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RESOLUTION 91-20398 RESOLUTION NO. 91-20398 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA REQUESTING THAT METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION CONDUCT A STUDY DEMONSTRATING THE BENEFITS OF AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSIT SERVICE DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY, AND URGING THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION TO A REQUEST FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO FUND AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSIT SERVICE DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT CONSTRUCTION IS OCCURRING ALONG THE MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY. Whereas, the Florida Department of Transportation has begun much needed reconstruction of the MacArthur Causeway and anticipates replacing the MacArthur Causeway Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway and, Whereas, this construction project is anticipated to last for a minimum of two (2) years for the causeway and an additional minimum of two (2) years for the intracoastal waterway bridge and, Whereas, construction on the causeway has already begun and has resulted in traffic delays into and out of the City of Miami Beach including the reduction of travel lanes and the slowing of traffic as it passes through construction corridors and, Whereas, the City of Miami Beach, Metropolitan Dade County Transit Agency and the Florida Department of Transportation have jointly developed an alternative transit service to assist commuters and other travelers across the MacArthur Causeway during the period of construction and, Whereas, this alternative transit service is being designed as a park and ride system so as to move travellers out of their automobile and into a bus or trolley service and, Whereas, the Federal Highway Administration, Tallahassee District Office, has reviewed and denied this request on the grounds that 1) the request was submitted after the design phase of the project and 2) there is no information or study to demonstrate that this transit service would move travelers out of automobiles and into bus service and, Whereas, Metropolitan Dade Transit Administration has offered to conduct a study to demonstrate the benefits of such an alternative transit service . Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, that the Metropolitan Dade County Transit Administration is hereby requested to conduct a study demonstrating the benefits of an alternative transit service during the construction of the MacArthur Causeway and, Further, be it resolved by the City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, that the Commission urges the Federal Highway Administration to reconsider and provide favorable approval to the Florida Department of Transportation 's request to implement an alternative transit service during construction of the MacArthur Causeway. Passed and adopted this 4th day of December 1991 ATTEST: /I 4ItA0,4 E-cervniiv / Att City Clerk lin\ Mayor FORM APPROVED LEGAL, DEPT. By ,C4,4,tee:de, 11- 27 - 9/ CITY (. 11;1 OF MIAMI BEACH CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA 33139 OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER TELEPHONE: (305) 673-7010 FAX: (305) 673-7782 COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. /'72- '7/ DATE: December 4, 1991 TO: Mayor Seymour Gelber and Members of the City Commission FROM: Carla Bernabei Talarico City Manager SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION REGARDING ALTERNATIVE TRANSIT SERVICE DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY The MacArthur Causeway is currently under reconstruction . This reconstruction project is anticipated to continue for approximately two (2) years. During the time of reconstruction there will be a significant number of traffic delays and reduced traffic volume across the causeway. Lanes are anticipated to be closed, lanes will be shifted, and traffic will be slowed along those areas of the causeway where construction is occurring. The City of Miami Beach in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation and Metro Dade Transit Administration has developed an alternative transit service to be operated during the construction of the causeway. This alternative transit service is based on a park-and-ride concept with park-and-ride lots identified in Downtown Miami at the Sheraton Brickell Hotel and at the Omni Hotel and shopping complex. This alternative transit service would link Downtown Miami with Miami Beach, tying into a proposed Miami Beach/South Beach shuttle service serving the Ocean Drive/ Washington Avenue entertainment districts and the convention center area. The joint proposal for an alternative transit service was submitted by the Florida Department of Transportation to the Federal Highway Administration for approval . The Federal Highway Administration District Office in Tallahassee rejected the proposal on the grounds that it was submitted after the design phase of the MacArthur Causeway was completed and that there was no analysis to determine that commuters and other travelers across the causeway would leave their automobiles and travel in this alternative transit service. Metropolitan Dade County Transit Administration has agreed to conduct a feasibility study to demonstrate that travelers would indeed leave their automobiles and utilize this service during periods of construction on the MacArthur Causeway. Once this study is complete (anticipated to require approximately 30 to 45 days) it could be resubmitted to the Federal Highway Administration for their consideration . Therefore, it is requested that the Federal Highway Administration reconsider their decision and provide favorable approval, upon receipt of the requested study, for this project. AGENDA ITEM DATE /2- Administration Recommendation: The Administration recommends the adoption of the attached resolution which requests that Metropolitan Dade County Transit Administration conduct a feasibility study of the alternative transit system proposed for implementation during reconstruction of the MacArthur Causeway, and that the Federal Highway Administration provide a favorable recommendation and approve funding this alternative transit system. CBT:ah 53 • ORIGINAL RESOLUTION NO. 91-20398 Requesting that Metropolitan Dade County Transit Administration conduct a study demonstrating the benefits of an alternative transit service during construction of the MacArthur Causeway, and urging the Federal Highway Administration to provide favorable transporation to fund an alternative transit service durning the period of time that construction is occurring along the MacArthur Causeway.