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2015-29000 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2015-29000 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR EXPEDITING THE SOUTH BEACH COMPONENT AS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE BEACH CORRIDOR TRANSIT CONNECTION PROJECT, WHICH PROJECT PROPOSES LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT/MODERN STREETCAR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND THE CITY OF MIAMI; DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS (I.E. MIAMI-DADE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND MIAMI-DADE TRANSIT,) TO EXPEDITE THE SOUTH BEACH COMPONENT; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROCURE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES REQUIRED FOR THE SOUTH BEACH COMPONENT. WHEREAS, at the Special City Commission Workshop on Transportation on March 18, 2015, Mayor Phillip Levine directed the Administration to identify local funding sources to implement a modern streetcar/light rail transit system in Miami Beach which, ultimately, would connect Miami Beach to Downtown Miami; and WHEREAS, the City has been working in partnership with the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Miami-Dade Transit (MDT), and the City of Miami as part of the ongoing Beach Corridor Transit Connection Study ("Study"); and WHEREAS, the Study focuses on re-evaluating the Locally Preferred Alternative resulting from the 2004 Baylink Corridor Study, which proposed a light rail transit/modern streetcar connection between Miami Beach and Downtown Miami, via the MacArthur Causeway; and WHEREAS, the Study recommendations focus on a catenary-less (off-wire) Light Rail Transit/modern streetcar system connecting Miami Beach to Downtown Miami via the MacArthur Causeway; and WHEREAS, the recommended alignment within the City of Miami Beach consists initially of the MacArthur Causeway; 5th Street; Alton Road; 17th Street; and Washington Avenue (in order to establish a direct connection to the Miami Beach Convention Center), and also contemplates future route expansion along Collins Avenue to the Julia Tuttle Causeway, connecting to Midtown Miami; and WHEREAS, based on the project schedule presented in the Study, it is anticipated that the environmental studies, design, and construction phases are estimated to take 6 to 9 years; and WHEREAS, in an effort to expedite the project, both the Technical Advisory Committee and the Policy Executive Committee established as part of the Study have endorsed the project moving forward as a Public-Private Partnership project with annual availability payments being made by the local public entity sponsoring the project to the Design/Build/Operate/Maintain/Finance firm (Concessionaire) over the agreed-upon concession period (typically 30 years); and WHEREAS, the Study estimates that the portion of the Project on South Beach proposed to operate along 5th Street and Washington Avenue ("South Beach Component") represents approximately 28% of the total $532 million capital cost of the Project(approximately $148 million) and estimates about $9 million in annual capital payments (28% of$32 million) for the South Beach Component; and WHEREAS, the Administration estimates that the total annual availability payments for the South Beach Component would be about approximately $12 million - $17 million per year, depending on the level of availability of State funds (including operating costs); and WHEREAS, the Administration is evaluating.funding sources for availability payments as part of the FY2015/16 budget process, including increasing parking fees for on-street parking, as well as exploring options for siting a maintenance yard in South Beach in close proximity to the proposed streetcar alignment; and WHEREAS, expediting the South Beach Component as the first phase of the Project will help build a ridership base and establish a framework for a regional rail system. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby approve this Resolution expressing support for expediting the South Beach Component as the first phase of the Beach Corridor Transit Connection Project, which Project proposes light rail transit/ streetcar connectivity between the City of Miami Beach and the City of Miami; directing the Administration to work with local transportation partners ( i.e. Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization. Florida Department of Transportation and Miami-Dade Transit) to expedite the South Beach Component; and further authorizing the Administration to procure any environmental studies required for the South Beach Component. PASSED and ADOPTED this 429 day of April , 2015. ATTEST. /: ice/ z r R.fael E. Granado, Cit Cl-L. Philip Levine, !, aye / T:WGENDA\2015 ' ,tai•••= i• 'fp - :•rig- py rt for Expediting the South Beach Component RESO.doc * 0 INCORP ORATED' V.