MINUTES OF THE MARTIN COUNTY - SCROLL DOWN TO 9A FOR ROUNDABOUTS (webwriter)

METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

Members Not in Attendance:

Robert Wienke, Mayor - Town of Sewall's Point ( really mad mayor, was on vacation in Italy) This was his "done deal", missed the
                                       meeting! Then Town Attorney Tim Wright went on to express the Mayors anger at the podium in defense of the
                                       round a bouts.

Staff Present:

Sivani Kantamneni, MPO Coordinator Tamara L. Pake - Programs Assistant Gary Roberts, Transportation Administrator

Don Donaldson, Director, Public Services

Others in Attendance:

Stacey Miller, FDOT Larry Hymowitz, FDOT Larry Merritt, FDOT, Rebecca Rivett, FDOT,Paul Lampley, FDOT

Mary-Tery Vilches, FDOT, Chuck Deeb, Consultant HJ Ross & Associates

*Indicates a Motion    **Indicates a Vote   ***Indicates for the Record  ****Indicates BCC Motion

   1.   CALL TO ORDER - Called to Order at 9:00 am.

   2.   PRAYER  Prayer offering provided by Reverend Amanda Howard

   3.   PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

   4.   ROLL CALL - A quorum was present.

   5. APPROVE AGENDA

Commissioner Weberman said he would like staff to finish the research concerning the airport and then give presentations to the City of Stuart, Town of Sewall's Point and the Board of County Commissioners before bringing it back to the MPO. The Chair asked Commissioner Weberman to note supplemental agenda item 9B-1, where it is being recommended that the MPO delay this item, and asked that we discuss this item at that time. Commissioner Weberman concurred.

*   Commissioner   Smith moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Krueger seconded.
     ** The vote was unanimous.

6.   MINUTES

*   Commissioner Krueger moved to approve the minutes. Mayor Rifkin seconded.

**   The vote was unanimous.

7. PUBLIC COMMENTS - NON AGENDA ITEMS - PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.

   There were no comments from the public on non-agenda items.

CONSENT ITEMS

8A.   FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

   MEMO:   mpo01a.075

   Commissioner Weberman asked staff what the issue is, in regard to GreenRiver Parkway and the Western Corridor. Mr. Roberts said it is for joint participation between the two counties, letting them know the status of the two projects within Martin County, and any coordination that we may need with St. Lucie County. Commissioner Weberman asked if this was a joint meeting of the two boards. Mr. Roberts answered yes.

   In response to Commissioner DiTerlizzi, Ms. Kantamneni said the September 20th meeting is a special meeting being held at *1:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Martin County Commission Chambers.

   Secretaries Correction: The Joint MPO/SLC meeting is to be held at *1:00 p.m.

   The Chair directed staff to advertise the time and date of the joint meeting with St. Lucie County.

    *   Commissioner DiTerlizzi moved to endorse the Future Agenda Items. Mayor Rifkin seconded.

**   The vote was unanimous.
 

AGENDA ITEMS

9A.   TOWN OF Sewall's POINT ROUNDABOUTS

   MEMO   mpo01a.066

   Ms. Kantamneni gave an overview of the Sewall's Point Roundabouts project.

   The Chair asked Ms. Stacey Miller to explain the proposed plans and provide comments on the turn areas and the trees.

   Ms. Stacey Miller, Project Manager FDOT, gave a run down on the project.

   The Chair said that someone coming from the side of Stuart, going east, can turn left into Harbour Bay. Ms. Miller said that is correct.

   Commissioner Smith asked if a person can turn right coming out of Harbour Bay. Ms. Miller said yes, Harbour Bay still has access points on River Road and Sewall's Point Road that have not been modified, so those two are still functional for entering and exiting, but the only way to exit onto SR A1A would be to make a right, and then utilize the roundabouts to U-turn and come back eastbound.

   Commissioner Weberman said the partial variance is still a change from what was presented to the shopping center back in 1998, where they were basically told they were going to have no changes to their access, you're now just giving them a partial. Ms. Miller asked, in 1998 at the charrette? Mr. Weberman said whatever, it is a changeover from what the residents were presented. Ms. Miller said it is her understanding, from the plans she has seen from the Town of Sewall's Point, they were provided with a left turn access into Harbour Bay Plaza at that charrette, so it is consistent with the plan presented by the Town to the Department regarding the access. Commissioner Weberman said, but you're changing the left turn out of the shopping center. Ms. Miller said her understanding is, as part of the charrette plan, it did not show left turn access out of Harbour Bay Plaza. Commissioner Weberman said, but it is a change over the existing conditions. Ms. Miller said it is a change over the existing conditions which is a 5-lane section, in that location, without a median.

