2013-28176 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2013-28176
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA,ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE JOINT
MEETING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND LAND USE
AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES,AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE
MIAMI-DADE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR A MASS
TRANSIT CONNECTIVITY FEASIBILITY STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE
MIAMI-DADE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION; AND FURTHER
ALLOCATING $25,000 TOWARDS THE TOTAL COST OF THE FEASIBILITY
STUDY.
WHEREAS, effective and efficient mass transit connectivity between Miami Beach and the
mainland is vital to the economic and environmental sustainability of the City of Miami Beach and
the region; and
WHEREAS, mass transit connectivity was last studied by the Miami-Dade Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO), the board responsible for short range and long range regional
transportation planning in Miami-Dade County, in 2004; and
WHEREAS, although the studies prepared as part of the previous mass transit connectivity
project yielded satisfactory results at the time, concerns associated with the selected overhead
catenary technology and funding potential did not allow the project to advance into the preliminary
engineering phase; and
WHEREAS, a mass transit project to connect Miami Beach and the mainland is included in
the Miami-Dade MPO 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan as a Priority IV Unfunded Project;and
WHEREAS, the Administration has had discussions with the MPO to explore alternate
opportunities to fund a new feasibility study via a partnership with stakeholder agencies such as the
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Miami Dade Transit (MDT), and the City of Miami;
and
WHEREAS,funding commitments were discussed wherein MDT would provide$25,000,the
City of Miami Beach would provide $25,000, FDOT would provide $75,000, MPO would provide
$170,000, and the City of Miami would provide $25,000; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2013 at a joint meeting of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs
Committee (NCAC) and the Land Use and Development Committee (LUDC), the Committees
endorsed the City's participation in a feasibility study to be conducted by the MPO to evaluate mass
transit connectivity between Miami Beach and the Mainland, and endorsed an allocation of$25,000
towards the total cost of the study.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission, hereby accept the
recommendation of the joint meeting of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs and Land Use and
Development Committees, and authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an Interlocal
Agreement with the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization for a mass transit connectivity
feasibility study to be conducted by the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization;and further
allocating $25,000 towards the total cost of the feasibility study.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 17th day of April, 2013.
ATTEST:
atti Herrera Bower, Mayor
Rafael Granado, City Clerk MI BF
T:WGENDA\2013Wpri1 17WIass Transit Connectiv RE,4e
ORATED
�C�y3
APPROVED AS TO
FORM &LANGUAGE
&FOR EXECUTION
i
� G orney to
r
COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
A Resolution Of The Mayor And City Commission Of The City Of Miami Beach, Florida, Accepting The
Recommendation Of The Joint Neighborhoods/Community Affairs And Land Use And Development
Committees, Authorizing The City Manager To Negotiate And Execute An Interlocal Agreement With
The Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization For A Mass Transit Connectivity Feasibility
Study To Be Conducted By The Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization And Allocating
$25,000 Towards The Total Cost Of The Feasibility Study.
Key Intended Outcome Supported:
Enhance Mobility Throughout the City.
Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.): N/A
Issue:
Shall the Mayor and the City Commission approve the Resolution?
Item Summa /Recommendation:
Effective and efficient mass transit connectivity between Miami Beach and the mainland is vital to the
economic and environmental sustainability of the City of Miami Beach and the region. The City has
developed close working relationships with Miami Dade Transit (MDT), the Miami-Dade Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO), and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)with the objective
of providing various short-term transit improvements that enable residents and visitors to effectively
travel in the City using the public transportation system. However, a long-term visionary approach is
needed to ensure that future transportation demand in Miami Beach is effectively met.
At the Joint Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC)/Land Use and Development
Committee (LUDC) meeting on March 19, 2013, both committees endorsed the City's participation in a
feasibility study to be conducted by the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to
evaluate mass transit connectivity between Miami Beach and the mainland, and endorsed an
allocation of$25,000 towards the total cost of the study. In addition, the Joint Committee referred the
item for further discussion to LUDC and the Transportation and Parking Committee (TPC).
Previously, the item was discussed at the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) on July
10, 2012 and referred to the NCAC.
The Administration is currently having discussions with the MPO to explore alternate opportunities to
fund the feasibility study via a partnership with other stakeholder agencies such as the FDOT, MDT,
and City of Miami. Preliminary funding commitments were discussed during a meeting between all
agencies involved wherein MDT would provide $25,000, the City of Miami Beach would provide
$25,000, FDOT would provide $75,000, MPO will contribute $175,000, and City of Miami was
subsequently approached and agreed to a contribution of$25,000. The feasibility study is anticipated
to take nine (9) months to complete.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVING THE RESOLUTION.
