Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 121627

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 121627

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-809-12

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: PROPOSED ENHANCED BUS SERVICE ALONE NW 27TH AVE INTO BROWARD

Introduced: 8/13/2012

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 10/2/2012

Agenda Date: 10/2/2012

Agenda Item Number: 11A4

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO EVALUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND THE PROPOSED ENHANCED BUS SERVICE ALONG NORTHWEST 27TH AVENUE INTO BROWARD COUNTY IN ONE SEAMLESS SYSTEM AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO EVALUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUS RAPID TRANSIT ALONG THIS CORRIDOR

Indexes:

BUS ROUTE SERVICE

Sponsors:	Jean Monestime, Prime Sponsor
	Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	10/2/2012	11A4	Adopted				P
REPORT:	Commissioner Bell stated for the record that the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization was already reviewing this issue and commencing an alternative analysis to extend the routes.

Regional Transportation Committee	9/10/2012	2B	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation as corrected				P
REPORT:	During consideration of the changes to today’s agenda, Assistant County Attorney Bruce Libhaber noted a page that included the names of the county commissioners and a “Whereas” paragraph that read: “Whereas, a partnership between the two transit agencies extending the Route 297 through Broward County along University Drive as one seamless, limited stop, jointly operated bus route would connect more people to population and employment centers in both counties, while potentially increasing ridership for both transit systems” was inadvertently omitted from the foregoing proposed resolution. Assistant County Attorney Bruce Libhaber read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Moss asked for a brief update on the development of the 27th Avenue Corridor. Mr. Albert Hernandez, Assistant Director, Division of Engineering and Planning Development, Miami-Dade Transit (MDT), noted this project to extend enhanced bus services along the NW 27th Avenue Corridor was currently in the planning stages and would receive both State and Federal funding. He also noted the process required by the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) for a determination of the environmental impact of projects which seek federal funding should be completed by early next year for this project. Mr. Hernandez informed Committee members that construction would commence in either year 2016 or 2017, depending on when funding was received for the design, and would include constructing 9 to 10 bus stations with signal priority along the corridor. He noted MDT should acquire 10 or 11 articulated buses this quarter. Commissioner Moss asked about the status of the process for acquiring ‘right-of-ways’ along the corridor. Mr. Hernandez noted, last year, the County purchased a 14-acre parcel at NW 215th Street and NW 27th Avenue with the purpose of developing a commercial retail center, a transit hub and possibly at hotel at this location. He advised that staff was in the process of preparing an RFP (Request for Proposals) for this development, which should be advertised by year end. Mr. Hernandez added that the hub would include 6 to 8 bus bays and a 300-space park-n-ride lot. Commissioner Moss asked if additional right-of-ways needed to be purchased for this project to move forward. Mr. Hernandez noted the only piece of property acquired for the project to date was the 14-acre parcel at NW 215th St/27th Ave, which was needed the most to develop the park-n-ride lot; however, because the project was changed from heavy rail to enhanced bus services, less right-of-ways were needed. He noted the County would need to purchase partial parcels along the corridor to develop robust bus stations with ‘next bus’ signals and possible level boarding. He noted that process would not begin until after the NEPA process was completed next year. Commissioner Moss inquired whether it was possible, in the interim, to begin bus operations along the corridor using bus stops, while waiting to acquire larger parcels for the bus stations. Ms. Llort responded that MDT took steps to initiate bus services along this corridor, by running Bus Route 297 (27th Avenue Orange Express) with limited stops to MIA. She noted the bus route worked well, except for an issue with delivering passengers to the airport because of traffic congestion on State Road 112 when approaching the airport. Hearing no further comments, the Committee proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution, as corrected to include a page that was inadvertently omitted, which included the names of the County Commissioners and a “Whereas” paragraph that reads: “Whereas, a partnership between the two transit agencies extending the Route 297 through Broward County along University Drive as one seamless, limited stop, jointly operated bus route would connect more people to population and employment centers in both counties, while potentially increasing ridership for both transit systems”

County Attorney	8/28/2012		Referred	Regional Transportation Committee		9/10/2012

County Attorney	8/13/2012		Assigned	Bruce Libhaber		8/14/2012

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EVALUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND THE PROPOSED ENHANCED BUS SERVICE ALONG NORTHWEST 27TH AVENUE INTO BROWARD COUNTY IN ONE SEAMLESS SYSTEM AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EVALUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUS RAPID TRANSIT ALONG THIS CORRIDOR

BODY
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade Transit introduced enhanced bus service along Northwest 27th Avenue (Route 297), commencing July 2012; and
WHEREAS, Route 297 serves communities from the Miami-Dade-Broward County line with stops along Northwest 27th Avenue at several urban and transportation centers, including the Miami International Airport at the Miami Intermodal Center; and
WHEREAS, Broward County Transit operates the University Breeze bus route along University Drive from I-595 in Broward to Northwest 203 Street in Miami-Dade; and
WHEREAS, Northwest 27th Avenue becomes University Drive at the Miami-Dade-Broward County line; and
WHEREAS, Broward Transit�s University Breeze currently overlaps with several Miami-Dade Transit routes including the Route 297; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade Transit and Broward Transit currently successfully operate the 95 Express limited-stop transit route jointly; and
WHEREAS, the limited stop, seamless services between the two transit agencies has promoted regionalism and has bolstered ridership for both systems by providing a convenient service without the need to transfer from one system to another; and
WHEREAS, a partnership between the two transit agencies extending the Route 297 through Broward County along University Drive as one seamless, limited stop, jointly operated bus route would connect more people to population and employment centers in both counties, while potentially increasing ridership for both transit systems,