   Secretaries Note: The usage of etc. is used by the Speaker, and not included at the discretion of the transcriber.

   Commissioner Weberman asked what the justification was for the roundabout at River Road; are there accidents, is there an accident history, I need a better understanding of why the roundabout was put in at River Road. Ms. Miller said the justifications for the roundabouts, after the Town of Sewall's Point Charrette and the Town presented that proposal to the Department, went through the process of Justification Report. The Justification Report takes in different factors, safety, level of service, current traffic movement, etc. The Justification Report states that level of service increases by 2 levels by utilizing a roundabout, as opposed to a signalized intersection at River Road.

   Commissioner Weberman asked if there is any pressing accident history that requires the roundabout at River Road. Ms. Miller asked, pressing accident history? Commissioner Weberman asked if there are conflicts. Ms. Miller said there are always conflicts, because it's an intersection, and if it has stop condition, it has conflicts. There are accidents at that particular intersection; is it excessive, no, it is not excessive.

   Commissioner Weberman asked Ms. Miller to explain the mid-crosswalk. Ms. Miller said the Town of Sewall's Point requested the Department provide a signalized mid-block crossing, because of the nature of roundabouts there is no signalization within this corridor, although you have crosswalks in every direction at each intersection.

       Commissioner Weberman asked if anyone has done an estimate of the actual number of people that will cross at that crosswalk. Ms. Miller said they have very minimal numbers regarding pedestrian activity in the Town.

   Commissioner Weberman asked if these roundabouts are consistent with an elder ready community. Ms. Miller said they are consistent with the Florida Department of Transportation's practices and the Federal practices regarding elder road user programs.

   Commissioner Weberman asked if an elderly person would view this as being easier than going through a traffic signal. Ms. Miller said that is very dependant on the individual.

   Commissioner Weberman asked if it was possible for FDOT to build one of the roundabouts now at Sewall's Point Road. Ms. Miller said that would be inconsistent with what the Town has requested from the Department.

   Commissioner Weberman said, let's not focus on what the Town has requested, let's focus on what the community wants; is it possible to build one roundabout at Sewall's Point Road. Ms. Miller said the Department can provide additional, or a different type of configuration at River Road, as opposed to a roundabout.

   Commissioner Weberman asked if it was possible to put this decision off until the new Lyons Bridge is completed, like the City of Stuart requested, for the Roosevelt Bridge. Ms. Miller said again, it is possible, but it would be inconsistent with what the Town of Sewall's Point has requested of the Department.

   Mayor Rifkin asked for the total cost of one roundabout, and the total cost of both roundabouts. Ms. Miller said they haven't broken the project out by individual roundabouts because it's a global project with landscaping features and lighting features, etc. The project, as it currently exists today, would be approximately $1.3 million dollars with all the features, the existing landscaping, lighting, etc.

   Commissioner Smith asked what the other configuration at River Road would be if they didn't put in a roundabout. Ms. Miller said, as of several years ago when the project was still a portion of the Evans Crary Bridge projects, it was requested that a signal be installed at River Road at Sewall's Point Road. The Department would, at this point, determine what the appropriate intersection would be, whether it be signalization, stop conditions, etc.

   Commissioner Smith asked if traffic was similar to what it is on the western side. Ms. Miller said it is completely different on the western side of the Evans Crary. Commissioner Smith asked if it was more or less. Ms. Miller said there is less cross street traffic; River Road dead-ends at the end of it's access point to the two plazas, so it's not a through street. There is continuous northbound access but it is a completely different configuration.

   Commissioner Smith asked if there are different costs associated with acquisition of right of way. Ms. Miller said there is different acquisition required with signalization versus roundabouts. There is much more corner clip land needed when proposing a roundabout in order to segregate the traffic and move it from the middle, you have to buy more land on the exterior. It depends on how many lanes you need to control the intersection.

   Commissioner Smith asked if additional lanes were going to be provided or looked at on Sewall's Point Road. Ms. Miller said Sewall's Point Road would need to be expanded from it's current condition; it would require dual left turn lanes if it was not a roundabout. Commissioner Smith asked if that would include additional acquisition. Ms. Miller said it would not at this time, they feel the amount of land they have acquired at the intersection would be sufficient, however, it may require additional land on North Sewall's Point Road in order to accommodate two receiver lanes that then merge into one lane.

