{cite web|url= http://discover.pbcgov.org/engineering/Atlas/MapPages/pg82.pdf|title=Roadway Atlas (Page 82)|publisher=Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works|access-date=November 9, 2021}}</ref> while [[Florida State Road 802|State Road 802]] (Lake Worth Road, Lake Avenue, and Lucerne Avenue) runs east-to-west.<ref name="atlas p. 81"/><ref name="atlas p. 82"/> The Robert A. Harris Bridge, constructed in 1973, links Lake Worth Beach to its municipal beach section, crossing the [[Intracoastal Waterway]] ([[Lake Worth Lagoon]]) at State Road 802.<ref name="timeline1940-2013"/> [[Palm Beach International Airport]] is the nearest commercial airport, located in neighboring West Palm Beach, while the public-use [[Palm Beach County Park Airport]] is situated just southwest of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fdot.gov/aviation/facilitymap.shtm#1640218031521|title=Florida's Public Airports|publisher=[[Florida Department of Transportation]]|accessdate=December 22, 2021}}</ref>

The [[Tri-Rail]] commuter rail system serves the city at the [[Lake Worth Beach station]], which opened in 1989. Tri-Rail connects Lake Worth Beach to other cities in eastern Palm Beach County and to Broward and Miami-Dade counties.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85415132/the-palm-beach-post/|title=Tri-Rail is 'refreshing alternative'|date=January 7, 1989|page=14A|author=Amy Driscoll|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref> It is also served by [[PalmTran]] buses. This includes Route 1, which runs northward and southward along Dixie Highway;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tripplan.palmtran.org/img/pdf/1.pdf|title=Palm Beach Gardens to Boca Raton via U.S. 1 &ndash; Route 1|publisher=Palm Beach County Government|date=September 2021|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref> Route 61, which runs along 10th Avenue North to Dixie Highway to Lucerne Avenue and reaches [[Palm Beach State College]] before reversing its course (going eastward along Lake Avenue);<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tripplan.palmtran.org/img/pdf/61.pdf|title=Greenacres to Lake Worth via Cresthaven/10th Ave N &ndash; Route 61|publisher=Palm Beach County Government|date=September 2021|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref> Route 62, which runs eastward along Lake Worth Road and Lake Avenue to the municipal beach and then reverses course along Lucerne Avenue;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tripplan.palmtran.org/img/pdf/62.pdf|title=Wellington to Lake Worth Beach via Lake Worth &ndash; Route 62|publisher=Palm Beach County Government|date=September 2021|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref> and Route 64, which runs eastward along 6th Avenue South to Dixie Highway, then southward to 12th Avenue South, and finally southward along Barton Road and Andrew Redding Road before reversing course at the Lantana Lake Worth Health Center in Lantana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tripplan.palmtran.org/img/pdf/64.pdf|title=Greenacres to Lantana via Melaleuca/6th Ave S &ndash; Route 64|publisher=Palm Beach County Government|date=September 2021|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref>

