CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH

MEMORANDUM

 

 

DATE:                        March 19, 2009

 

TO:                 D. Mike Good, City Manager

 

FROM:            William Brant, P.E., Director, Utilities & Engineering

 

SUBJECT:     A Resolution of the City of Hallandale Beach, Florida, Authorizing Application for Grant Funding in the Amount of $300,000 for Enhanced Pedestrian Safety and Aesthetics on Ansin Boulevard through the 2009 Transportation Enhancement Program

 

 


PURPOSE:

 

To adopt a Resolution authorizing application for grant funding for participation in the Florida Department of Transportation’s 2009 Transportation Enhancement Program.

 

BACKGROUND:

 

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) invites local government participation each year in its Transportation Enhancement Program.  This program is administered by the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization.  This year Broward County anticipates receiving approximately $4,054,500.00 in Enhancement Program funding. The following activities qualify for Enhancement funds:

 

•           Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles.

•           Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists.

•           Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites.

•           Scenic or historic highway programs, (including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities).

•           Landscaping and other scenic beautification.

•           Historic Preservation.

•           Rehabilitation and operation of transportation buildings, structures or facilities (including historic railroad facilities and canals).

•           Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use of the corridors for pedestrian or bicycle trails).

•           Inventory, control and removal of outdoor advertising.

•           Environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff or reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity.

 

This year the minimum application request is $250,000.  The funding will be available for construction in 2012-2013.  However, after the funding is awarded, the City can enter into a Local Agency Program (LAP) agreement with FDOT enabling the construction to begin before 2012-2013.  The City is responsible for all design required in the project.  The deadline for submittal of completed application is April 3, 2009.

 

DISCUSSION:

 

Staff recommends submittal of one grant application, as follows: 

 

 

The City’s Master Plan encourages a strong pedestrian environment.  Specifically, it recommends the City “limit further roadway capacity improvements that diminish the pedestrian environment and sense of place.”  Not only does the proposed improvement not diminish the pedestrian environment, it actually improves this environment from both a safety and an aesthetic perspective.

 

Enhanced pedestrian safety and aesthetics on Ansin Blvd.

 

Ansin Blvd. is utilized by pedestrians, particularly high school students, every day after school to catch a bus, to walk home, or to visit a nearby restaurant on Hallandale Beach Blvd.  The students are currently walking on grass and driveways next to a busy road through an industrial area of our City creating the need for enhanced pedestrian safety.  In addition, landscaping will not only improve the aesthetics of the Ansin Blvd. corridor but also the segment of I-95 where Ansin Blvd. can be seen.  Staff proposes to request funding in the amount of $300,000 for pedestrian improvements on Ansin Blvd., including:

 

 

The grant does not require a City match.  However, the City is responsible for the design component of the project, which is not funded by FDOT.  In this project, staff recommends designing the project in-house to eliminate any additional cost of design to the City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

The City Commission to:

 

1.    Adopt the attached Resolution authorizing the City of Hallandale Beach to apply for the FDOT Transportation Enhancement Program funding in the amount of $300,000. 

 

2.    Authorize the City Manager to execute the application and all necessary documents,  

 

3.    Authorize the City Manager to establish accounts and make expenditures to implement the project, if funded.

 

 Reviewed:

   

_______________________________                                                          __________

D. Mike Good, City Manager                                                                           Date

 

 

_____Approved                _____Disapproved                _____Hold for Discussion