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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/06/2002 1225 Main Street FI Sebastian, Florida 32958 Telephone (772) 589-5330 [] Fax (772) 589-5570 City Council Information Letter December 6, 2002 Metropolitan Plannin.q Or.qanization Priorities in Sebastian Earlier this week, I received a copy of the attached MPOverview, the Indian River County Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) quarterly newsletter that outlines various activities and events relative to planned projects throughout the area. I wish to call to your attention the 2002 Indian River County MPO Priority Lists (page 3), referencing both highway and enhancement projects referenced as having been programmed for implementation. Eight projects have been ranked on the Highway Priority List, with the Sebastian Fleming Street Extension Program being ranked sixth. Five projects have been outlined on the Enhancement Priority List, with County Road 512 (Sebastian Boulevard) Landscaping and Streetscaping Project currently ranked fourth. Some of this same information was recently communicated during an update I offered to City Council in September after learning about the status of our grant application to the Florida Department of Transportation MPO fund to help finance respective improvements along Sebastian Boulevard. Hopefully the publication of this newsletter signifies a serious commitment on part of the Indian River County MPO to actually help fund and implement both necessary projects in our community in the near future. Interest to Develop Multiple Family Housing in Sebastian During the past two weeks, both my office and the Department of Growth Management were approached by a number of real estate, housing construction and engineering professionals expressing interest to develop large scale multiple family housing complexes within the corporate limits of Sebastian. The apparent rationale is an existing market for both younger families and individuals employed in the area who are not yet in position to purchase single family homes in the community. Although such development activities have not traditionally been consistent with City Council Information Letter December 6, 2002 Page 2 Sebastian's character, zoning to accommodate such proposals existing within a couple different locations in the City. As such, two South Florida based development firms appear to be moving fairly aggressively to pursue applicable opportunities. Creative Choice, a company headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens has expressed an interest to construct a complex on a 10+acre parcel located behind United States Highway One and Barber Street, near the recently developed Publix Supermarket. A second agent, Triad Housing Partners of Hollywood is examining the feasibility of developing units on nearly 35 acres located adjacent to Grace's Landing in the Louisiana Avenue Area. Both entities have also expressed a desire to procure a State of Florida Iow interest loan to initiate respective activities (a similar program recently addressed when other developers proposed additional multiple family housing construction to target seniors). As of yet, no site plans have been submitted so as to initiate a respective formal review process. However, I would not be surprised if representatives from these companies were to contact some of you individually to further discuss potential projects. We will of course do our best to keep both you and the Planning and Zoning Commission abreast with regards to the status of such matters should progression continue to transpire, to include applicable recommendations to be offered publicly if necessary. TRIM Compliance with Florida Department of Revenue My office has received word earlier this week from the State of Florida Department of Revenue relative to the status of our Truth in Millage (TRIM) Certification, as necessary to appropriately administer the Fiscal Year 2002/2003 Budget. I am pleased to report that as a result of the respective revised newspaper advertisement published on November 11, 2002 and the public hearing hosted during your November 13, 2002 session, our certification has been fully accepted. As such, the Indian River Tax Collector's Office was notified and directed to disperse all funds consistent with all Fiscal Year 2002/2003 budget and millage policies adopted by City Council to our community. Veteran's Memorial Dedication/Pearl Harbor Commemoration Just a reminder that a formal Veteran's Memorial dedication ceremony will take place tomorrow afternoon beginning at noon. The event will also commemorate the 61st anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack in Hawaii that City Council Information Letter December 6, 2002 Page 3 ushered America's participation into World War II. Although the City of Sebastian will be the primary cosponsor of this event, representatives from both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars will facilitate the program. Mayor Barnes will also offer a few words respective of the dedication on behalf of the City. Please feel free to join us if you have the opportunity to do so. Enclosure(s): Copy of MPOverview- 2002 MPO Highway and Enhancement Priority Lists My Documents/InfoLetter158 Published by the Indian River County Metropolitan Planning Organization · Volume 1, Issue 