• /40 s APPROVED AS TO "% 10H 2€� F:FREcuioN M &IANGUAGE- 1 2 •� c: 5(I (5 Dat® City Attorney COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY Condensed Title: An Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission Of Miami Beach, Florida, Expressing Support For Expediting The South Beach Component As The First Phase Of The Beach Corridor Transit Connection Project Proposes Light Rail Transit/Modem Streetcar Connectivity Between The City Of Miami And The City Of Miami Beach;And Directing The Administration To Work With The Local Transportation Partners (I.E., Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization, Florida Department Of Transportation,Miami-Dade Transit,And City Of Miami)To Expedite The South Beach Component As The First Phase Of The Beach Corridor Transit Connection Project;And Further Authorizing The Administration To Procure Any Environmental Studies Required For The Implementation Of A Light Rail Transit/Modern Streetcar System In South Beach As The First Phase Of The Beach Corridor Transit Connection Project. Key Intended Outcome Supported: Ensure Comprehensive Mobility Addressing All Modes Throughout The City/Enhance Pedestrian Safety Universally. Supporting Data(Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.): Item Summary/Recommendation: This item is sponsored by Mayor Philip Levine. At the Special Commission Workshop on Transportation on March 18,2015, Mayor Levine directed the Administration to identify local funding sources to implement a modern streetcar/light rail transit system in Miami Beach and,ultimately,connect Miami Beach to Downtown Miami. While the potential exists to pursue federal and state funding sources for this effort,a strong,local funding commitment is needed in order to qualify for other monies. The City has been working in partnership with the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Florida Department of Transportation(FDOT),Miami-Dade Transit(MDT),and the City of Miami as part of the ongoing Beach Corridor Transit Connection Study(formerly known as the Baylink Corridor Study). The study commenced in October 2013 and focuses on re-evaluating the Locally Preferred Alternative resulting from the 2004 Baylink Corridor Study which proposed a light rail transit/modern streetcar connection between Downtown Miami and Miami Beach via the MacArthur Causeway. A Technical Advisory Committee(TAC)comprised of staff from various municipal and transportation agencies and a Policy Executive Committee(PEC)comprised of elected officials from Miami-Dade County,City of Miami,and City of Miami Beach have been established to assist the study team in making key milestone decisions through the study process. Both the TAC and the PEC have endorsed the project moving forward and delivered through a Public-Private Partnership(P3).The study is anticipated to be completed in June 2015 after the MPO convenes the final Policy Executive Committee meeting to be held on May 4,2015. In order to connect Downtown Miami and Miami Beach via light rail transit,the current Beach Corridor Transit Connection study reaffirmed the MacArthur Causeway as the preferred corridor to link the two cities.Due to the inherent environmental and engineering challenges associated with implementing the portion of the alignment along the MacArthur Causeway,the consultant expects that the level of environmental documentation and coordination with the federal government that will be necessary as part of the NEPA process will be substantial,lengthy,and require an Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)to be conducted. The NEPA phase along is projected to cost approximately$10 million with each local participating agency contributing a portion of the cost. Based on the project schedule presented to the TAC and PEC by the consultant team,it is anticipated that the NEPA documents,design,and construction phases are estimated to take 6—9 years. The South Beach portion of the Direct Connect alignment represents approximately 28% of the total cost, excluding a maintenance yard. If this ratio is used as an estimate of operating costs,the portion of operating costs for the Direct Connect alignment on South Beach would be approximately$7 million(28%of$22 million).Thus,the Administration estimates that the total annual availability payments for the Direct Connect alignment in South Beach would be about approximately$12 million- $17 million per year,depending on the level of availability of state funds(including operating cost).The Administration is evaluating funding sources for availability payments as part of the FY2015/16 budget process,including increasing parking fees for on-street parking.This amount,however,does not include the capital or operating costs of a maintenance yard that would need to be located in Miami Beach. The Administration is currently exploring options for siting a maintenance yard in South Beach in close proximity to the proposed streetcar alignment. The Administration further recommends that the Transportation Department immediately proceed with developing a Request For Proposals for the development of an Environmental Assessment for a light rail transit/streetcar system in South Beach as the first phase of the Beach Corridor Transit Connection project. THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVING THE RESOLUTION Advisory Board Recommendation: This item is sponsored by Mayor Levine. Financial Information: Source of Amount Account Funds: 1 OBPI Total Financial Impact Summary: None. City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking: Jose R. Gonzalez, P.E. X6768 Department Director Assistant Cit anager City 'kanager JRG .J KGB AGEAEmA ITEM D AA A►I B . DAlrE y-29-lS Litzoi- - - - -•.-..