Advisory Board Recommendation:
NCAC and LUDC jointly endorsed participation in the stud
Financial Information:
Source of Amount Account Approved
Fund 1 $25,000 187-0880-000312
A . 1 3
OBPI Total $25,000
Financial Impact Summary:
City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking:
JRG/RWS, Public Works 6565
Sign-Offs:
Department Director Assistant City ager City MOnager
I MA
JJF JGG JL
T:WGENDA\2013Wpril 17\Mass Transit Connectivity Summary.d x
MIAM� ���� AGENDA ITEM (f 7y'"DATE " )3
m MIAMI BEACH
COMM SSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera-Bower and Mem rs of the C Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 17, 2013
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYO AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE JOINT
NEIGHBORHOODS/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEES, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE MIAMI-DADE
METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR A MASS TRANSIT
CONNECTIVITY FEASIBILITY STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE MIAMI-DADE
METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION AND ALLOCATING $25,000
TOWARDS THE TOTAL COST OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution.
FUNDING
City's contribution in the amount of$25,000 will be funded by Half-Cent Transit Surtax (PTP)
proceeds—Account No. 187-0880-000312.
BACKGROUND
Effective and efficient mass transit connectivity between Miami Beach and the mainland is vital
to the economic and environmental sustainability of the City of Miami Beach and the region.
The City has developed close working relationships with Miami Dade Transit (MDT), the Miami-
Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and the Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT) with the objective of providing various short-term transit improvements that enable
residents and visitors to effectively travel in the City using the public transportation system.
However, a long-term visionary approach is needed to ensure that future transportation demand
in Miami Beach is effectively met. In his February 28, 2013 state of the County speech, Miami-
Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez expressed his desire to connect Miami Beach to the urban
core of Miami Dade County. The County Mayor went on to say that there is a need to look for
innovative solutions to the unacceptable status quo of choked roadways and grueling daily
commutes.
Mass Transit Connectivity was last studied by the MPO, the Board responsible for short range
and long range regional transportation planning in Miami-Dade County, in 2004. The study
proposed a mass transit connection between Miami Beach and Downtown Miami via the
MacArthur Causeway. At that time, the City chose to use street car technology. Although the
Mass Transit Connectivity
April 17, 2013
Page 2 of 4
studies prepared as part of the previous mass transit connectivity project yielded satisfactory
results at the time, concerns associated with the selected overhead catenary technology and
funding potential did not allow the project to advance into the preliminary engineering phase.
Currently, a mass transit project to connect Miami Beach and the mainland is included in the
Miami-Dade MPO 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) as a Priority IV Unfunded
Project.
In December 2011, MDT hosted a meeting with officials from a Spanish rail company FEVE
attended by representatives from the MPO, City of Miami, and City of Miami Beach. At the
meeting, FEVE officials highlighted a catenary-free modern streetcar system currently operating
in historic Seville, Spain. As a result of that meeting, the City Administration developed a
concept of connecting Miami Beach to the mainland via an effective and efficient mass transit
system utilizing new catenary-free technology.
The topic was briefly discussed during a City Commission retreat in May 2012 and referred to
the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) for discussion. The item was
presented to the FCWPC on July 10, 2012 (see Attachment). The FCWPC recommended that
the Administration contact FEVE to explore the feasibility of a catenary-free application in Miami
Beach and discussed the possibility of setting aside funding for the project with the provision
that it cannot be used without authorization from the Commission and that status updates be
provided to the FCWPC.
Pursuant to direction from the FCWPC, City staff contacted FEVE, now one of several entities
that make-up Tramrail. Tramrail is a public-private enterprise based in Spain that plans,
designs, builds, operates, maintains, and finances passenger and commercial rail systems in
Spain and abroad. The City obtained a preliminary scope from Tramrail detailing all the tasks
needed to study the feasibility of rail transit in Miami Beach. The City has also been working
with County staff to further develop the concept of establishing mass transit connectivity
between Miami Beach and the mainland.
This item was also discussed at the Joint Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee
(NCAC)/Land Use and Development Committee (LUDC) meeting on March 19, 2013. At the
meeting, the Joint Committee endorsed participation in a feasibility study to be conducted by the
MPO to evaluate mass transit connectivity between Miami Beach and the mainland and
endorsed an allocation of $25,000 towards the total cost of the study. In addition, the Joint
Committee referred the item for further discussion and input to LUDC and the Transportation
and Parking Committee (TPC).