   Commissioner Smith asked if there was a cost analysis done on signalized intersections versus the roundabouts. Ms. Miller said that has not been done in several years and our cost of doing signalized intersections raise every year due to the different facets of controller cabinets, signalization equipment, mast arms, etc.

   Commissioner Smith asked if she had any recall on what it cost years ago. Ms. Miller said she wasn't the project manager at the time.

   Commissioner Krueger asked what is the process of gathering information to justify these traffic circles when other states are eliminating them now. Ms. Miller said the Department has a procedure to go through and it's documented in order to obtain a roundabout justification report. They go through several modeling types, they use SIDRA (a traffic analysis model), that shows what a roundabout would be versus a signalized or unsignalized intersection, traffic data has to be obtained, several components go into this report and then it goes to the Traffic Operations Department, who determine whether the roundabout is justified or not.

   Commissioner Krueger said he was curious how the FDOT.....what they're doing for that.....because it's about the size of the one they have in New Jersey, with two lanes around it instead of four. Ms. Miller said the Department has utilized the Treasure Coast Regional Planning (TCRPC) model, in order to project the 20 year life expectancies, these roundabouts still function at level of service A or B in 20 years.

   Commissioner Krueger asked if they projected the growth of Port St. Lucie, Western Martin County, all of Martin County and Northern Palm Beach County that would be coming to our beaches and going over Hutchinson Island using these. Ms. Miller said they used the latest TCRPC model.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked at what level of traffic counts on SR A1A, at those intersections, do these circles begin to show failure. Ms. Miller said she doesn't have the current traffic data with her. Mr. Roberts put the Annual Daily Traffic data on the overhead screen. The Chair asked when the counts were taken. Mr. Roberts pointed out the average for the year and said they are taken at a minimum of 4 times per year, and pointed out a count that is taken 365 days a year, totalling 18,000 cars per day crossing the bridge. North Sewall's Point Road has approximately 7,300 cars per day and 11,400 crossing the Ernst Lyons Bridge. Ms. Miller said she can provide the 2025 counts.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked Mr. Roberts if he had traffic counts for Confusion Corner. Mr. Roberts said no, he did not.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi clarified that they could not provide the answer of what level these roundabouts may start to show signs of failure. Ms. Miller said they have not projected out a number that would fail the roundabouts. At their current projections for a 20 year life expectancy they still function at a service level A or B.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if they took into consideration the average age of the people in Martin County. Ms. Miller said the Department takes into consideration signage, lighting, pavement markings, those kind of issues. The design itself, utilizes State and Federal guidelines to take into account elder use.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi noted that there was an article in the paper saying there would be 90 signs in 200 feet.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked about the roundabouts level of service during an evacuation. Ms. Miller said with persons helping the evacuation route the level of service would not be a problem. There will be police and other persons helping; you can utilize the roundabouts in both directions, it does not preclude you from having 4-way access out of Hutchinson Island.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked how the level of service would be at River Road with a roundabout compared to the type of intersection there now. Ms. Miller said she does not have that information due to the fact the Department was requested to put a signal at River Road. The Department was basing its current plan versus the proposed change in plans from a signal to a roundabout.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked for the current speed limit in Sewall's Point. The crowd yelled out 40 mph.

   Commissioner Armstrong asked if the $1.3 million is coming out of the Martin County box funds. Ms. Miller said yes. Commissioner Armstrong asked if the MPO were to reduce the scope of this project by some percentage, would that free up additional funds for use at other transportation projects in Martin County. Ms. Miller said it may, this project is State funded.

   The Chair asked how much the roundabouts would cost compared to the traffic signal. Ms. Miller said no, because the project is a combined effort of all the different aspects of the projects. However, they do estimate at this time that signalized intersections run approximately $140,000 for the mast arms, conduits, etc.

   The Chair said there would be the cost of maintaining the roundabouts. Ms. Miller said the landscaping would be maintained by the Town of Sewall's Point, there are obviously no mast arms or lights in that regard to maintain, the roadway lighting would also be maintained by the Town of Sewall's Point by a maintenance agreement. The roadway pavement is the FDOT''s responsibility. The Chair said she would like the cost differential between the mast arms and the roundabouts.