2 · Fall 2002 MPO Priority Projects Move Forward FDOT for new transportation proj- ects. The f~st chance for funding · ~ the MPO's top priorities will come in December, when FDOT pubhshes a draft of its new five-year budget, also known as its Work Progam. If funding is available, these projects will show up toward the end of the five-year budget, probably in 2006 Please see "Projects Move Forward" page 5 Planning for 82nd Avenue Begins Now that Construction on SR 60 has begun, the MPO prepares for its next Major Priority: US] in South County As it must do each yea; the MPO adopted its priority transporta- tion project lists at its September 11, 2002 meeting. Once transmitted to FDOT, the priority lists constitute the County's formal request to FDOT has retained the services of Jacobs Civil Inc. to perform a Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) Study to analyze 82nd Avenue as an alterna- tive north-south route from SR 60 to CR 510 (Wabasso Road). When completed, 82nd Avenue will pro- vide a valuable connection between the Sebastian and Vero areas and will also provide an emergency route in the event of a major incident on 1-95. Preliminary study findings to date indicate that future demand will be sufficient to proceed I;;'~:~ with the project. Some ~,~ .~ of the other ,ele.m_,5~s ~1~ to be__ studiea incmae potential impacts to area water resources, wildlife, air qu,ality and safety. Prelimina~ alt~rnt[ffCes for the road alignment are being developed and will be discussed at a worlcshop scheduled for November 7, 2002 from 6:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Liberty Mag-net School, 8955 85th Street, Sebastian, Florida. MPO Priority Projects Move Forward .............................................. 1 5-Year Bus -Plan Complete ............................................................. 1 Planning for 82n~t.Avenue Begins .................................................. 1 Traffic Signal.Cc~ibuter Gets Green Light ..................................... 2 Message from the Chairman~. ........................................................... 2 Special-Pull-Out MPO Priority Projects Lists .............................. 3 Calendar of Events ......................................................................... 5 Update on Current Projects ............................................................. 6 IRT Trcatrfer Facili~ - Before IRT Transfer Facility - After 5-Year Bus Plan Complete This holiday season, week- end shoppers and workers at some of the County's major retail centers - Indian River Mall, Miracle Mile, and Downtown Vero Beach, to name a few - can expect an early gift: a free ride. Beginning in November, Indian River Transit (IRT), a service of Indian River County and the Council on Aging, will provide Saturday Service on some of its most popular routes. Other sig- nificant improvements include service to the Wabasso and Oslo Road areas, better brochures, operational improvements, benches, shelters and transfer centers. These are among the conclusions of the five-year Transit Development Plan (TDP) Major Update just com- pleted by the Tampa, Florida firm of Tindale-Oliver and Associates. Downtown Transit Center Included in the plan are improvements to the downtown Please see "5-Tear Plan..." page 2 Message from the Chair In response to your concerns, the MPO has initiated a Track Traffic Routing Study for Indian River County. In so doing, the MPO is trying to accomplish two very significant, and very different goals: 1) Keeping the big 18-wheel- ers and other heavy-duty vehicles out of residential neighborhoods; and 2) Keeping the goods and services flowing in the County. The MPO is also studying its bicycle path and sidewalk network and will develop a new plan for the provision of these facihties. What is the common link between the largest vehicles on the road and the smallest? Safety. Each year, over 25,000 Americans are killed on the nations highways. And, a dispro- portionate number of these fatal/- ties occur when trucks, bicycles, or pedestrians are involved. As MPO Chair, I'm urging you to do two things: Keep MPO staff informed of traffic safety conditions in your neighborhood, especially those that impact truck, bicycle and pedestrian traf- ftc. And please, please drive carefully during the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday Season. MPO staff assist Vero Beach police at a bike safety event. "5-Year Plan" continued from page ] Vero Beach "Transportation Campus" (see artists's conception, pictured page 1). Phase I of the project, currently under develop- ment, includes sidewalks, benches, and a gazebo-type shelter that will complement other planned recre- ational in~provements to Pocahontas Park in Vero Beach. Later phases may include covered walkways, .bike .racks, pickup/dropoff area des- ~gnattons, and connections to the Historical Society Raft Station, a 1920's-era rail depot that may once again host passenger rail service to Vero Beach. Fare-free Policy to Continue The plan included an evaluation of IRT's existing operating pohcies. One policy that will be retained is the policy of providing free trips on the fixed-route buses. In recom- mending no change to the current fare policy, the consultant cited the drastic impacts on ridership that a fare would have. He also mentioned that the costs to collect and count the money might actually exceed the amount collected. -. "If its not broken, don't fix it" observed MPO Member and Fellsmere City Councjlm~ J?