Andrew Riddle,

Senior Planner

Pete Schwarz,

Assistant Director

Jennifer Frastai, Director

Engineering & Community Development

Resolutions supporting the City’s projects identified in the Broward Metropolitan Organization 2045 Broward Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP):

(A) North Dixie Highway Corridor Project identified in the draft 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan

(B) Commercial Boulevard Grade Separation at the Florida East Coast (FEC) Rail Corridor Project identified in the draft 2045 MTP Cost Feasible Plan

Issue Statement: The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) approved the draft 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) Cost Feasible Plan, formerly referred to as the Long Range Transportation Plan.  The projects identified in the draft 2045 MTP as “cost feasible” require a resolution of support by the City Commission to remain in the final 2045 MTP.

Recommended Action: The City Commission:

1. Adopt a Resolution supporting the proposed North Dixie Highway Corridor Project identified in the draft 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan.

2. Consider a Resolution for the proposed Commercial Boulevard Grade Separation at the Florida East Coast (FEC) Rail Corridor Project identified in the draft 2045 MTP Cost Feasible Plan.

Background: Federal regulations require MPOs to develop MTPs and update the plans every five years with no less than a 20-year planning horizon. As part of the development of the MTP, the MPO considers current and future transportation needs regardless of financial constraints (also known as the MTP Needs Assessment). Additionally, the MTP must demonstrate fiscal constraint, which means the plan includes sufficient financial information for demonstrating that projects in the MTP can be implemented using committed, available, or reasonably available revenue sources. The Cost Feasible Plan is the result of examining the available funding and determining which projects can be funded in the MTP.  

The full 2045 MTP is anticipated to be adopted in December 2019. The MPO is requesting a resolution of support by August 1, 2019 for each project identified in the City in order for them to remain in the Cost Feasible Plan and be included in the final 2045 MTP.  Projects in the MTP Cost Feasible Plan are funded through the MPO, with no anticipated financial liability on the City.

The draft 2045 Cost Feasible Plan, adopted by the MPO Board includes the following two projects within the City of Oakland Park:

Dixie Highway: (#10 on the Cost Feasible Plan)

• Project Scope:  New multimodal connections for bicyclist and pedestrians, with safe routes connecting neighborhoods.
• Project limits: North Dixie Highway from Oakland Park Boulevard to Prospect Road.
• Property Owners: Florida Department of Transportation and Florida East Coast Railway.

• MPO Estimate Cost: $1,281,000

• Estimate Timeframe for Implementation: 2026 - 2030

• Is the City the Sponsoring Agency: Yes. The City of Oakland Park submitted this project as part of the MPO’s 2045 MTP call for projects.

Improvements to the Dixie Highway Corridor are identified in the City’s Transportation Mobility Plan, CRA Strategic Plan, and 5-year Capital Improvement Program. Staff had submitted a proposed project as part of the MTP at an estimated cost of $9 million dollars.  The concept was to provide a holistic approach to include future pedestrian access improvements to connect the east and the west areas along this corridor. Although staff believes that the MPO estimated cost is low and additional funding will be required, staff will work with the MPO and FDOT to implement this project as the first phase of a multi-phase approach to improving this corridor.   It should be noted that this project is also listed on the City’s Surtax project list.

Commercial Boulevard at the FEC Rail Corridor Grade Separation: (#17 on the Cost Feasible Plan)

• Project limits: FEC Rail Corridor at Commercial Boulevard.

• Project Scope: Study the possibility of a grade separation at the Commercial Boulevard intersection with the FEC rail corridor. The proposed project would improve traffic congestion in that area by separating the automobile, bicycle and pedestrian traffic from the railroad traffic by elevating one over the other. At this early stage, no determination about which corridor would be elevated, nor any other detail has been contemplated. All potential solutions would be analyzed as part of the initial planning study to determine feasibility and impact, and continue through the project development and environment (PD&E) study phase.

• Property Owner: Florida Department of Transportation.

• MPO Estimate Cost: $52,458,600

• Estimate Timeframe for Implementation: 2031-2035

• Is the City the Sponsoring Agency: No. The MPO has added grade-separation projects to the draft 2045 MTP as part of its long-range congestion relief efforts.

The projects will need approval by the Owner Agency and additional resolutions may be required once the projects become candidates for programming to demonstrate local commitment on the project delivery method and detailed scope of work. The City of Oakland Park submitted the Dixie Highway project to the MPO. As a state facility, the Florida Department of Transportation would have to approve all design features and improvements. As the project sponsor, it is anticipated that the City would have greater input than a project initiated by FDOT alone. Regarding the grade separation project at Commercial and the FEC Railroad corridor, it is unknown how much input the City would have on this project proposed by the MPO on a state facility.

The Broward MPO has notified the City that in order for the projects to remain in the final 2045 MTP Cost Feasible Plan and establish eligibility for programming this cycle, the City must provide a resolution by the City Commission supporting the project. The resolution of support does not guarantee that the project will be programmed this cycle. However, a resolution of support is required by August 1st in order for the project to remain in the Cost Feasible Plan and establishes eligibility for programming this cycle. If no resolution is provided, the project may be removed from the MTP and/or placed in the “needs and unfunded” portion of the MTP.

The City Commission:

A) Adopt a Resolution supporting the proposed North Dixie Highway Corridor Project identified in the draft 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan.

B)  Consider a Resolution for the proposed Commercial Boulevard at the FEC Rail Corridor Grade Separation Project identified in the draft 2045 MTP Cost Feasible Plan.