   The Chair asked if they have looked at how to do ingress/regress into the shopping plaza across the street from Harbour Bay. Ms. Miller said the Department has never been requested to provide a left turn west to south bound access into that shopping center. When the Town of Sewall's Point requested the Department review providing an access point within that median, they requested north side access only. The two driveways are offset from one another and it is not possible with the configuration that we have today to provide restricted access in both directions, we can only provide it in one direction.

   The Chair asked what studies have been done as to the feasibility of the crosswalk. Ms. Miller said there has been no study conducted regarding the feasibility of a pedestrian actuated crosswalk.

   The Chair asked about someone coming to the roundabout from 40 mph. Ms. Miller said they will be notified with due advance signage that they are approaching a roundabout that has a speed limit of approximately 15-20 mph. The Town of Sewall's Point and the Department have determined that they will drop the speed limit within the Town to 30 mph.

   Commissioner Smith said it wouldn't be any different from coming to a complete stop at the other end of the bridge. Ms. Miller said that is correct, you do have to stop at a signalized intersection at St. Lucie Boulevard at the other end of the Evans Crary Bridge. Commissioner Smith asked if that was from

   40 mph. Ms. Miller said yes.

       Commissioner Weberman asked, given our current standards, when does the intersection at River Road fail. Mr. Roberts said it does not become deficient based on our current standards.

   Mr. Roberts said when looking at providing an eastbound left turn lane into Harbour Bay, are they looking at relocating the pedestrian crosswalk. Ms. Miller said they will have to modify that. Mr. Roberts asked if it was still part of the project. Ms. Miller said at this time it is currently part of the project.

   The Chair asked, if the crosswalk was taken out, would it be possible to do the left turn into the other shopping area. Ms. Miller said no, it would not. That signalized crosswalk has no impact on whether we provide one access point versus another. The Chair asked if there is any configuration that would help to save that shopping center with a left turn. Ms. Miller said the only way to maintain access to both the south and to the north would be to have a non-divided section, a two-way left turn lane as it currently exists today.

   The following people voiced their opinion on the Roundabouts:

Herman Goodman   Opposed,  Lawrence Tadross Opposed,  Rebecca Costello  Opposed , Stanley Beauchamp Opposed ,

Michael A. Bruno  Opposed , Pam Busha  In Favor Of , Allan Rubin  Inconclusive, Louis Savini Opposed,Col. Ed Smith Opposed,

Armand Cifelli In Favor Of , Henry Milne Opposed, Robert Aune Opposed, Myrtle Herman Opposed, Richard Towne Opposed ,

Harvey Toback Opposed , Don Bills  In Favor Of , Ellie Bills In Favor Of , Karen Bannister Opposed ,

***   Commissioner DiTerlizzi said for the record the CPAC being referred to is the "Citizens for Preservation of A1A Corridor".

Casey Martin  Opposed , Vincent Cornell Opposed , Meriliz Cary In Favor Of , James McMahon Opposed, Billy Escue Opposed

Bill Fricks Opposed , Don Gleichman Opposed .

Petition Against Roundabouts

Totals:

Sewall's Point      623

Jensen Beach      259

Hutchinson Island     66

Palm City      239

Stuart         729

Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if this CPAC is affiliated with the CPAC from the Stuart Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Gleichman said none whatsoever, and the monies reported in the Stuart News was inaccurate. Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked what CPAC stood for. Mr. Escue said Committee for Preservation of A1A Corridor.

***   Commissioner DiTerlizzi said for the record the CPAC from the Chamber of Commerce is "Chamber Political Action Committee".

Tim Wright, representing the Town of Sewall's Point, gave a presentation and provided handouts.

Joe Capra In Favor Of ,Michael Busha In Favor Of .

At this point there were no further comments from the public.

Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked what land would be required for the roundabouts versus intersection improvements without roundabouts. Ms. Miller said the Department has not gone through and done a full analysis of right of way acquisition since the early 90's regarding signalized intersections versus roundabouts. However, roundabouts require additional land at the actual corners although normally an expanded intersection requires corner clips or corner acquisition. More is required during a rounabout construction because you have to force traffic from the center. There may be a need for property along North Sewall's Point Road in order to have two receiver lanes that then merge into one lane. Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if that would be taken from the east side of North Sewall's Point Road. Ms. Miller said they would have to determine which would be the appropriate side.

Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if no roundabout is built at River Road would FDOT require signalization at that intersection. Ms. Miller said the Department would have to reevaluate the existing proposal for that particular intersection. Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if FDOT would look to the MPO for a recommendation. Ms. Miller said they would probably first go to the Town of Sewall's Point with the information and if necessary they would go to the MPO.