~hn McCants. Optional Improvements Currently, expansion of Indian River Transit is constrained by fund- lng. Roughly 3/4 of IRT's budget is derived from federal and state grants. While the TDP includes alternatives that make better use of existing funds, it also provides a list of optional improvements in the event that the county is able to capture additional funding (See Transit Priority List, Page 4). State of 'the Bus System: Right On Schedule Overall, the Consultant noted --positive ridership; efficiency, and quality of service trends. One notable success has been the tran- sitioning of riders from the door- to-door paratransit system to the fixed route bus system. A single paratransit trip costs roughly four times as much as a fixed route trip. The alternatives identified by the consultant are expected to enable IRT to continue these positive per- formance trends through the next TDP Major Update, scheduled for 2005. Traffic Signal Computer gets Doe~'(:[:~t:: ever seem like traffic signals turn red just as you get there? Though this is certainly more perception than reality, Indian River County's Traffic Engineering Division and the MPO are taking steps to help your chances of having signals mm ~een just as you get there. Known as traffic signal synchronization, the project includes a number of techniques that have been developed in order to provide a "contin- uous flow" of traffic on major roadways at a given travel speed, and give County engineers better tools to adjust and mon- itor the system. The signal synchronization project consists of the installation of overhead & underground signal interconnect cable, video surveillance cameras, traf- fic signal hardware & software and a variety of communication equipment. In addition to synchronization, the proj- ect provides valuable real-time data to the Green Light aid Indian River Traffic Engineering when responding to signal problems and aid emergency personnel in responding to crashes. According to Chris Mom, County Traffic Engineer, some of the roadways in Indian River County are already syn- chronized. These include SR 60 and US 1 in the Vero Beach area. The MPO's adopted priority lists extend this please see "Traffic signal Computer" page 5 2002 indian River County MPO Priority Lists Where do the Highway Priorities Come From? "Bur the Road Is Fine No~v..." Maybe so, but there is a lot of work to do when building a road - plans, pubhc hearings, designs, right-of-way purchases...By requesting a prior- ity now, those funds will be there when they're needed. The pr/mary source of Highway Prior/ties is the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Planners identify where future development is likely to go. Special software determines which routes future traffic will take. In addition, the plan takes into account afford- ability, impact on the public and environment, safety, and emergency evacuation potential. The next Long Range Plan update is sched- uled to begin in 2003. 2002 MPO HIGHWAY PRIORITY LIST Rank Street Location Improvement Type FROM TO 1 ............ US 1 ........................ S.of Indian River Blvd ....... St. Lucie County .... widen from four to six lanes 2 ........ .... SR 60-:.:,:.:...:: .... :, .... 66th Ave ......................... ....,1-95 .... , .................. ,.widen from four tosix lanes. 3 ............ CR 510 .................... CR 512 ................................ US 1 ........................ widen from two to four lanes 4 ............ 66thAve ................... SR 60 .................................. CR 510 .................... widen from two to four lanes 5 ............ 82ndAve ................. CR 510 ................................ 33rd Street .............. new roadway (pave two lanes) 6 ............ Fleming Street ........US 1 .................................... Easy street .............. new roadway (pave two lanes) 7 ............ Oslo Rd .................... 1-95 ...................................... Old Dixie ................ widen from two to four lanes 8 ............ Traffic Signals ........ Countywide .......................... --- . ........................... traffic signal computerization 2002 ENHANCEMENT PRIORITY LIST Rank Roadway Location Improvement Type FROM TO 1 ............ Fellsmere Rd ........... Cypress St .................... Myrtle St ......................... 8' recreation path 2 ............ SR 60 ...................... 43rd Ave ...................... Ind Riv Blvd * ................ Landscaping/Streetscaping 3 ............ 12th Street2. :.;:: ........... 20th Ave ...................... 1 lth Ave .......................... 8' recreation path 4 ............ CR 512, .................. Roseland Rd ................. Sebastian Elementary ...... Landscaping/Streetscaping 5 ............ 12th Street .............. 43rd Ave ....................... 27th Ave ......................... 8' recreation path on north side '" - less portions already funded Enhancement Priorities are derived in part from other MPO plans, like the Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan. Other consideration is given to the pro- ject's ability to: connect to other segments; attract additional funds; serve high volumes of traffic; and be cost effective. Night view of the Merrill Barber Bridge from last year's top priority, the "Causeway Connector" Bike Path/Sidewalk. 