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RESOLUTION URGING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA�S ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PORT OF MIAMI TUNNEL PROJECT THROUGH THE FEDERAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE; URGING THE FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT FUNDING THE PORT TUNNEL PROJECT WITH FEDERAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS FUNDS; URGING FLORIDA GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO AMEND THE STATE OF FLORIDA�S PROPOSED LIST OF FEDERAL STIMULUS PROJECTS TO INCLUDE THE PORT TUNNEL PROJECT

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a. Projects should be ready to begin construction immediately, in other words be �shovel ready�;
b. Projects should create a substantial number of jobs; and
c. Projects should make meaningful infrastructure investments for the future; and

WHEREAS, there may not be an infrastructure project in the U.S. that more precisely fits these three criteria than the Port of Miami Tunnel Project; and
WHEREAS, the Port Tunnel Project is ready to begin construction immediately, and would provide a significant and much-needed stimulus by creating an estimated 600 jobs; and
WHEREAS, the Port Tunnel Project also would be a substantial investment in the future of our local economy and the Port of Miami which along with Miami International Airport are the dual engines that help drive the Miami-Dade County economy; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Miami currently generates 180,000 jobs and over $17 billion to our local economy each year; and
WHEREAS, the Port Tunnel Project is an investment in the Port of Miami�s future by providing direct access from the Port to I-395 and I-95 and positioning the Port of Miami to be competitive for decades to come; and
WHEREAS, the Port Tunnel Project is also an investment in downtown Miami, by removing cargo truck traffic from streets, improving safety and substantially reducing traffic congestion, all of which would facilitate ongoing and future development plans in and around downtown Miami; and
WHEREAS, despite the near-perfect alignment between the criteria set for federal stimulus funds and the attributes of the Port Tunnel Project, the State of Florida did not submit the Port Tunnel Project to the federal government as a project for economic stimulus funding; and
WHEREAS, instead, on December 12, 2008, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced that it would not close a deal on the Port Tunnel project with Miami Access Tunnel, a private consortium awarded the contract on February 15, 2008; and
WHEREAS, while President Obama�s administration looks toward funding large public infrastructure projects that are shovel ready, create jobs immediately and invest in the future, the decision by FDOT to suspend the Port Tunnel Project appears to look the other way; and
WHEREAS, President Obama�s administration should consider adding the Port Tunnel Project to the federal economic stimulus package, and the State of Florida should amend its list of federal economic stimulus projects to include the Port Tunnel Project,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges President Obama�s administration to include the Port of Miami Tunnel Project in the federal economic stimulus package and provide federal funding for the Port Tunnel Project.
Section 2. Urges the Florida Congressional Delegation to support this effort at the federal level.
Section 3. Urges Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature to amend the State of Florida�s federal economic stimulus project list so as to include the Port Tunnel Project.
Section 4. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, and Chair and Members of the MiamiDade County State Legislative Delegation.
Section 5. Directs the County's federal and state lobbyists to advocate for the issues set forth in Sections 1, 2 and 3 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2009 Federal and State Legislative Packages to include this item.