Commissioner DiTerlizzi said the attorney's for Sewall's Point said the roundabouts are faster, isn't that contrary to the idea of traffic calming. Ms. Miller said she can't answer for what the attorney said.

Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if there were other methods of traffic calming that can be achieved that would do the same as two roundabouts. Ms. Miller said the Department has looked into a variety of different types of traffic calming, however on a state road, as opposed to city or county streets, we are limited by different types of traffic calming. One type of traffic calming that we do not do on state roads is speed bumps. Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked about splitter islands. Ms. Miller said splitter islands are what occurs at a roundabout, in order to reduce speed you have to move somebody from their current headed direction, utilizing a roundabout you actually have to change direction therefore you slow down to make that modification.

Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked about the comment made that five roundabouts are planned for Martin County, what designated roads are they. Mr. Roberts said there are a couple going in the State System, one of them on SR A1A and MacArthur Boulevard and the other is part of the plan with regard to the Jensen Beach Causeway at SR A1A. There is one planned for Palm City on the County Road system, and there are others we are considering for the future. Commissioner DiTerlizzi said River Road is the only one at the foot of a bridge. Mr. Roberts said yes.

Commissioner Smith asked Mr. Capra if he is contracted by the County, and if so he must be qualified and equally competent. Mr. Capra concurred. Commissioner Smith asked if, in both their opinions, technically, the roundabouts function to meet all levels of service. Ms. Miller said yes. Mr. Capra said yes.

Commissioner Krueger asked why Ms. Miller always goes back to the point and concentrate on what a couple hundred people out of four/five hundred people in Sewall's Point want, instead of taking consideration what all of Martin County wants, the people in this county who use that road and thoroughfare more than the citizens of Sewall's Point themselves. Ms. Miller said the Department took that into consideration when the MPO was presented with the plans showing two roundabouts and the MPO at that time unanimously asked the Department to work with the Town of Sewall's Point to construct their vision. Commissioner Krueger said he must have missed that meeting.

The Chair asked what the protocol would be to change the configuration of the roadway. Ms. Miller said she assumes that if the MPO wishes for the Department to make any modifications we would work with the MPO and the Town of Sewall's Point, since the roadway is jurisdictionally in their town limits, we would want to actively work with that commission, in order to assure them as well as the MPO, that they have worked through all of the issues with all the proper channels. It is the Departments responsibility to insure, in this case, Martin County and the jurisdictional town, in this case The Town of Sewall's Point, are fully aware of all the issues and have agreed to the overall plan.

Commissioner Krueger asked if you get around the roundabouts in 35.7 seconds and the light takes 67.9. Ms. Miller said that was part of a roundabout justification study that they conducted in early 1999, in order to provide enough information for their traffic operations department to review the justification for the roundabout.

Commissioner Krueger asked if Ms. Miller heard anything today that might have changed her mind, such as you can't even get on half of the rounabouts because you have two straight lanes of traffic going through it so fast that the side lanes can't get on, the people sitting on the side will probably take three times as long as the light would, where the light gives everybody an equal chance to get through an intersection. Ms. Miller said it is her understanding those people were discussing the New Jersey roundabouts.

***   Commissioner Armstrong said for the record that at the meeting of April 17th Commissioner Krueger was absent.

       Commissioner Armstrong asked if the $1.3 million dollars cost of this project included the additional right of way costs. Ms. Miller said no, that is construction dollars only. Commissioner Armstrong asked what the additional right of way costs would be. Ms. Miller said she does not have the final figure. We are in the process of working with all the property owner so I do not have a number. Commissioner Armstrong asked if she had an estimate. Ms. Miller said no, she would not want to say a number and tell him inaccurately what they have programmed for that project. Commissioner Armstrong asked if she could give him some order of magnitude of what they are looking at for right of way acquisition costs. Ms. Miller asked, order of magnitude in relation to? Commissioner Armstrong asked if it was $100.00, is it $1,000.00 or a million dollars? Ms. Miller said she would say it was closer to the million dollars, or more, than the $100 dollar mark. Commissioner Armstrong said a general guesstimate is we are looking at a plus or minus of a million dollars for the right of way. Ms. Miller said that right of way monies do take into consideration all of the right of way being acquired for both the Lyons Bridge and for the construction of the roundabouts, it is a total dollar figure associated for both projects.