2002 Congestion Management Priority List 2002 Transit Priority List Rank Corridor Improvement Type 1 .......... US 1 North .......... Closed Loop Traffic Signal Synchronization System, Barber Street - Roseland Road 2 .......... SR 60/IRB .......... Signalization and Intersection Improvements, Royal Palm Boulevard - Merrill Barber Bridge 3 .......... US 1 North ........ Signalization and Intersection Improvements 4 .......... Old Dixie ............ Pedestrian Connections, Old Dixie/12th Street 5 .......... SR A1A .............. Pedestrian Connections, vicinity of Beachland Elementary School 6 .......... US 1 North .......... Traffic Signal Synchronization System 7 .......... Roseland Road ....Traffic Signal Synchronization System, intersection of CR 512 8 .......... US 1, City of ....Signage and Directional Improvements Vero Beach 9 .......... SR A1A .............. Signage and Directional Improvements 10 ........ SR 60/IRB .......... Signage and Directional Improvements Ranking Project 1 ........ Amtrak Funding 2 ........ Bus Benches & Enclosures 3 ........ Bus Transfer Facility 4 ........ Bus Wrap & Marketing Program 5 ........ Adjust Routes/ Wabasso Service 6...,. .... Saturday Service 7 ........ Evening Service (To 6:30 PM) 8 30 Minute Headways (Selected Routes) 9 ........ After-School Van Service Transportation Priorities for modes of transportation other than highways and enhancements are derived from different planning processes. For instance, transit projects are mainly derived from the TDP (see page ]); Airport projects come from airport Master Plans and guidance from airport management. Vero Beach Air~6rt 2002 Priority Projects Rank Project 1 Airport Light Industrial Park 2 Construct West GA Apron, Phase 2 Rehab/Mark Taxiway B and Construct B 1 Rehab Runway 11R/29L Runway Obstructions 2005 Airport Master Plan Noise Mitigation, Phase 1 Sebastian Airport 2002 Priority Projects Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Project Reactivate Runway 9-27 Install Security Fencing Reactivate RWY 9-27 Construct T-Hangars Reactivate FWY 9-27 Construct Access Road Construct Airport Admin Building CALENDER OF EVENTS MPO MEETINGS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING FIRST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM "A" NOVEMBER 13, 2002.10:00 AM DECEMBER 11, 2002 - 10:00 AM TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING Fr!RST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM "A" NOVEMBER 22, 2002 - 10:00 AM CITIZENS ADVISORY COM- MITTEE MEETINGS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING FIRST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM "A" DECEMBER 3, 2002 - 2:00 PM BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS JANUARY (DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED) Note: Ail meetings held in the Indian River Count. Administration Building, J840 25th Street, !/ero Beach unless otherwise noted Ali information is current as of the time of publication. Please contact MPO staff at (772) 567-8000 x 455 for any changes or cancellations prior to attend- ing any meeting. Persons requiring special acco- modations can contact the County's ADP~ coordi- nator at (?72)567-8000 x 233. CONTACT THE:MPO ~ (772)567~8000~,455= 1840 25th Street Veto BeaCh, F1-132962 E'mail: = ' I ', pmats°n@ bcc;c°:indian'riVer:fl?S I Visit uS °hour Webs te: / wWw, ircqov, com I continued from page 2 "Traffic Signal Computer" program to the remainder of the County. In fact, the MPO has deter- mined that extending the Traffic Signal Synchron/zation program is the top Congestion Management Priority (see Page 4). MPO Staff explores fl~ common traffic signal myths. 1. Flashing your headlights at a signal will make it turn green. False. In Indian River County, many traffic signals will mm green ahead of sched- ule as you approach them - but the secret is hidden in the pavement. Induction loops embedded in the asphalt detect when a vehicle is present. Your best strategy: pull fight up to the ... Projects move forward or 2007. For small-scale projects like sidewalks, fids may mean construc- tion in 2006. But for large road widening projects, const:mction may be several more years down the road - after studies, design, and right-of way purchases. Highways And Enhancements - the Key Priorities While the MPO prioritizes everything from sidewalks to airport runways, there are two priority lists in particular that generate the most interest. These are Highways and Enhancements. This year's top MPO Highway priority is the widening of US 1 from St. Lucie County to Indian River Boulevard. US 1 is the top priority because the MPO's long- standing number one highway prior- ity - the widening of SR 60 west of 1-95 - is finally becoming a reality (see Project Update, Page 6). US 1 is currently the most congested road in the County. The Long Range Transportation Plan adopted in 2001, which is the prim~ s6urC~-6f Highway Priority Projects, conclud- ed that fids road needs to be widened on the basis of future anticipated traffic, mobility needs, and in response to public demand. Enhancements constitute 10% of all federal highway funds passed to Indian River County by formula. These funds are reserved for projects that complement the transportation system, like sidewalks, bike lanes, and landscaping. Although the enhancement process is an "open" ~ant application process whereby any public agency can apply, the MPO looks for projects identified as needs in the MPO's Bike/Ped Plan or Local Comprehensive Plans. For 2002, the MPO identified sidewalks on CR 512 west of Cypress Street as its top priority. Other Transportation Priorities In 2002, the MPO completed an updated Congestion Management System (CMS) analysis in which it looked for alternatives to major con- stmction as a means to relieve con- gested road.