LTC 118-2004 FDOT Position on the replacement of the 63rd St. Flyover CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letterto Commission No. 8-2004
To:
From:
Subject:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez ~0-~~'~
City Manager
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S POSITION ON THE
REPLACEMENT OF THE 63RD STREET FLYOVER
Date: May 18, 2004
Attached please find a letter recently received from the Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT) relative to the 63rd Street Flyover Project.
As described in the attached letter, the position of FDOT is to proceed with the at grade
solution for the replacement of the current 63rd Street Flyover.
FDOT is of the opinion that recent traffic analysis performed by the City and by FDOT have
confirmed that the at grade solution for the replacement of the 63 Street Flyover is the best
available option.
The letter also indicates that it is FDOT's intention to proceed with design and construction of
this project without incorporating the easement requested on City property. By not
incorporating the City's easement, what will be sacrificed in the project is the landscaped
median that had been previously provided to provide some aesthetic appeal within the project
area. The actual travel and turn lanes are not affected by the loss of this easement.
We will ask that a representative of FDOT attend the next Commission meeting to help
address questions which members of the Commission may still have regarding this project.
FDOT will not have an interest in revisiting the entire project history. It is our understanding
that in the event the City approves the easement requested by FDOT, that FDOT will amend
the design to incorporate the easement and reinstitute the landscape median.
FJ:~~~S a\cmg r~ALL,~OB\F DmOT63stflyovereasementltc.doc
Attachment
C.'
Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Fred Beckmann, Director of Public Works
JlrB BUSH
GOVERNOR
F/or/da Department of
1 ~ No~hw~t 111
~iami, Florida 53172-5800
Te~phone No.: (505) 4?0-5464
May 11,2004
Mr. Jorge Gonzalez
City Manager
City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Re: FM No. 249940-1 / 407935-1 / Replacement of63r° Street Flyover and
63rd Street Bascule Bridge rehabilitation
JOSE ABREU
SECRETARY
Dear Mr. Gonzalez:
The Florida Depmh~ent of Transportation (FDOT) plans to proceed with the proposed replacement of the 63rd
Street flyover with an at-grade triple left-turn intersection. I was informed that the intent of the May 5, 2004 City
Commission meeting was to approve a perpetual easement needed by FDOT, and also to discuss the City's
independent traffic analysis performed by HNTB.
As you know, the FDOT has studied and re-studied this project over the past 12 years. As a result of those
studies, the City Commission passed a resolution in June 2000 (Commission Resolution No. 2000-23965)
agreeing to the removal of the flyover and replacement with an at-grade intersection. As part of that agreement,
the FDOT added landscaped medians and enhanced the pedestrian features on the project.
We are at a point where all of the independent traffic analyses performed, now and then, confn'ms that the at-grade
intersection improves the traffic operations, and safety of this area. Therefore, I have instructed our designers to
modify the design plans to eliminate the need for the City's easement and move forward with our scheduled
construction letting. The ramification of this re-design is the loss of the landscaped median on Indian Creek
between 63Td Street and 65t~ Street. The removal of the City's parcel does not alter any of the pedestrian features.
Since we will not require the easement from the City, FDOT will not be attending the May 26th Commission
meeting. I hope this letter clarifies the Depasi~xmnt's position. Should you like to discuss this issue in more detail
please do not hesitate to contact me.
CC:
odrig
for of Production
Fred H. Beckmann, Director of Public Works, Miami Beach
John Martinez, Secretary FDOT District V1