HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetterDate: July 28, 2010
To: Carlos A. Migoya
City Manager, City of Miami
From: Scott Seeburger
Project Manager, Florida Department of Transportation District 4
Subject: South Florida East Coast Corridor (SFECC) Transit Analysis Study
REQUESTED ACTION
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 4 requests the opportunity to present
the South Florida East Coast Corridor Transit Analysis (SFECC) Study as an information item to
the City of Miami Commission at the Thursday, September 16, meeting.
A representative from FDOT's Consultant Team will present the four alternatives currently being
considered for transit in the Florida East Coast Railway corridor. The presentation will provide a
brief update on Phase 2 of the project, and a preview of the information to be presented at Public
Hearings scheduled for September 2010 where comments will be sought by FDOT and its study
team. A preview of these alternatives has been presented to the three MPO Governing Boards
and the SFRTA Governing Board in May and June 2010, and the South East Florida
Transportation Council in July 2010 at which time Board comments were sought and provided.
In advance of the September Commission meeting, the study team will seek to brief each
commissioner and staff to update them on the project.
BACKGROUND
The SFECC Study is analyzing how best to develop high performance passenger transit service
within the 85-mile study corridor that extends from downtown Miami to Jupiter and approximately
one mile on either side of the Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) right-of-way. This corridor
serves numerous existing and planned transit system hubs and activity centers including the three
major seaports, international airports, hospitals, state and private universities, as well as
downtowns and employment destinations. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes are being followed, meaning that reasonable transit
alternatives (alignments and technologies) within the study corridor are being identified and
evaluated. The objective of the study is to develop passenger transit service in the corridor
through an environmental decision making process, allowing for resolution and documentation of
key issues.
FDOT District 4 is the lead agency managing the study. Collaboration on this effort is from the
three MPOs (Broward, Miami -Dade and Palm Beach), the three county transit agencies, the
South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), and FDOT District 6.
Phase 2 Study activities have included significant ridership modeling and analysis, service
planning, conceptual engineering and cost estimating, station area and land use planning,
environmental screening and extensive public outreach. Public workshops conducted in October
2009 yielded public preferences for certain alternatives that have since undergone additional
refinement.
After the Phase 2 Public Hearings in September, the results of the Public Hearings and a
recommended Locally -Preferred Alternative will be presented for approval to the Boards in
October/November 2010.