   The Chair asked if that cost includes the lift station and relocation. Ms. Miller said the lift station is a separate dollar figure, it is not associated with right of way, it is associated with utilities because the utility is currently within an easement; we are purchasing the property of the easement, that utility has to be moved to another location.

   The Chair said the cost is not $1.3 million, the cost will rise substantially. Ms. Miller said that $1.3 million is just for construction. There are engineering fees, acquisition fees, utility fees. That lift station would need to be modified whether we expand the intersection or did the roundabouts.

   Commissioner Smith asked Commissioner Weberman what he proposes will happen if the MPO sends a letter to FDOT opposing the roundabouts. Commissioner Weberman said they will have to finish construction of the Lyons Bridge and then figure out what to do at the intersection of Sewall's Point Road and A1A, which is where we probably need intersection improvements, but to do an entire project prefaced on putting a signal where none is warranted is illogical.

*   Commissioner Weberman moved to approve the MPO sending a letter to FDOT opposing the Sewall's Point Roundabouts. Commissioner Krueger seconded.

**   The vote was unanimous.

      Commissioner Armstrong asked for clarification of the motion on the floor, that this motion is specific to Sewall's Point and not all roundabouts that are being considered in Martin County. Commissioner Weberman said yes, it would be specific to this project and I'll read briefly what the letter could say: we are opposed to it because of lack of community consensus, public safety concerns, lack of project need, it's a non-elder ready function, doesn't support the business community, contrary to access management standards and we have other funding priorities.

       The Chair called for a fiive minute break.
 

9B.   MPO RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING THE AIRPORT

   MEMO:   mpo01a.067

   Ms. Kantamneni said that Mike Moon, Airport Director, has asked that the MPO table this item    until August and that is staff's recommendation.

       Comments from the Public:

   Mr. John Ziegler, of Sewall's Point, voiced his opinion on this agenda item.

    *   Commissioner Krueger moved to approve having MPO Staff and Mike Moon, Airport Director, take their findings before the other municipalities so they can have comments before they bring it back to the MPO Board. Commissioner Smith seconded.

**   The vote was unanimous.
 

9C.   SR 714 STATUS REPORT - GRADE SEPARATION FEASIBILITY AT DIXIE HIGHWAY FEC

   MEMO:   mpo01a.068

Mr. Paul Lampley, FDOT, gave a presentation on the PD&E study.

Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if the plateau was alternative 2A. Mr. Lampley said it is 2A & 2B. 2B is a modification where you would have ramps going to Palm Beach Road. Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if it was a bridge or a raised intersection going over the railroad tracks. Mr. Lampley said there would be one single bridge, that would cross the FEC corridor. The entire intersection at Dixie Highway and Monterey Road would be on a plateau so it would be a raised intersection. Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if the cost on that would be $60 million. Mr. Lamplely said yes, $60 million for total right of way and construction costs. Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked where the money would come from. Mr. Lampley said the MPO would have to prioritize the projects based on their needs.

Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if they chose alternative 2A for example, could the extra funds be allocated to the Indian Street Bridge. Mr. Lampley said there are no funds for the intersection currently. There are also no funds allocated in the 5-year work program for the at-grade intersection. There may be opportunity based on the priority of the MPO to bring it into the 6th year.

Commissioner Smith asked what we are short in the current MPO 5 year plan, is it $30/$40 million. Mr. Roberts said yes approximately, particularly since we're still looking for funding for the Indian Street Bridge, which is still an un-funded project. Special allocation will have to be made for that project as well. Commissioner Smith said, special from FDOT. Mr. Roberts said that is correct. Mr. Donaldson said in the 2025 plan it is in the Cost Feasible plan as to be funded, however the MPO adopted a second plan that assumed that they would find an alternative funding source which allows other projects in the Long Range Plan to be funded. The PD&E study is the only thing that's funded for this particular project. In any alternative there isn't construction allocation. From staff's perspective, timing will become an issue, but the MPO needs to give some direction to FDOT.

Commission Weberman opened discussion regarding the possibility of the Gruman extension, right before the FEC railroad tracks, and extending it to CR A1A, with the possibility of punching through 10th Street.

Commissioner Armstrong asked what ability the local government or FDOT have, to restrict when the switch engineer does his work in this corridor. Mr. Lampley did not directly answer the question. He said their traffic analysis did look at a six minute closure of the intersection, where the train was stopping the traffic for six minutes, in the year 2002 , which was a design year, and it does create a total failure of the intersection and backs traffic up through US1.

