The roster of County capital improvements is robust with hundreds of projects underway or on the drawing board. This investment of public monies to upgrade our infrastructure is one of the most important roles of local government. There is a vast amount of infrastructure, such as water lines and sewage systems that goes unnoticed by most of us.  Often  it's underground and we take it for granted. Yet, when a problem occurs--when traffic signal systems malfunction or draw bridges do not work--these events have the potential to paralyze an entire urban area. Keeping our infrastructure in good shape makes sense. 

In Miami-Dade, more than 1,500 projects are now underway that represent not only a tremendous investment in public dollars but also reflect a commitment to change and improve the quality of life of our community.

In January 2009, I was honored to accept an appointment by Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Manager George M. Burgess to head the Office of Capital Improvements (OCI).  For me, this is an extension of my 22-year career with the Florida Department of Transportation where I had the privilege of managing critical transportation projects from the construction of new roads to increasing capacity on existing ones.   My new position provides an opportunity to oversee a broader portfolio of capital improvements including the hundreds of projects that comprise the Building Better Communities Program.   Delivering the $2.9 billion GOB in an efficient and transparent way is essential to earning and maintaining the trust that the voters placed in this administration.

OCI's mission is to facilitate, monitor, standardize and, when possible, expedite capital construction countywide to ensure a timely, effective and safe process.  The work starts long before the County begins the groundbreaking-the development, design and contracting processes long precede actual construction.

As Mayor Alvarez said in his recent State of the County Speech, "It's not only what we build but how we build it." As government officials, we must manage our capital projects effectively to deliver the projects on time.  But, today, we also have an additional responsibility to maintain the work flow in today's difficult economic environment. .   I believe the public sector will play an increasingly vital role in keeping our construction industry healthy.  As we brace for a continued economic slowdown, government has the ability to boost the local economy by sustaining jobs in the construction trades.  There is an added bonus for taxpayers-the current environment may create  more competitive pricing for new projects coming online.

If you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at Juanmar@miamidade.gov.