M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Rafael G. Casals, Town Manager
Date: October 18, 2017
Re: Issuance of an Invitation to Bid (ITB): Manta Drive Project
REQUEST
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF AN INVITATION TO BID (ITB) FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE MANTA DRIVE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Since the incorporation of the Town of Cutler Bay (the “Town”) in 2005, community leaders and officials have sought to enhance the quality of life and livability within the Town. Providing safety and mobility for pedestrians is an important component of this initiative. Walking provides a critical form of transportation, recreation, and social interaction. The streets are an important component of a Town’s livability. Everyone should feel comfortable using the streets whether motorist or pedestrian, young or old, waiting for a bus or walking to school.
Manta Drive is a local Town owned and maintained roadway. Currently, Manta Drive has a high level of pavement distress, poor drainage, and no sidewalks along the entire length of the corridor. The lack of pedestrian safe facilities place pedestrians’ safety at risk because they are forced to walk in the street. The Town has received numerous resident complaints about the poor roadway conditions, including flooding and the lack of pedestrian connectivity. Due to the lack of sidewalks there is a genuine safety concern for pedestrians, resulting from impatient motorists using the roadway as a “cut through street”. This Project will incorporate "complete street" or Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) “12 Steps to a Walkable Community” features as applicable to a local road. Manta Drive provides a direct link for residents to Old Cutler Road; the Town’s award winning “Complete Streets” roadway improvement project. On Old Cutler Road, residents are able to safely access public transportation, the Miami-Dade County Old Cutler Bike Trail, ADA compliant crosswalks, and one of the Town's major commercial districts.
This Project will fund recommended improvements identified in the following Town Master Plans/Studies:
• Pavement, Sidewalk Assessment Study
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan
• Strategic Master Plan
• Flood Mitigation Plan
• Stormwater Master Plan
Proposed improvements include; drainage improvements (culverts, inlets, manholes, and exfiltration trenches), new sidewalks, driveway approaches, ADA crosswalks, continuous valley gutter, asphalt milling and resurfacing, back of sidewalk harmonization and street tree plantings to increase canopy and promote pedestrian activity. A few examples of practices implemented to improve walkability include:
• Provide continuously linked 5’ or greater walkways.
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The wider sidewalks will accommodate people with disabilities. The Town will also ensure that crosswalks include ADA facilities.
• Combine walking with Transit: Pedestrians will be able to access public transit on Old Cutler Road including the Town’s Circulator Bus. The Town has installed custom bus bays and pullouts along Old Cutler Road with shaded, visible and comfortable seating.
An Invitation to Bid (ITB) has been prepared to identify the best available contractor to provide construction services for the Manta Drive Roadway Improvement Project. Chapter 24, Article II of the Town Code requires the Town Manager to obtain authorization from the Town Council in order to advertise solicitations for bids and proposals, prior to advertising the public notice.
The Town has budgeted for this Project within the Town’s Public Works 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Operating Budget. Funding for this Project will be provided by the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant in the amount of $344,260 from the Florida Department of Transportation and the remainder will be funded with the Town’s People’s Transportation Plan (“PTP”) Funds.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the attached Resolution be adopted, authorizing the Town Manager to issue an Invitation to Bid (ITB #17-10) for construction services of the Manta Drive Roadway Improvement Project be adopted.