TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Cale Curtis, City Manager
DATE: December 2, 2020
Title
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MARGATE, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO REVERT BACK TO FDOT'S PRIOR FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION PRACTICES FOR ALL METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO) PROJECTS ON LOCAL ROADWAYS.
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Margate was approached by the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (the "MPO")
asking for the City to approve several projects under their Complete Streets Master Plan (the "CSMP") which they identified as needing improvements that fall within the City of Margate. At that time, it was explained to the City that these projects would be fully funded and administered by the MPO.
List of requested projects:
1.) Royal Palm Blvd. from Riverside Drive to SR-7
2.) Sample Road from University Drive to Rock Island Road
3.) Southgate Blvd. from Riverside Drive to SR-7
The CSMP coordinated by the MPO provides funding for local transportation projects, which improve the safety and mobility for all transportation users.
The CSMP is created by the MPO, who then approach cities for permission and support of the projects identified in the plan. Now that FDOT has backed out of design and management of all projects that are not on the State highway system, the MPO is asking the City the fund the design, project management, and any cost overages of these projects.
The Florida Department of Transportation ("FDOT") has been the main agency to complete the design and construction for MPO projects on municipal rights-of-way.
On July 9, 2020, the MPO considered policy changes to their projects due to being informed that FDOT will no longer administer projects on local roadways. As a result, these projects would be required to be delivered by municipalities under the Local Agency Program ("LAP") funding mechanisms, resulting in projects not being fully funded as they were in the past.
The LAP process is highly complex and requires the City to obtain a certified staff position to manage the many elements of the LAP, additionally, the LAP process will require the City to fund and perform design and permitting services for projects.
RECOMMENDATION:
Public Works Department recommends that the City Commission deems it to be in the best interests of the City to urge FDOT to revert back to FDOT's prior funding and administration practices for MPO projects on local roadways.
FISCAL IMPACT:
These projects were originally requested by the MPO and would be funded completely. Now the MPO is shifting the financial burden of design, permitting, and project management to the City.
City staff has not had the opportunity to establish a cost estimate for any of these projects since the MPO
recently informed all Municipalities of their decision to have the Municipalities fund them.
CONTACT PERSON:
Mark E. Collins, Public Works Director