LEGISLATIVE ACTION ITEM
SPONSOR: Grover C. Robinson, IV, Mayor
SUBJECT:
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REVISED: WEST CERVANTES TRAFFIC FEASIBILITY STUDY INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
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RECOMMENDATION:
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That City Council authorize the Mayor to take all necessary action to execute an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), through Emerald Coast Regional Council (ECRC), and Escambia County relating to cost sharing for the West Cervantes Street Corridor Traffic Feasibility Study.
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HEARING REQUIRED: No Hearing Required
SUMMARY:
On December 14, 2016, the Florida-Alabama TPO adopted the West Cervantes Street Corridor Management Plan. The Plan identified short-term and long-term strategies to improve traffic flow and safety for all modes of travel along the corridor. The long-term strategies provided for a “road diet” with two options: (1) reduce the existing four-lane facility to a two-lane facility; or (2) rebalance the lanes by decreasing the width of the travel lanes and adding landscaped medians.
On July 13, 2017, the Pensacola City Council adopted Resolution No. 17-29 supporting the short-term and long-term recommendations within the West Cervantes Corridor Management Plan and the progression of the project through all phases by FDOT for design and roadway improvements. The County adopted a similar Resolution.
On May 29, 2018, the County and City entered into an ILA to contribute proportionate funding to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the completion of a Traffic Feasibility Study (TFS) for the West Cervantes Street corridor from Dominquez Street to “A” Street.
Due to limited resources, FDOT was unsuccessful in programming the locally-funded TFS in the current year work-plan. At the TPO’s December 12, 2018 meeting, FDOT staff recommended that the County and City allow the TPO’s general planning consultant to perform the study. The City of Pensacola and Escambia County mutually supported the FDOT recommendation to retain the TPO’s general planning consultant to perform the West Cervantes Street Corridor TFS.
On February 13, 2019, the TPO approved TPO staff to coordinate with City and County staff to finalize a scope of services and enter into a contract with the TPO’s general planning consultant for the West Cervantes Street Corridor Traffic Feasibility Study.
City and County staff have met with FDOT representatives to determine the course of action to implement the Plan. Through the course of their meetings, it became apparent the next step was to proceed with the TFS to confirm viability of the long-term strategy.
Providing additional support to this decision were the concerns voiced by FDOT with respect to allowing enhanced short-term improvements which might have to be removed to accomplish the long-term goals. The short-term safety improvements are currently in a design phase by HDR Engineering, Inc., the ECRC’s general planning consultant. Entering into the ILA using the same consultant tasked with the design of the short-term improvements will provide a succinct evaluation of the viability of the long-term strategy.
The City and the County portions are based upon the proportion of the corridor within each jurisdiction.
PRIOR ACTION:
May 10, 2018 - City Council approved entering into ILA with Escambia County to fund the TFS through FDOT.
July 13, 2017 - City Council adopted Resolution No. 17-29 supporting the short-term and long-term recommendations within the West Cervantes Corridor Management Plan.
FUNDING:
Budget: $80,000 Public Works
Actual: $78,395.52 Traffic Feasibility Study (64% of ILA contract fees)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funds are available within the Public Works FY2019 budget for the City’s portion of the Traffic Feasibility Study.
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes
3/29/2019
STAFF CONTACT:
Christopher L. Holley, City Administrator
Keith Wilkins, Assistant City Administrator
L. Derrik Owens, Director of Public Works & Facilities/City Engineer
Sherry H. Morris, Planning Services Administrator
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Interlocal Agreement with ECRC and Escambia County - West Cervantes Street Corridor Traffic Feasibility Study
PRESENTATION: No end