===Emergency services===

Lake Worth Beach previously operated its own fire department from 1913 until 2009, when firefighters voted to merge with [[Palm Beach County Fire Rescue]] (PBCFR). Among the supporting factors in the merger were cost-saving measures for the city and better career advancement opportunities for firefighters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2009/10/01/lake-worth-fire-department-merges/7199844007/|title=Lake Worth Fire Department merges with county|date=October 1, 2009|author=Willie Howard|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|accessdate=December 13, 2021}}</ref> PBCFR has two stations within the city's boundaries, Station 91 at 1020 Lucerne Avenue (Battalion 3 headquarters) and Station 93 at 1229 Detroit Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discover.pbcgov.org/pbcfr/Lists/Station/All.aspx|title=Stations|publisher=Palm Beach County Government|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref> In order to prepare for, mitigate, and recover from emergencies and disasters, Lake Worth Beach's Emergency Management Program has established the Emergency Management team. Parts of the city are located within Evacuation Zone C,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lakeworthbeachfl.gov/emergency-management/|title=Emergency Management|publisher=City of Lake Worth Beach, Florida|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref> which is ordered to evacuate when a Category&nbsp;3 hurricane (or stronger) threatens the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbgfl.com/DocumentCenter/View/108/Map-A9Coastal-Evacuation-Zones-and-Routes-PDF|title=Map A.9. Coastal Evacuation Zones & Routes|date=September 21, 2016|publisher=City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref> The nearest hospital is the [[JFK Medical Center (Atlantis, Florida)|JFK Medical Center]] in [[Atlantis, Florida|Atlantis]].<ref name="district 3">{{cite web|url=https://discover.pbcgov.org/countycommissioners/DistrictMaps/D3-Map.pdf|publisher=Palm Beach County Government|title=Palm Beach County District 3|accessdate=November 9, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104230529/https://discover.pbcgov.org/countycommissioners/DistrictMaps/D3-Map.pdf|archivedate=November 4, 2021}}</ref>

Lake Worth Beach has a local reputation for high crime and has been counted as among the highest crime cities in the state.<ref name="PBPCrimeRank">{{cite news |author=Chelsea Todaro|title=Report: 2 Palm Beach County cities among most dangerous in the U.S. |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/new-city-pbc-other-florida-cities-among-most-dangerous-the/6VncCoyV9oIQ9VaXsOMocL/ |access-date=July 6, 2018 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |date=February 28, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927101809/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/new-city-pbc-other-florida-cities-among-most-dangerous-the/6VncCoyV9oIQ9VaXsOMocL/|archivedate=September 27, 2018}}</ref> Partially due to this, city commissioners narrowly voted to disband the Lake Worth Police Department in 2008, with law enforcement duties being taken over by the [[Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office]] (PBSO). At the time, the municipal police department employed 91&nbsp;sworn officers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wflx.com/story/8789889/lake-worth-approves-police-merger-with-sheriffs-office/|title=Lake Worth approves police merger with sheriff's office|date=August 5, 2008|author=Lindsay Cohen|newspaper=WFLX|accessdate=December 13, 2021}}</ref> Crime initially fell in the years following the merger, with murders down 73%, robberies down 47%, and burglaries down 23% from the period of 2007 to 2014.<ref name="PBPFourthDangerous">{{cite news |author=Kevin Thompson|title=Fourth most dangerous city in state? This local city takes exception |url=https://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/fourth-most-dangerous-city-state-this-local-city-takes-exception/zLj81k91xOAcDT1PtcJDfO/ |access-date=November 9, 2021|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|date=August 14, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706191250/https://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/fourth-most-dangerous-city-state-this-local-city-takes-exception/zLj81k91xOAcDT1PtcJDfO/|archivedate=July 6, 2018}}</ref> Violent crime rates then dropped by double-digit percentages for three consecutive years, 2016&ndash;2018. However, in 2019, the violent crime rate increased by 5.2% from the previous year. Much of the rise was attributable to an increase in aggravated assaults, although the city reported a decrease in burglaries and rapes.<ref name="millian">{{cite news|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2020/05/08/after-big-drops-crime-in-lake-worth-beach-surged-in-2019/41703937/|title=After big drops, crime in Lake Worth Beach surged in 2019|date=May 8, 2020|author=Jorge Millian|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref> Today, PBSO maintains a police substation at 120 North G Street as part of their 14th district, which encompasses the municipal boundaries of Lake Worth Beach and has 82&nbsp;deputies and 12&nbsp;civilian employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbso.org/our-communities/south-regional-bureau/d14/|author=Captain Todd Baer|title=District 14 – Lake Worth Beach|publisher=Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office|accessdate=December 13, 2021}}</ref>