Commissioner Krueger said he thought there was a law that they couldn't close all crossings in a city at one time. Mr. Lampley said there are other municipalities that he is aware of, such as Riviera Beach, who have passed local ordinances that would prohibit a train from blocking a crossing, that would give the local police the authority to make that train move.

The Chair asked if there were dollars budgeted previously to have this reviewed and to have it constructed. Mr. Donaldson said no, it was just for the study, and there are dollars that have been appropriated for the four-laning of Monterey, but not for this particular intersection improvement.

The Chair asked if the MPO would have any influence with FEC regarding the timing of the switching. Mr. Roberts said the reason staff is really looking at this is that a train does block off several of these intersections. We are looking for this to be the major corridor to the beach area.

Commissioner Weberman asked how he would get talking to FEC into someone's assignment so that FDOT, Don or Gary is working on it. The Chair said since FDOT is working on this study, and they are paying for it as well, perhaps they can open up dialogue with FEC.

The Chair asked if this includes the intersection construction. Mr. Lampley said yes it does, the second line on the graph shows the intersection costs. The Chair asked if any money was available through the state to help with this project. Mr. Lampley said currently there is a JPA that's going to be executed with the County to take the two-lane section by the YMCA and make it a four-lane. Also, FDOT is going to fund that post construction and reimburse the county for that project. US-1 to Ocean Avenue is funded for design once they get location design concept approval from Federal Highway. There is the opportunity to go ahead and fund for construction but it will be past the adopted 5-year work program.

The Chair asked if those dollars would come out of the program for the Indian Street Bridge. Mr. Donaldson said no, you would be competing with other priorities in the County. Realistically, this can get to a design phase and construction and right of way acquisition in probably the next three years, but there isn't funding in our normal cycle at this point for at least 10 years. Some of the roadway improvements are already in our work program, those are the 4-laning of Monterey and we'll try to work some intersection improvements; that's what we have our consultants working on, which we'll try to seek reimbursement for. As far as solving this problem at the railroad tracks and US-1, it's some years out as far as actually funding it, unless some special appropriation drops in and solves our Indian Street Bridge problem, then we would have funding for some of these projects.

*   Commissioner Weberman moved to approve at grade, have FDOT continue investigating at grade alternatives, which include possible improvements of FEC railroad switching operations, and to continue investigating funding alternatives. Commissioner Krueger seconded.

**   The vote was unanimous.
 

9D.   FY 2001/02 2005/06 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

   MEMO:   mpo01a.069

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if "Construct Administration Center", is for the Council on Aging. Ms. Kantamneni said yes, it is.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked about Willoughby from Salerno to Cove Road, beyond 2006, isn't that under construction now. Commissioner Weberman said that was 4-laning, from Market Place to Cove.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if Market Place to Salerno is another leg of that project. Mr. Donaldson said no it is included as one. Commissioner DiTerlizzi said that needs to be corrected.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked staff to do a better job of identifying these from now on.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi said SR 714/Mapp Road intersection improvements shows current phase construction, are we looking at 2005/06. Mr. Roberts said there is some money in the program for right of way acquisition. Commissioner DiTerlizzi said it was possible that we gave away some of the right of way on this intersection, to one of the four corners, and now we may have to buy it back.

***   Commissioner DiTerlizzi said for the record that we shouldn't be giving any right of way to anybody with the consideration that we may have to buy it back.

       The Chair asked staff to bring back the information on that right of way for informational purposes.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi asked if the Western Corridor is under design. Mr. Roberts said we are in the process of finalizing the report and then we will go to design.

   Commissioner DiTerlizzi mentioned that a developer may be building a turnpike interchange and wonders if we shouldn't hold off on spending any large expenditures on design of that corridor if this interchange is actually going to be built. Mr. Roberts said he has talked to the turnpike briefly, in regard to that matter, and they have not been contacted by the developer yet; they have indicated that they have some real issues or problems, particularly in regard to the cost estimates that the developer has put forward. One of the major issues is that they don't usually build turnpike interchanges on a 2-lane road, so there are some hurdles the developer is going to have to go through in order to build and construct the turnpike interchange anyplace within the immediate future.

   The Chair asked about Edison to Willoughby, would that be in the TIP. Mr. Donaldson said it's in the CIP. The Chair asked when the other part of the roadway from US-1 to Willoughby will be shown. Mr. Donaldson said that was in the beyond category. Mr. Roberts said he can't remember what the status is but it was one of the considerations they had in the 2025 Long Range Plan. Mr. Donaldson said he doesn't think it made it, for funding reasons, in the Cost Feasible Plan. Mr. Roberts said it is shown in the County's CIP, scheduled for design in 2002.

