Thanks to Miami-Dade voters, improvement projects are now underway at more than 600 worksites throughout the county as part of the Building Better Communities Bond Program. Here's an update of what has been accomplished over since the program was launched in 2005 and highlights of upcoming projects.

The mission of the Office of Capital Improvements (OCI) is to facilitate, monitor, standardize and expedite County capital construction projects.  OCI provides support services to 19 client County departments and agencies for a wide range of pre-construction and construction activities with more than 1500 capital projects now underway or in planning stages throughout Miami-Dade.   This includes the $2.9 billion voter-approved Building Better Communities Bond Program that is making improvements to public buildings and facilities throughout Miami-Dade.

OCI monitors federal, state and local legislative initiatives to ensure that projects meet regulatory requirements and works closely with Miami-Dade departments and the County Attorney's Office to mitigate construction claims and ensure that the County's relationship with construction industry remains fair and balanced.  The Department provides in-house resources to prepare and solicit architectural, engineering contracts and construction contracts and works with outside consultants to coordinate these activities with County departments who have direct oversight for capital construction.

The revenue for County capital improvement projects is generated by issuing general obligation bonds, revenue bonds (in the case of Aviation, Seaport and Water and Sewer Departments), and state and federal funding for many transportation and public transit projects.  Some funding comes from private sources for special projects, such as the Performing Arts Center, and through special assessments such as the People's Transportation Plan and Safe Neighborhood Parks Program and Quality Neighborhood Improvement Program.

County capital projects must meet countywide standards and are monitored through the County's Capital Improvement Information System (CIIS) that tracks work through all phases from planning and design through construction and project close-out.