|
Back to Calendar
Return
|
| |
County Administrator's Report 12. 6.
|
| BCC Regular Meeting |
Technical/Public Service Consent |
|
|
|
| RECOMMENDATION: |
Recommendation Concerning the Transmittal of the Alternative Corridor Evaluation Report to the Florida Department of Transportation for the Beulah Expressway (U.S. 29 Connector) Project - Joy D. Blackmon, P.E., Public Works Department Director
That the Board authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to transmit the Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Report to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the Beulah Expressway (U.S.29 Connector) Project.
[Funding source: Funds have been encumbered in a Purchase Order to Atkins Global, Inc., in Fund 352 - Local Option Sales Tax III - for the ACE Study; no additional funds are needed for this action] |
| BACKGROUND: |
In the past, population growth in Escambia County was forecasted to occur primarily in the southwest portion of the county in the vicinity of densely populated portions of Pensacola, west of the Pensacola Naval Air Station and on Perdido Key. However, due to several factors, revisions to the 2025 Escambia County future land use map reallocate much of the projected future growth to the central and north-central parts of the county. The Mid-West Escambia County Optional Sector Plan was developed in an effort to plan for that growth, consistent with county growth management policies. It was incorporated into the Escambia County Comprehensive Plan (adopted September 15, 2011 and approved November 4, 2011) through the 2010 Evaluation and Appraisal Report.
The Mid-West Escambia County Optional Sector Plan allows a total maximum development of 23,000 residential dwelling units and 12,175,000 sq. ft. of non-residential development. The conceptual layout of future development in the Optional Sector Plan will need to be supported by a highly interconnected, multi-modal transportation system that efficiently links housing to employment and retail centers. The proposed hierarchical transportation system would be anchored by a new I-10 interchange in the vicinity of Beulah Road and a new arterial roadway that connects I-10 to US 29 (SR 95).
The Florida Department of Transportation is currently preparing an Interchange Justification Report (IJR) for the proposed I-10 interchange. Escambia County is initiating an Alternative Corridor Evaluation study for the proposed high-speed facility that would connect US 90A (SR 10/ W. Nine Mile Road) with US 29 (SR 95) in mid-west Escambia County.
ACE, a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirement, is conducted for various transportation project types regardless of mode (e.g. new alignments, major realignments, major bypasses, etc.).
The ACE process is a consistent, coordinated, and documented method for corridor identification and evaluation. The ACE report summarizes the refinements made in considerations of the Environmental Technical Advisory Team (ETAT), public involvement commentary, project purpose and need, analytical methodology and evaluation criteria. The purpose of the ACE process is to document the analysis performed to identify reasonable alternative corridors to carry forward into Phase II of the PD&E Study.
The ACE Report presents the results of the ACE analysis and recommends the alternative corridors (7 proposed) that should be carried forward into Phase II of the PD&E Study. Consequently, it also identifies eliminated alternative corridors not meeting the established criteria and thresholds.
Once the ACE Report is approved by FHWA, the County will begin the Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study for the entire project (Environmental Assessment (EA) for South Segment [9 Mile Road to I-10]) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the North Segment (I-10 to US 29). Concurrently, FDOT will continue its progress on the IJR and will submit for FHWA approval at such time the EA is completed and ready for FHWA submittal. Also attached for review is an updated project timeline.
|
| BUDGETARY IMPACT: |
| Funds have been encumbered in a Purchase Order to Atkins Global, Inc. in Fund 352 - Local Option Sales Tax III - for the ACE Study; no additional funds are needed for this action. |
| LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF: |
| N/A |
| PERSONNEL: |
| N/A |
| POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION: |
| N/A |
| IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION: |
| Upon approval, Public Works staff will coordinate with FDOT staff on formal transmittal of the ACE Report. |
|
|
|
|