HomeMy WebLinkAboutBack-Up DocumentsDocuSign Envelope ID: 31 B979CA-930D-4DF6-8495-1 B99EEA65597
Florida Department of Transportation
RON DESANTIS 605 SUwamee Street KEVIN J. THIBAULT, P.E.
GOVERNOR Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450 SECRETARY
April 24, 2020
Mr. Art Noriega
City Manager
City of Miami
444 SW 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33130
Re: 1-395 Underdeck project
Dear Manager Noriega:
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has reviewed your March 31, 2020 letter
informing us that due to the current state of emergency, the City of Miami (City) was unable to
submit the Final Underdeck Concept Plan and will be submitting it at a later date. We
understand the City's requested delay as we are all facing unforeseen challenges due to these
current circumstances.
The construction timeline of the 1-395/SR 836/1-95 reconstruction project has not slowed. It has,
in fact, been identified as a "fast-track" project by Governor DeSantis. It is imperative that the
project remains on -schedule and that the design and construction of the Underdeck do not
delay the overall project.
In order to set some context, I am including a snapshot of where we are today. On April 4, 2020,
the Department received a Draft Underdeck Plan from the City (not "Final" as it has not received
City Commission approval). On April 6, 2020, the City presented the Draft Plan to all FDOT
reviewers. In order to stay within the very time sensitive construction schedule, FDOT is
reviewing the City's April 4th plan as if it were "final" as outlined in the Final Review Phase of
the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU1). We understand that although the City and FDOT
staff have been working on the Underdeck Concept Plan for some time, due to difficulties in
briefing Commissioners, the City would not be able to present a Final Underdeck Concept Plan
to the City Commission on April 23, 2020 for approval as anticipated.
For the project to remain on schedule some critical elements in the City's Draft Underdeck
Concept Plan must be addressed immediately. These are:
• Redesign of the pedestrian bridge over the FEC Railroad (widen and lengthen)
• Removal of the 1-395 EB mainline "earth plug"
• Closure of NW 13th Street and NW 1st Court
In order to direct the Design/Build contractor to make the changes outlined above, we will
require City Commission approval of these elements at the May 14, 2020 Commission meeting.
www.fdot.gov
DocuSign Envelope ID: 31 B979CA-930D-4DF6-8495-1 B99EEA65597
Otherwise, we will need to continue with our existing pedestrian bridge concept and will be
unable to change it going forward.
It is important to note that at the City's request we have agreed to commit an additional $10
million to revise and widen the pedestrian bridge, remove the center "earth plug" and close the
two City streets to accommodate this design as part of the project.
In addition, we will require that the City's Final Underdeck Concept Plan be presented to City
Commission for approval as soon as possible but no later than June 11, 2020.
As always, we look forward to continuing to work with the City of Miami on this transformational
project. I am available to discuss further as appropriate.
Sincerely,
Doculigned by:
644C49 7 5A ..
James o e, P.E.
District Six Secretary
JW:ab
cc: Daniel Iglesias, Director of Transportation Development — FDOT
Rudy Garcia, Director of Transportation Operations — FDOT
Judy Solaun-Gonzalez, P.E., District Consultant Project Management Engineer — FDOT
Auraliz Benitez, P.E., Project Manager — FDOT