- . ® MN slS"P" 1915.2015 a� pA,I M B CH City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members •.: the City C. mission FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager -' 1 DATE: April 29, 2015 SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MA OR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR EXPEDITING THE SOUTH BEACH COMPONENT AS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE BEACH CORRIDOR TRANSIT CONNECTION PROJECT, WHICH PROJECT PROPOSES LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT/MODERN STREETCAR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND THE CITY OF MIAMI; DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS (I.E., MIAMI-DADE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY) TO EXPEDITE THE SOUTH BEACH COMPONENT; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROCURE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES REQUIRED FOR THE SOUTH BEACH COMPONENT. This item is sponsored by Mayor Philip Levine. RECOMMENDATION The Administration recommends that this Resolution be approved. BACKGROUND At the Special Commission Workshop on Transportation on March 18, 2015, Mayor Philip Levine directed the Administration to identify local funding sources to implement a modern streetcar/light rail transit system in Miami Beach and, ultimately, connect Miami Beach to Downtown Miami. While the potential exists to pursue federal and State funding sources for this effort, a strong, local funding commitment is needed in order to qualify for other monies. The City has been working in partnership with the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Miami-Dade Transit (MDT), and the City of Miami as part of the ongoing Beach Corridor Transit Connection Study (formerly known as the Baylink Corridor Study and hereinafter referred to as the "Study"). The Study commenced in October 2013 and focuses on re-evaluating the "Locally Preferred Alternative" (resulting from the 2004 Baylink Corridor Study), which proposed a light rail transit/modern streetcar connection between Miami Beach and Downtown Miami, via the MacArthur Causeway. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of staff from various Commission Memorandum—Resolution Expressing Support for Expediting the South Beach Component of the Beach Corridor Streetcar/Light Rail Transit Connection Project — — --- April 29,2015 Page 2 of 4 municipal and transportation agencies and a Policy Executive Committee (PEC) comprised of elected officials from Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami Beach, and the City of Miami was established to assist the Study consultant team in making key milestone decisions through the Study process. At this time, the Study recommendations focus on a Light Rail Transit (LRT)/modern streetcar system connecting Miami Beach and Downtown Miami via the MacArthur Causeway. Several new and emerging catenary-free or off-wire technologies for LRT are being evaluated, including ground-embedded rail and on-board battery storage. The recommended alignment within Miami Beach consists initially of the MacArthur Causeway; 5th Street; Alton Road; Washington Avenue; and 17th Street (in order to establish a direct connection to the Miami Beach Convention Center), and contemplates future route expansion along Collins Avenue to the Julia Tuttle Causeway, connecting to Midtown Miami. . In order to provide efficient and effective mass transit service, the Project will operate on exclusive rights-of-way and not in mixed traffic. Both the TAC and the PEC have endorsed the "Beach Corridor Transit Connection Project" (hereinafter referred to as the "Project") moving forward and delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (P3). The Project consists of a new catenary-free (off-wire) light rail transit/modern streetcar connection connecting Miami Beach and Downtown Miami via the MacArthur Causeway. The Study is anticipated to be completed in June 2015 after the MPO convenes the final PEC meeting, to be held on May 4, 2015. Should the PEC identify a preferred alternative at its May meeting, the next steps would be as follows: • Further analysis and refinement of the alternatives during the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) phase of the Project. • Establishing a new Locally Preferred Alternative, to be presented to the Miami Beach City Commission, Miami City Commission, and the Miami-Dade MPO Governing Board for adoption. • Submission of• the PD&E Study to the U.S. Department of Transportation for Location/Design Concept Acceptance and a Record of Decision; the final step in the PD&E process pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA). The Project is currently listed as a Partially Funded Project in the Adopted 2040 Miami-Dade MPO Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The total estimated capital cost of the Project is approximately $532 million (2013), and the LRTP currently includes funding, in the amount of approximately $147 million (year-of-expenditure), for preliminary engineering and right-of-way acquisition in the 2026 - 2040 horizon timeframe. No funding has been identified for construction of the Project in the LRTP. ANALYSIS In order to connect Miami Beach with Downtown Miami via light rail transit, the Study reaffirmed the MacArthur Causeway as the preferred corridor to link the two cities. Due to the inherent environmental and engineering challenges associated with implementing the portion of the Project along the MacArthur Causeway, the Study consultant expects that the level of environmental documentation and coordination with the federal government that will be necessary as part of the NEPA process will be substantial, lengthy, and