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: Authorization to Enter Into a Local Agency Program (LAP) Agreement for Manta Drive Roadway Improvement Project.
REQUEST
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING A GRANT FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT); APPROVING THE LOCAL AGENCY PROGRAM (LAP) AGREEMENT WITH FDOT FOR THE MANTA DRIVE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORIZATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is empowered by legislative authority to contract with other local agencies to plan, develop, design, acquire right-of-way, and construct transportation facilities. FDOT reimburses these local agencies for transportation improvement services by entering into a Local Agency Program Agreement (LAP). Authority for LAP is provided in Sections 20.23(3) (a), 334.044(7), 339.05, and 339.12 of the Florida Statutes.
In Miami-Dade County, FDOT in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (formerly Metropolitan Planning Organization) releases a request for proposals for funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). Transportation alternative projects are federally funded, community-based projects that expand travel choices and improve the transportation experience by improving the cultural, historic, and environmental aspects of Florida’s transportation infrastructure. Local governments are able to apply for funding to support projects that include, but are not limited to construction of bicycle/pedestrian facilities, conversion of abandoned railroad corridors, inventory control/removal of outdoor advertising, vegetation management, historic preservation, and environmental mitigation activities.
Project Overview
In March 2016, the Town of Cutler Bay (the “Town”) submitted a funding application to support for the Manta Drive Roadway Improvement Project. The Town was notified on November 7, 2016 that FDOT is recommending funding for the project in the amount of $344,260; pending approval from the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Governing Board during their May 2017 Board Meeting (Attachment “A”: Award Letter).
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 (from Old Cutler Road to Marlin Road). 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”. Manta Drive provides a direct link for pedestrians and bicyclists 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.
Planned improvements consist of new sidewalks, ADA crosswalks, driveway approaches, continuous valley gutter, improved drainage, asphalt milling and resurfacing, sidewalk harmonization and street tree plantings to improve canopy and promote pedestrian activity. 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
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Town Council adopts the attached Resolution approving the FDOT Transportation Alternatives Program grant and authorizing the Town Manager to execute the FDOT Local Agency Program Agreement (Exhibit “A”).
ATTACHMENTS
Ø Attachment “A” - FDOT Award Letter