M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Members of the Town Council
From: Mayor Peggy R. Bell
Date: December 6, 2017
Re: Supporting the Construction of a Bridge on S.W. 87 Avenue
REQUEST
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE ON S.W. 87 AVENUE AND URGING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSIONER DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA TO SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE ALSO; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On Wednesday, August 30, 2017, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava hosted a Public Involvement Meeting to discuss modifications to S.W. 87 Avenue and other traffic issues. The Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) presented transportation updates, as Commissioner Levine Cava requested the DTPW delay moving forward with plans to pursue a bridging project across the canal on S.W. 87 Avenue until further data could be obtained and public input was received. The DTPW also provided responses to questions asked at the Public Involvement Meeting (Attachment “A”)
On Thursday, November 30, 2017 the Town Manager participated in a Telephone Town Hall Meeting hosted by Commissioner Levine Cava, as the Town supports any north/south traffic relief efforts. Traffic engineers presented the study data on the possible bridging of S.W. 87 Avenue across the canal, north of S.W. 164 Street (Attachment “B”). The study states that the bridge would reduce the amount of traffic within the Village of Palmetto Bay and the Town, as well as reduce the amount of traffic-waiting time. In order to move forward with the construction of the bridge, it must be approved by the Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) on Thursday, December 7, 2017.
County residents are pleading for traffic relief. The County has a master plan to open this artery just as 92 Avenue was opened within the boundaries of Cutler Bay. Bridging 87th Avenue will provide meaningful traffic relief to Old Cutler Road, S.W. 82 Avenue and other streets who have shouldered the entire burden for residents in Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and other areas of the district who must travel north/south. I ask the Town Council to support the construction of the bridge on S.W. 87 Avenue, and urge our Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava to recommend the proposed bridge project to the TPO in hopes of traffic relief for our residents.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Town Council adopt the attached Resolution, supporting the construction of a bridge on S.W. 87 Avenue and urging Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava to support the construction of the bridge also.
ATTACHMENTS
Ø Attachment “A” - Responses from Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works from the August 30, 3017 Public Involvement Meeting
Ø Attachment “B” - Miami-Dade County Traffic Study on the Proposed S.W. 87 Bridge