In addition to high crime rates, the city was part of the worsening [[opioid epidemic in the United States]]. From 2015 to 2016, the number of suspected drug overdose deaths rose by 56%. As of 2016, the estimated rate of overdose deaths was 20 out of every 10,000&nbsp;people, higher than in neighboring towns.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/delray-beach/fl-recovery-industry-opioid-epidemic-20161224-story.html|date=December 24, 2016|title=Amid opioid crisis, a look at Palm Beach County's worst-affected cities|author=Ryan Van Velzer|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|access-date=November 9, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> Overdose rates began decreasing in the late 2010s. PBSO reported 301&nbsp;overdoses in Lake Worth Beach between May&nbsp;2019 and April&nbsp;2020, down from 354&nbsp;between May&nbsp;2018 and April&nbsp;2019.<ref name="millian"/>

===Utilities===

In contrast with many other localities in eastern Florida, who are usually served by [[Florida Power & Light]],<ref name="fpl">{{cite report|url=http://www.investor.nexteraenergy.com/~/media/Files/N/NEE-IR/investor-materials/shareholder-resources/2019%20NEE%20Annual%20Report.pdf|title=NextEra Energy Annual Report 2019|date=December 31, 2019|publisher=NextEra Energy}}</ref>{{rp|5}} Lake Worth Beach operates its own electrical utility. Founded in 1914 as the "Lake Worth Water, Light, and Ice Company" to serve about 600&nbsp;residents,<ref name="old town"/>{{rp|15}} Lake Worth Beach Electric Utility has approximately 27,000&nbsp;customers as of 2019. This also includes about 7,200&nbsp;customers in [[Palm Springs, Florida|Palm Springs]] and some adjacent unincorporated areas of Palm Beach County.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20190826/layoffs-loom-as-lake-worth-beach-struggles-with-electric-utility-issues|title=Layoffs loom as Lake Worth Beach struggles with electric utility issues|author=Bailey LeFever|date=August 26, 2019|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828065157/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20190826/layoffs-loom-as-lake-worth-beach-struggles-with-electric-utility-issues|archivedate=August 28, 2019|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref> In an effort to reduce [[greenhouse gas emissions]], the city purchased and began operating a solar farm in 2017, becoming the first municipality in Florida to do so.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boynton-beach/fl-bbf-solar-0301-20170228-story.html|author=Jan Engoren|title=Lake Worth's solar energy project unveiled|date=February 28, 2017|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=November 26, 2021}}</ref> By May&nbsp;2021, more than 38% of power generated by Lake Worth Beach Electric Utility originated from solar energy. Citizen Owned Energy forecasts that greenhouse gas emissions generated by the Lake Worth Beach Electric Utility will decrease to less than half of its 2005 levels by 2024.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://citizenownedenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/NEWSLETTER_1_MAY_2021_Fact_sheet_COE.pdf|date=May 2021|title=Fact Sheet|publisher=Citizen Owned Energy, Lake Worth Beach Electric Utility|accessdate=November 9, 2021}}</ref>

The Lake Worth Beach Water Utilities Department is responsible for providing residents with drinking water and the collection of wastewater and stormwater. Drinking water originates at a water treatment plant and is distributed via about {{convert|168|mi|km|abbr=on}} of pipelines across the city. Lake Worth Beach owns and operates 33&nbsp;pump stations, along with roughly {{convert|125|mi|km|abbr=on}} of gravity and pressure pipes. Additionally, the city owns and maintains a master pump station, which also collects wastewater from Atlantis, [[Lake Clarke Shores, Florida|Lake Clarke Shores]], [[Manalapan, Florida|Manalapan]], [[Palm Beach State College]], [[South Palm Beach, Florida|South Palm Beach]], and Palm Spring. This wastewater is then sent to the East Central Regional Water Reclamation Facility for treatment. Stormwater is collected via 46&nbsp;[[outfall]]s, which drain into the Lake Worth Lagoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lakeworthbeachfl.gov/utilities/|title=Utilities|publisher=City of Lake Worth Beach, Florida|accessdate=November 26, 2021}}</ref>