Title
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Joint Participation Agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the City of Coral Gables for financial assistance in the amount of $92,500.00 for service development in the expansion of the Coral Gables Trolley Route on Ponce de Leon Boulevard from S. W. 8th Street to West Flagler Street.
Recommendation of the City Manager
The City Manager recommends adoption of this Resolution.
Brief History
A trolley route expansion feasibility study was completed in 2006 which examined possible expansions of the Coral Gables Trolley to areas along Ponce de Leon Boulevard north of S.W. 8th Street, south of Le Jeune Road to the University of Miami campus, the Riviera Business District and S.W. 57th Avenue, and an expansion that would connect the MacFarlane Homestead District and the City of Miami Coconut Grove Circulator.
Upon review of said feasibility study and in consideration of capital and operational costs, potential ridership, travel time runs, coordination with third parties and other factors, it is recommended that only the northerly route extension terminating at West Flagler Street be considered for implementation at this time.
The Traffic Advisory Board, having been apprised of the benefits and disadvantages of the proposed routes under study, concurred with the recommendation to extend the Ponce de Leon Boulevard route to West Flagler Street at its meeting of May 16, 2006.
The estimated annual operational cost to operate the City's Trolley Service along said route extension is $185,000.00 over and above the current budget. It is further recommended that said West Flagler Street extension be implemented provided the following revenue enhancements, purchases, and efficiency measures are undertaken: (1) execution of a new Interlocal Agreement with Miami-Dade County in order for the City to become an eligible recipient of FTA pass-through funding; (2) move forward with an interior advertising program with Arcoart Plus/Trolinet, Inc.; (3) purchase at least two (2) additional shuttle buses; (4) reduction in roundtrip travel time on other sections of the trolley route through roadway capacity improvements in order to offset the increase in travel time allocated to the route extension.
A Joint Participation Agreement in the amount of $92,500.00 has been prepared by the FDOT to extend financial assistance to the City on a 50/50 matching basis for start-up of the aforesaid trolley route extension on Ponce de Leon Boulevard north of S.W. 8 Street. The appropriate matching funds for said route expansion will be provided through local operational funds from the Miami-Dade County Half-Penny Sales Surtax.
ADVISORY BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION(S):
Date |
Board/Committee |
Comments (if any) |
May 16, 2006 |
Coral Gables Traffic Advisory Board |
Recommended the extension of the route |
Financial Information
No. |
Amount |
Source of Funds |
1. |
$ 92,500.00 |
Florida Department of Transportation |
2. |
$ 92,500.00 |
Miami-Dade County Half-Penny Sales Surtax |
Total: |
$ 185,000.00 |
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