   Commissioner Smith asked if the enhancement projects were fully funded. Ms. Kantamneni said they are.

   Commissioner Smith asked for expansion on the traffic calming features listed under enhancements, regarding Bridge Road. Mr. Roberts said they are going through the design process in regard to the various years, so it is design at this point, in regard to the project.

   The Chair said they need at least 3 gateways, one on both sides of US-1 north and south, and one on SR 76; how can it get put into the TIP. Mr. Donaldson said that is a CIP discussion. The Chair asked if the MPO had to approve that first. Commissioner DiTerlizzi said Mr. Blackburn is going to put that in the budget this year for funding, I believe he said one gateway per year. Commissioner DiTerlizzi said this is not an MPO function, it is the function of the BCC. The Chair said she wants it to be in the TIP.

   Mr. Blackburn said the budget at this point contains two gateways, one on US-1 south and one on US-1 north. However, since we've had some slight increase in the assessable base, the board may want to consider another county gateway and the ideal location would be Kanner Highway.

   The Chair asked where the MPO could put this in, and then it could be brought before the BCC as well.

   Mr. Donaldson said he doesn't know if it's necessary to forward that onto the FDOT as part of the adopted work program but we can certainly include it as an amendment, once we get inclusion from the Board of County Commissioners.

   Commissioner Smith asked what is involved in traffic calming for 2002. Mr. Roberts said westbound on Bridge Road at the Mobil gas station there is a lack of right of way and we are looking to get in a right turn lane as part of an intersection improvement. It's not really traffic calming, it's more like traffic operation.

   Commissioner Smith asked if the 25 acre    conservation easement was something that was transferred out of the construction project. Commissioner Weberman said they went through their permitting process and the final permits to five lane the project included this 23-1/2 conservation easement. So it's already been recorded, it's like permitting in advance, we may be able to get some credits for it but it's a holdover from the 5-laning of the A1A project which isn't even on the books anymore.

   The Chair asked if the funding for Bridge Road, on R-3 would come from FDOT or could it, since they are doing roadway improvements. Mr. Roberts said it's strictly on Bridge Road and is now part of the resurfacing project. Commissioner Weberman clarified that it is Bridge Road from Banner Lake to US-1; he is funding the design of it, strictly with district funds, and once they get the deign done he will let it compete with all other projects. Any improvements at Bridge Road and US-1 should be state funded, it shouldn't come from impact fees. Mr. Roberts clarified that this is a right turn specifically on Bridge Road, it's not in the state system, there is right of way acquisition that needs to be acquired. Commissioner Weberman concurred.

   Commissioner Weberman said he was going to fund the gateway design on Bridge Road out of district funds, and then it will have to compete.

*   Commissioner Weberman moved to transmit the Transportation Improvement Program to FDOT. Commissioner Smith seconded.

**   The vote was unanimous.

9E.   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF THE 2001/2002 TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED PLANNING GRANT APPLICATION

   MEMO:   mpo01a.061

*   Commissioner DiTerlizzi moved to accept staff's recommendation, which is to authorize the Chair to execute the authorizing resolution for the grant. Commissioner Krueger seconded.

**   The vote was unanimous.

9F.   RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AMTRAK PASSENGER SERVICE

   MEMO:   mpo01m.042

*   Commissioner Krueger moved to approve the Resolution Supporting the Establishment of AMTRAK Passenger Service. Mayor Rifkin seconded.

**   The vote was unanimous.

9.   NOTED ITEMS

A. Letter from FDOT to Dennis C. Johnson

B. Letter from FDOT to Commissioner Armstrong re: Presentation on 4/24/01

C. Letter from FDOT to Sivani Kantamneni re: Bicycle Safety Program, with attachments

D. Letter from MPOAC

E. Letter from FDOT to Gary Roberts re: SR-714 at SR-76

F. Email from Joseph Klinger

G. Letter from the City of Stuart re: Resolution 79-2001 addressing airport noise, with copy of resolution

10.   COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC

There were no additional comments from the public

11.   NEXT MEETING      

August 20, 2001

12.   ADJOURN

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:45 P.M.

Recorded and Prepared by:

Tamara L. Pake, Programs Assistant      Date

Commissioner Elmira R. Gainey, Chair Date

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