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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A JOINT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (JPA) WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) TO PROVIDE STATE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $758,617 FOR OPERATION OF THE SOUTH MIAMI-DADE BUSWAY TRANSIT CORRIDOR PROJECT; AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS AS SPECIFIED IN THE JPA; AND AUTHORIZING RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE OF ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS SHOULD THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS SPECIFIED IN THE JPA

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WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference; and

WHEREAS, the State of Florida is authorized to enter into agreements to provide State funding for transportation programs and projects,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA:

Section 1. That this Board approves the agreement between Miami-Dade County and the Florida Department of Transportation, in substantially the form attached hereto and made a part hereof, to provide $758,617 in State funding to support the South Miami-Dade Busway Transit Corridor Project.

Section 2. That this Board further authorizes the Mayor, Mayor�s designee, or Miami-Dade Transit Director, to execute such contracts and agreements as are approved by the County Attorney�s Office; to receive and expend funds in accordance with such aforementioned contracts and agreements; to receive and expend any additional funds should they become available; and to file and execute any additional agreements, revisions, or amendments as required to carry out the projects for and on behalf of Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Section 3. That the County staff is authorized to furnish such additional information as the FDOT may require in connection with the application for the improvement.

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Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Joe A. Martinez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor

Subject: Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Joint Participation Agreement in the Amount of $758,617 with the Florida Department of Transportation to Provide State Funding for the Operation of the South Miami-Dade Busway Transit Corridor Project

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (Board) authorize the execution of a Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) in substantially the form attached, with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to provide $758,617 in State funding for a State Transit Corridor project supporting bus routes operating on the South Miami-Dade Busway (Busway).

It is further recommended that the Board authorize the receipt and expenditure of funds as specified in this agreement. No local match is required for this program.

SCOPE
While these routes run through County Commission Districts 7, 8, and 9, the impact of the project benefits the riding public and is therefore, countywide.

FISCAL IMPACT/FUNDING SOURCE
Under the State Transit Corridor Program, FDOT is providing $758,617 to support continued operation of the South Miami-Dade Busway Transit Corridor Project. The funding of $758,617 provided by this JPA increases the overall State contribution to $10,010,093, since the inception of these routes in 1997. No local match is required for this JPA.

The current and future on-going annual operating costs for the bus routes servicing the Busway is approximately $12.4 million. The balance of the operating cost for this route is provided through Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) Operating budget and is budgeted within the 29.2 million revenue miles.

TRACK RECORD/MONITOR
MDT has entered into numerous funding agreements with FDOT over the course of more than 25 years. The Project Manager responsible for this JPA is Suzanne Salichs, Ph.D., Grants Manager, MDT Financial Services.

DELEGATED AUTHORITY
In accordance with Section 2-8.3 of the Miami-Dade County Code related to identifying delegation of Board authority, there are no authorities beyond that specified in the resolution which include authority for the Mayor, Mayor�s designee or the MDT Director to execute the agreement and receive and expend these and any additional funds should they become available.

MANAGER'S BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Chapter 341 of the Florida Statutes provides State Transit Corridor funding to relieve traffic congestion and improve road capacity within identified transportation corridors. Under this program, FDOT has previously provided funding for the Flagler MAX, the 27th Avenue MAX, and the Busway circulators.

The Busway, a 19.8-mile stretch of dedicated bus lanes running parallel to U.S. 1 from Dadeland South Metrorail Station to SW 344th Street, qualifies as a transit corridor.� Revenue service on the original 8.3 mile stretch from Dadeland South to Cutler Bay began in February 1997.� New routes added into the original service plan for the Busway included the Coral Reef MAX (Route 252), the Saga Bay MAX (Route 287) and the Busway Local (Route 31).� These routes, along with Route 1 and the Busway MAX (Bus Route # 38), support operation of the Busway service, which was extended�5 miles�from�SW 112�Avenue in�Cutler Bay to SW 264 Street�in Naranja�in April 2005.� The�final segment of the Busway extension, which opened on December 2007, now extends another 6.5 miles south from SW 264 Street to SW 344 Street in Florida City. �These routes currently average approximately 12,000 weekday boardings.�

The most recent Board action prior to this JPA in support of funding for these routes was authorized on March 1, 2011 by Resolution R-142-11 for $467,500. Since the inception of these routes in 1997, the State has provided ongoing financial assistance of generally similar amounts. The $758,617 provided by this JPA increases the total State contribution to $10,010,093.




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Deputy Mayor/County Manager