LTC 198-2017 FDOT I-95 Corridor Planning Study(9 MIAMI BEACH
NO. LTC# '198-2017
TTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April17, 2017
SUBJECT: FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TR~ SPORTATION'S (FOOT) INTERSTATE 95 (1-95}
CORRIDOR PLANNING STUDY
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to provide information on the FOOT 1-95
Corridor Planning Study from US-1/SR 5 to the Broward County Line. The study is reviewing
multiple future alternatives to increase capacity and improve traffic operations throughout 1-95 in
Miami-Dade County, and will provide detailed operational information and conceptual cross
sections for each alternative.
The study was initiated in the Fall 2015 with a Project Advisory Team meeting. The Project
Advisory Team consists of public agency representatives: Cities of Aventura, Miami, Miami
Beach, Miami Gardens, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Florida Department of Transportation,
Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works, Miami-Dade Expressway
Authority, Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (formerly Miami~Dade Metropolitan
Planning Organization), South Florida Regional Planning Council, and South Florida Regional
Transportation Authority. ·
Fourteen (14) design concepts were developed in 2016 as part of Tier 2 analysis, screened
against engineering, cost, environmental and community considerations, and eliminated or
retained for further study. The initial design concepts consisted of:
• Seven (7) at-grade widening concepts, all with an increased number of Express Lanes
and General Purpose Lanes;
• Four (4) concepts with combinations of at-grade and elevated lanes; and
• Three (3) tunnel options
On March 21, 2017, the Project Advisory Team was updated on the 14 Tier 2 alternatives, and
the status of the study to date. The four (4) highest ranking alternatives were recommended for
further development during the next few months. These 4 surviving alternatives consist of the
following components, all with varying requirements for right-of-way acquisition:
1. Increased number of General Purpose Lanes with varying numbers of elevated Express
Lanes; and
2. Widening 1-95 with combinations of increased General Purpose and Express Lanes, all
at-grade
Community outreach is· scheduled to begin in Fall 2017, the draft final report scheduled for
Winter 2017, and the corridor planning study will be completed in Spring 2018.
City staff will continue to monitor the project through active participation in the Project Advisory
Team. The Transportation Department has recommended that FOOT engage in intensive and
pro-active community outreach to begin as early as possible; and consider new ingress/egress
ramps to/from the 1-95 managed lanes and the 1-195/Julia Tuttle Causeway, as well as other
community and environmental factors in the evaluation criteria.
LTC-FOOT 1-95 CORRIDOR PLANNING STUDY
Apri/17, 2017
Page2of2
According to FOOT, the project milestones are as follows:
1. Present to August 2017: Further development and screening of Tier 2 Alternatives
2. August 2017: Evaluation of Concept Alternatives/Conceptual Plan Development
3. November 2017: Recommended Alternative/Final Conceptual Plans
The next step in the FOOT study process is to conduct a Project Development and
Environmental (PD&E) Study. According to the FDOT Work Program, the PD&E phase is
scheduled to begin in Fiscal Year 2018/19 and is estimated to cost $22.5 Million.
~a~el free to contact me if you have any questions.
~rJRGNVABILKW
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