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County Administrator's Report 13. 8.

BCC Regular Meeting

Technical/Public Service Consent

Meeting Date:	07/02/2020
Issue: Letter of Support - US 90 Corridor Master Plan Grant Application
From:	Joy Jones
Department:	Engineering
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning a Letter of Support for the Emerald Coast Regional Council's Pursuit of a Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Technical Assistance Grant for Developing a US 90 Corridor Master Plan - Joy Jones, P.E, Engineering Department Director

That the Board approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a Letter of Support for the Emerald Coast Regional Council's (ECRC) Pursuit of a Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Technical Assistance Grant for Developing a US 90 Corridor Master Plan.

The US 90 Corridor falls within Commission Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4.

BACKGROUND:

Emerald Coast Regional Council (ECRC) has advocated for a more regional approach to planning corridors in Northwest Florida. This Grant would afford ECRC money to pursue the US 90 Corridor at a more regional scale. The need for a more regional view of corridors has been discussed at previous Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) meetings.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity provides small scale technical Grants to local and/or regional government for community planning assistance for a given project. Grant awards typically range from $25,000 to $40,000. As a requirement of the Grant, the plans must be completed within an eleven-month time-frame, and the Grant itself is available for a period of one year. This year, the Grant period extends from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

The US 90 Corridor Master Plan aims to provide an off-road trail experience and builds off of a recreational and historic tourism-focused initiative led by other Counties for the Old Spanish Trail, which primarily parallels US 90. This will expand recreational access to park and trail facilities, residential neighborhoods, commercial nodes, and downtown areas, which in turn supports bicycle and pedestrian mobility and economic development.

The ECRC, which provides staff support for the TPO, is applying for this Grant.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

No financial support is requested.

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

Legal sign-off not required.

PERSONNEL:

No additional personnel needed.

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

Board action is required for a Letter of Support executed by the Chairman.

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

Upon Board approval and appropriate signatures on the support letter, Transportation & Traffic Operations staff will transmit the letter to the appropriate TPO staff.

Attachments
Letter of Support
US 90 CMP Scope