| | | | | | | |  | New Business and Commission Requests - R9 K
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM |
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| | | | | | | | | TO: | Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission | | | FROM: | Commissioner David Richardson | | | DATE: | November 16, 2022 | | | |
| | SUBJECT: | DISCUSSION REGARDING NOVEMBER 2, 2022 DECISION BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO EXTEND THE COUNTY’S EXISTING METROMOVER SYSTEM TO MIAMI BEACH AS THE RAPID MASS TRANSIT SOLUTION FOR THE BEACH CORRIDOR/BAYLINK PROJECT, AND POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION AND CITY COMMISSION REGARDING THE PROPOSED METROMOVER EXTENSION. |
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| | | | | | | | BACKGROUND/HISTORY
| The Miami-Dade County (“County”) Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (“SMART”) Plan includes a rapid transit corridor connecting Downtown Miami and the Miami Beach Convention Center via the MacArthur Causeway (“Beach Corridor Project”), and three Bus Express Rapid Transit (“BERT”) routes connecting Miami Beach to the mainland (Beach Express North, Beach Express Central, and Beach Express South).
On November 2, 2022, and due to significant cost escalations, including impacts on material and labor costs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the County announced that it concluded negotiations with MBM Partners, LLC (“MBM”) to perform pre-development activities and have the exclusive right to negotiate a Project Agreement with the County to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain a monorail system from Downtown Miami/Overtown area of the City of Miami connecting to two locations in the City of Miami Beach.
Instead of pursuing a monorail connection, the County Department of Transportation and Public Works (“DTPW”) has determined that an extension of the County’s existing Metromover system to Miami Beach “would yield significant benefits and provide the highest overall value to residents.” To implement the Beach Corridor/Baylink transit extension as quickly as possible, the County intends to advertise a competitive solicitation for a Metromover extension.
The County’s estimated timeline is as follows: advertisement, evaluation, negotiations, and presentation of a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners to award by October 2023; project design commencing in 2024; construction beginning in 2025; and operations by 2029.
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS
| I would like the City Commission to discuss the County’s recent decision as it relates to Miami Beach (see County Memorandum, dated November 2, 2022, attached as Exhibit “A”). As part of the discussion, I would like the City Commission to consider whether to transmit recommendations to the County, which may include (without limitation) the following:
a) Urge the County to explore opportunities to extend the proposed Metromover line to the Miami Beach Convention Center (in lieu of dedicated bus/trolley lanes, which is the approach selected by the Transportation Planning Organization (“TPO”));
b) Provide the City Commission and City Administration with an opportunity to review and comment on a draft of the RFP prior to issuance; and
c) Designate at least one seat on the RFP evaluation committee as a representative of Miami Beach, to be appointed by the City Commission.
Additionally, I would like the Commission to consider whether to request that the TPO reconsider its selection, dated January 30, 2020, of “dedicated lanes for bus/trolleys along Washington Avenue” as the locally preferred alternative for the Miami Beach Convention Center Extension of the Beach Corridor of the SMART Plan, and instead consider selecting a further Metromover extension to the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Finally, I would like the Commission to consider any additional recommendations of the City Administration, including the Transportation Department.
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| | | | | | | | SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
| | n/a |
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| | | | | | | | FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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| | | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | | Yes | | No | |
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| | | | | | | | Strategic Connection
| | Non-Applicable |
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| | | | | | | | Legislative Tracking
Transportation Department |
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| | | | | | | | Sponsor
Commissioner David Richardson |
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