ANALYSIS
The Administration had submitted a grant application to the Miami-Dade MPO under the Unified
Planning Work Program Call For Ideas Program in the amount of $250,000 to conduct a
Feasibility/Concept Development Study for Effective and Efficient Mass Transit Connectivity
Between the City of Miami Beach and the mainland using the MacArthur Causeway and Julia
Tuttle Causeway.
The objectives of the feasibility study were to be as follows:
• To define and develop the technical specifications required for the operation of an
effective and efficient regional mass transit system to connect Miami Beach and
Mass Transit Connectivity
April 17, 2013
Page 3 of 4
the mainland. It is the City's preference that the mass transit system would
operate in a catenary-free mode within urbanized Miami Beach.
• To develop feasibility analysis for a regional mass transit project utilizing catenary-
free technology within urbanized areas of Miami Beach.
• To identify local and regional economic development opportunities associated
with the proposed mass transit system, including compatibility with local and
regional land use policies and transportation goals.
• To identify social and environmental benefits, including improving safety, mobility,
and quality of life for the City of Miami Beach, City of Miami, and the region.
• To identify all potential funding sources available to the City of Miami Beach, City
of Miami, and Miami-Dade County for the capital, operations, and financing of the
proposed regional mass transit system.
• To establish a plan for a system that guarantees simple integration with other
regional transportation modes, particularly Metrorail and Metromover, thus
increasing the potential of intermodality in Miami Beach and the region.
The Administration has had discussions with the MPO to explore alternate opportunities to fund
the feasibility study via a partnership with other stakeholder agencies such as the FDOT, MDT,
and City of Miami. The feasibility study is expected to cost $325,000. Preliminary funding
commitments were discussed during a meeting between all agencies involved wherein MDT
would provide $25,000, the City of Miami Beach would provide $25,000, FDOT would provide
$75,000, MPO would contribute $175,000, and City of Miami was subsequently approached and
has agreed to a contribution of $25,000.
The MPO is in the process of developing a broader scope of services, based on the feasibility
study scope submitted by the City of Miami Beach, for a regional mass transit connectivity
feasibility study that would better serve the transit needs of the region as well as the City. The
MPO has advised that it is exploring pursuing the study through one of its General Planning
Consultants (GPC). Therefore, the MPO has asked the City to recall its request for the Call for
Ideas grant. Should the City Commission endorse this intra-agency partnership, City staff will
continue to work with the County on the development of this feasibility study which is anticipated
to take nine (9) months to complete.
In addition to the preliminary feasibility study, the Administration is working proactively with the
MPO to identify funding in the MPO Five-Year Transportation Improvement Program for the
federally required planning and engineering studies associated with a future mass transit
connectivity project. The MPO recently initiated the two-year process to update the LRTP to the
year 2040, and the City is actively engaged in LRTP Update process and advocating for mass
transit connectivity via representation on the LRTP Advisory Committee. This process will help
rank the project in a list of priorities and identify further potential funding sources for future
construction of the mass transit project.
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends Commission endorsement of the City's intra-agency
Mass Transit Connectivity
April 17, 2013
Page 4 of 4
participation in a mass transit connectivity feasibility study to be conducted by the Miami-Dade
MPO and the allocation of a $25,000 City contribution towards the total cost of the feasibility
study. Further, the Administration recommends that the City Commission authorize the City
Manager to negotiate and execute an Interlocal Agreement with the Miami-Dade MPO for the
study.
This item will be presented to LUDC and the Transportation and Parking Committee (TPC) in
April for discussion and further input on the study scope and objectives. Lastly, City staff will
continue to work with the MPO and stakeholder agencies and actively participate in the
development of the feasibility study which is anticipated to take nine (9) months to complete.
Attachment:
FCWP Committee Agenda Item from July 2012 including photos of FEVE-operated
catenary-free streetcar in historic Seville
JGG/J ,,\ /JR 4
T:\AGENDA\2013\April 17\Mass Transit Connectivity MEMO.docx
/ , .. ` •� iii
w
•
jj *iir R
.. a •• ' '
�a
4
f. t
R , s
�•
Lit
nsu
At
c
a ry- r route, + �
�� iii�*1Jt 1! 1�$
catenary-free route
i
I .mot
s;
r c
1 T
• — •a� � t+ v•�al,■! �. � .. .CIS•^,^
� � r
1
catenary-free route