require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to be conducted. The NEPA phase alone is projected to cost approximately $10 million, with each local participating agency, including the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust, contributing a portion of the cost. Based on the Project Commission Memorandum-Resolution Expressing Support for Expediting the South Beach Component of the Beach Corridor -- Streetcar/Light Rail-Transit-Connection Project— — — -- — --- April 29,2015 Page 3 of 4 schedule presented to the TAC and PEC by the consultant team, it is anticipated that the NEPA documents, design, and construction phases are estimated to take 6—9 years. The required NEPA documents would need to be completed by the local public entity sponsoring the Project (which has not yet been determined as part of the Study process) and approved by the federal government(either Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration) for the Project to remain eligible for federal funding, obtain LDCA and a Record of Decision, and advance to the construction phase. Both the TAC and PEC have endorsed the Project moving forward as a P3 project, with annual availability payments being made by the local public entity sponsoring the Project to the Design/Build/Operate/Maintain/Finance firm (Concessionaire) over the agreed-upon concession period (typically 30 years). Based on the Project costs presented by the Study consultant, it is anticipated that as much as $54 million per year will be needed for availability payments for the Project under a P3, of which $22 million are for annual operating cost payments, and $32 million are for annual capital payments. In order to connect Miami Beach to Downtown Miami, one of the route alignment alternatives under consideration consists of a direct connection via MacArthur Causeway; 5th Street; and Washington Avenue. This alternative has been defined in the Study as the Direct Connection Alternative. The Study consultant estimates that the "South Beach Component" of the Direct Connection Alternative (i.e., 5th Street; Washington Avenue alignment) represents approximately 28% of the total $532 million capital cost of the overall Project (approximately $148 million), and estimates about $9 million in annual capital payments (28% of $32 million) for the South Beach Component. It is anticipated that FDOT's New Starts Program could potentially provide up to a 50150 match for capital, reducing the City's annual capital payment to $4.5 million for the South Beach Component. The South Beach.Component represents approximately 28% of the total Project cost, excluding a maintenance yard. If this ratio is used as an estimate of operating costs, the portion of operating costs for the South Beach Component would be approximately $7 million (28% of $22 million). Thus, the Administration estimates that the total annual availability payments for the South Beach Component would be about approximately $12 million - $17 million per year, depending on the level of availability of State funds (including operating costs). The Administration is evaluating funding sources for availability payments as part of the FY2015/16 budget process, including increasing parking fees for on-street parking. This amount, however, does not include the capital or operating costs of a maintenance yard that would need to be located in Miami Beach. The Administration is currently exploring options for siting a maintenance yard in South Beach in close proximity to the proposed streetcar alignment. It is important to note that advancing the South Beach Component would have no adverse effect on the Project. In fact, expediting the South Beach Component as the first phase of the Project will help build a ridership base and establish a framework for a regional rail system. It is important that the South.Beach .Component phase ensures compatibility with future phases of the overall Project, and that the environmental coordination and documentation is conducted in a manner which will ensure eligibility for federal funds for future phases of the project. Commission Memorandum—Resolution Expressing Support for Expediting the South Beach Component of the Beach Corridor Streetcar/L-ight-Rail Transit-Connection-Project April 29,2015 Page 4 of 4 RECOMMENDATION, While the Administration recognizes that the full potential of the Downtown Miami-Miami Beach light rail transit connectivity project will not be realized until the MacArthur Causeway link is in place, the Causeway link is the most complex segment of the Beach Corridor Transit Connection Project, due to significant engineering and environmental challenges, and, as such, the Causeway component will require extensive coordination with the federal government and many years of environmental impact studies. In an effort to provide short-term relief to traffic congestion in South Beach, the Administration believes that it is in the best interest of the City to expedite the portion of the Project that can be more easily implemented, specifically the South Beach Component, along 5th Street and Washington Avenue, as the first phase of the Beach Corridor Transit Connection Project, and possibly as a stand-alone project. This approach would allow the City to move forward with the implementation of a streetcar system in Miami Beach in a 3 — 5 year horizon while continuing to work with the Miami-Dade MPO and the other local transportation partners