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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-78-0603RESOLUTION NO, 78603 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER !O EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL tONSULTING SERVICES NOT TO EXCEED $30,000, FOR THE IMMEDIATE STUDY AND EVALUATION OF A MIAMI RIVER TUNNEL ALTERNATIVE IN THE BISCAYNE BOULEVARD/BRICKELL AVENUE CORRIDOR, USING FUNDS CONTRIBUTED BY THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IN ADDITION TO BUDGETED FUNDS OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WITH THE LATTER FUNDS NOT TO EXCEED $20,000, WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Transportation pre - seated a report entitled "Downtown Miami A Conceptual Transportation Plan" in January 16, 1974; and WHEREAS, the administration presented a Joint Technical Staff Review of "Downtown Miami A Conceptual Transportation Plan" in July 1974; and WHEREAS, the Miami City Commission, by Resolution 75-1025 dated November 6, 1975, has adopted in principle the transpor- tation facilities recommended for the DuPont Plaza area as shown in the report "Downtown Miami A Conceptual Transportation Plan" as modified by the Joint Technical Staff Review including the examination of a new bridge structure over the Miami River; and WHEREAS, the Miami City Commission by Resolution 75-22 dated January 9, 1975; Resolution 76-91 dated January 22, 1976; Reso- lution 76-1134 dated December 16, 1976 and Resolution 78-46 dated January 24, 1978 has urged the Board of County Commissioners to expedite transportation improvements recommended in "Downtown Miami A Conceptual Transportation Plan" and to initiate prelim- inary engineering studies for a new Miami River crossing in the Biscayne Boulevard/Brickell Avenue Corridor; and "SUPP t. Ri!,. DOCI Alr-, L, f -r ff CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF SE P 2 3 1978 RESOLUTION NO. " REMARKS: [III 1111 IIII. ASy the ill rida bepartment of TrahSpOrtatioh has farrowed the preferred alternatives for the US 1 crossing of 'the Miami River to two: 1) replacing and widening the present Bridkell Bridge or 2) constructing a new bridge across the Miami River from Biscayne Boulevard to an intersection with Brickell Avenue immediately north of Brickell Park and is prepared to file a preliminary Environmental Impact Statement in 60 days; and WHEREAS, the administration, the Downtown Development Authority and the New World Center Action Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce are unsatisfied with the alternatives as presently defined because of their aesthetic and development impacts and their disregard for the future potential of the Down- town People Mover; and WHEREAS, the administration recommends that, in the best interest of the City, a further expedited study be undertaken of this important transportation improvement. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The City Manager is hereby authorized o execute a contract, not to exceed $30,000, engaging pro- fessional services of a consulting firm to be promptly selected by the City Manager for the purpose of conducting an immediate study and evaluation of a tunnel alternative under the Miami River in the Biscayne Boulevard/Brickell Avenue Corridor, using funds in the amount of $10,000 con- tributed by the Downtown Development Authority and also using budgeted funds of the planning Department not to exceed $20,000, PAA§tb Ab AboPttb this day at septgmb..pr_ • ;• • ; " , • • ATTEST! CIJY CLERK PREPARED AND APPROVED BY: // ( ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: (— GEORGE F KNOX, JR., MI A ORNEY ( Maurice A. Ferre MAYog 1VE _NTS (YAP, =P. =Mk& =MM. M-7 S - 3 CIT. OF MIAMI. ''LOP17.1A (NtER•o'nc:F. MEMORANDUM Iohotable Members of the City Commission r G t' Joseph R. Grassie I City Manager ,-. j DATE. 3EP 2 7 1978 s:,7Jeer Agenda Item City Commission Meeting September 28, 1978 hEFr„_,,c„Miami River Crossing Alternative The Florida Department of Transportation has presented two alternatives for crossing the Miami River in the Biscayne Boulevard/Brickell Avenue Corridor. The administration has re- viewed these alternatives and recommends further study of a tunnel alternative. The Commission is requested to authorize the Manager to execute a contract for an expedited study, per the attached resolution.. The administration, the Downtown Development Authority, Dade County and the Florida Department of Transportation have been jointly cooperating in planning for transportation improvements in downtown Miami, with a focus on DuPont Plaza and crossings of the Miami River. The Commission has consistently supported these planning efforts and has urged that improvements in DuPont Plaza and new or augmented river crossings receive priority atten- tion. As a result of the latest engineering studies for crossing the Miami River in the Biscayne Boulevard/Brickell Avenue Corridor, the Florida Department of Transportation and their consultants Beiswenger Hoch and Associates, on September 13, 1978 presented two alternatives: a) rebuilding and widening the Brickell Avenue Bridge or b) extending a new bridge from Biscayne Boulevard over the Miami River, skirting the north edge of Brickell Park to an intersection with Brickell Avenue. Further, it was the position of the Florida Department of Transportation that they were pro- ceeding to file a preliminary Environmental Impact Study, utilizing these two alternatives, in 60 days. The position expressed by the administration, the Downtown Develop- ment Authority and the New World Center Action Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce was that further study was needed of a tunnel alternative to address such concerns as the impact on the City of Miami/James L. Knight Conference Center and future compatibility with the proposed Downtown People Mover. Further, for atunnel alternative to be meaningful, the evaluation would have to be completed in 60 days. The administration recommends an expedited process of consultant selection and contract negotiation, and further requests authoriza- tion to execute a contract for consulting services for a study to be completed by mid -November.