~ays. This analysis resulted in a revised CMS priority list. Transit and Airport priorities are developed from special plans and through coordination with those respective operating agencies. A complete listing of all adopted trans- portation priorities is included on Pages 3 and 4. stop bar at the from of the lane. 2. Short traffic cycles move traf- fic faster than long traffic cycles. False. Although it appears that the longer the "cycle" (the time it takes for a signal to mm red, then green, then yellow, for each direction) the more wasted time, just the opposite is tree. Remember, every time a signal "cycles," it presents another occasion that the cars have to slow down, then walt, then speed back up again. Time is lost when cars slow down and speed up. Shorter cycles mean more cycles, which means more lost me. 3. When the Pedestrian Signal starts flashing "Don't Walk," pedes- trians in the crossing should turn around and head back to the curb. False. The flashing "Don't Walk" is a warning to pedestrians that they have only enough time to complete the crossing, if they have already started to cross. No additional pedestrians should begin crossing at this t/me. 4.Traffic Signals reduce acci- dents. False. Certain types of crashes, such as left mm crashes, can be reduced through signalization. Other types however, such as rear-end crashes often increase with traffic signals. 5. Big Cities have Cameras deployed at intersections, keeping an eye on traffic. Tree. And not-so-big cities, too. Indian River County has 12 cameras which enable central monitor- lng of traffic flow conditions at major intersections. 2002 Construction Update Selected FDOT Highway and Bicycle/Pedestrian Projects (Note: dates on all projects approximate, subject to change). SR 60- from 1-95 for 11 miles west. Widening from 2 lanes to a 4-lane divided highway. No anticipated lane closures, detours or speed lirmt changes ~'ough the end of the year. Use cau- tion, trucks entering highway may cause slow travel conditions. Construction will continue through 2005. Miracle Mile - New pavement, drainage and sidewalk facilities. Sidewalks to be 8 feet on the north side of 21st Street and 5 feet on the south side. Estimated cost of the project is $1.8 million, to be completed December 2002. State Road A1A, CR 510 to Bmvard - Roadway Resurfacing, Multi-Use Path on West Side. Expect intermittent delays with no actual lane closures through the end of the year. Lane closures with possible slowdowns beginning in January. Construction expected to be completed by Spring 2003. 17th Street - from US 1 to Indian River Boulevard. Landscaping, SignaLization, Turn Lane Widening, Resurfacing. Inside Lane closed both directions through November; Inside lanes to open, outside lanes closed through Decemeber. Causeway Connector - Indian River Boulevard between i7th Street Bridge and the Men-ill Barber Bridge. Bike Lanes, Pedestrian Bridge over the main relief canal, and Sidewallcs on the east side of IRB. Project estrrnated cost: $1.3 million, to be completed by Janum'y 2003. Possible closings on right lane of 17th Street bridge westbound. Pedestrian Bridge over Relief Canal (north of Royal Palm) now under desig-n, expect right lane northbound on IRB in vicinity of bridge to be closed November through January. U.S. 1 - Resurfacing project in Sebastian from CR 510 to the Brevard County line to include striped bike lanes on both sides of U.S. 1 and an 8 foot sidewalk on the west side. Project estimate: $2.7 million, to be completed by the end of April 2003. For More Info~,nation on FDOT Road Projects, contact Barbara KelIehe~ Public Information Director, toll free at J-866-336-8435 2002 Construction Update Selected Indian River County Highway and Bicycle/Pedestrian Projects 58th Avenue (King's Highway) - between Oslo Rd. and 16th St. Widening to four lanes. A 7-foot sidewalk will be added on the west side of 58th. The 4th Street and 12th Street bridges east of 58th are under construction and will be closed thi'ough January. The 8th Street bridge and the 1st Street SW bridge will be closed for reconstuction after the 4th Street and 12th Street bridges are reopened. Expect a lane shift in November - northbound/south- bound traffic will use the new southbound lanes while old northbound lanes are con- stmcted. Construction to be completed February 2004. Indian River Drive Bike Path North & South - An 8 foot multi-use path is being pro- posed for the eastern side of Indian River Drive. The project is still in the planning phase. Limits of the project include Indian River Drive from U.S. 1 to the south city limit of Sebastian and Indian River Drive from the north city limit of Sebastian to Roseland Rd. For More Information on CounF Road Projects, contact Jim Davis, Public Works Director, at 567-8000 xj245