involved in the Beach Corridor Transit Connection Study to move forward on the broader light rail transit connectivity project, including the complex MacArthur Causeway link. The Administration further recommends that the Transportation Department immediately proceed with developing a Request For Proposals for the procurement of the environmental studies required for a light rail transit/streetcar system in South Beach as the first phase of the Beach Corridor Transit Connection project. JLM/KGB/JRG T:IAGENDA\2015\April\Resolution Expressing Support for Expediting the South Beach Component As the First Phase of the Beach Corridor Transit Connection Project MEMO.docx RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR EXPEDITING THE SOUTH BEACH COMPONENT AS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE BEACH CORRIDOR TRANSIT CONNECTION PROJECT, WHICH PROJECT PROPOSES LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT/MODERN STREETCAR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND THE CITY OF MIAMI; DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS (I.E. MIAMI-DADE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT, OF TRANSPORTATION, AND MIAMI-DADE TRANSIT,) TO EXPEDITE THE SOUTH BEACH COMPONENT; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROCURE ANY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES REQUIRED FOR THE SOUTH BEACH COMPONENT. WHEREAS, at the Special City Commission Workshop on Transportation on March 18, 2015, Mayor Phillip Levine directed the Administration to identify local funding sources to implement a modern streetcar/light rail transit system in Miami Beach which, ultimately, would connect Miami Beach to Downtown Miami; and WHEREAS, the City has been working in partnership with the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Miami-Dade Transit (MDT), and the City of Miami as part of the ongoing Beach Corridor Transit Connection Study("Study"); and WHEREAS, the Study focuses on re-evaluating the Locally Preferred Alternative resulting from the 2004 Baylink Corridor Study, which proposed a light rail transit/modern streetcar connection between Miami Beach and Downtown Miami, via the MacArthur Causeway; and - _ WHEREAS, the Study recommendations focus on a catenary less (off-wire) Light Rail Transit/modern streetcar system connecting Miami Beach to Downtown Miami via the MacArthur Causeway; and WHEREAS, the recommended alignment within the City of Miami Beach consists initially of the MacArthur Causeway; 5th Street; Alton Road; 17th Street; and Washington Avenue (in order to establish a direct connection to the Miami Beach Convention Center), and also contemplates future route expansion along Collins Avenue to the Julia Tuttle Causeway, connecting to Midtown Miami; and WHEREAS, based on the project schedule presented in the Study, it is anticipated that the environmental studies, design, and construction phases are estimated to take 6 to 9 years; and WHEREAS, in an effort to expedite the project, both the Technical Advisory Committee and the Policy Executive Committee established as part of the Study have endorsed the project moving forward as a Public-Private Partnership project with annual availability payments being made by the local public entity sponsoring the project to the Design/Build/Operate/Maintain/Finance firm (Concessionaire) over the agreed-upon concession period (typically 30 years); and WHEREAS, the Study estimates that the portion of the Project on South Beach proposed to operate along 5th Street and Washington Avenue ("South Beach Component") represents approximately 28% of the total $532 million capital cost of the Project (approximately $148 million) and estimates about $9 million in annual capital payments (28% of$32 million)for the South Beach Component; and WHEREAS, the Administration estimates that the total annual availability payments for the South Beach Component would be about approximately $12 million - $17 million per year, depending on the level of availability of State funds (including operating costs); and • . WHEREAS.,the.Administration is evaluating.funding sources for availability payments as part of the FY2015/16 budget process, including increasing parking fees for on-street parking, as well as exploring options for siting a maintenance yard in South Beach in close proximity to the proposed streetcar alignment; and WHEREAS, expediting the South Beach Component as the first phase of the Project will help build a ridership base and establish a framework for a regional rail system. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby approve this Resolution expressing support for expediting the South Beach Component as the first phase of the Beach Corridor Transit Connection Project, which Project proposes light rail transit/ streetcar connectivity between the City of Miami Beach and the City of Miami; directing the Administration to work with local transportation partners ( i.e. Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization. Florida Department of Transportation and Miami-Dade Transit) to expedite the South Beach Component; and further authorizing the Administration to procure any environmental studies required for the South Beach Component. PASSED and ADOPTED this day of , 2015. ATTEST: Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk Philip Levine, Mayor T:\AGENDA\2015\April\Transportation\Expressing Support for Expediting the South Beach Component SUMM.doc •