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County Administrator's Report 14. 11.

BCC Regular Meeting

Technical/Public Service Consent

Meeting Date:	12/06/2018
Issue: Beulah North Connector - Corridor Selection
From:	Joy Jones
Department:	Public Works
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning the Beulah North Connector Project - Joy Jones, P.E., Public Works Department Director

That the Board direct staff to modify the Alternative Corridor Evaluation Report (ACER), to reflect Alternative 7C as the preferred alternative corridor for the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study.

BACKGROUND:

Meeting in regular session on October 4, 2018, the Board approved a letter to Florida Department of Transportation (hereinafter referred to as 'the Department' or 'FDOT') supporting the Department's assumption of a portion of the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study for the US 29 Connector / Beulah Interchange Projects on Beulah Road from Nine Mile Road to West Kingsfield Road. The letter has been transmitted to FDOT, and the Department intends to modify its contract terms with their interchange consultant, Parson's Transportation Group, to perform the respective PD&E Study.

The current scope of services for Atkins, Escambia County's consultants for the US 29 Connector Project, tasks them to perform the PD&E Study for Beulah Road from Nine Mile Road to I-10, and then further north from the new interchange to US 29; however, following recent discussions with FDOT District 3 Staff, it was determined that allowing the Department to assume the portion from Nine Mile Road to West Kingsfield Road would allow the Department to continue with the Interchange Justification Report (IJR) and subsequent design and construction of the interchange without any potential delays in the north (West Kingfield to US 29 PD&E Study.)

Furthermore, during our recent discussions with FDOT District 3 Staff, and our coordination with other appropriate agencies, it has been determined that the county's portion of the PD&E Study now only needs to continue north from West Kingsfield Road to County Road (CR) 184 (Muscogee Road), which eliminates the need for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from Muscogee Road to US 29. See attached map and email from FDOT District 3 regarding the elimination of EIS for the county.

Staff is seeking direction to modify the recently-submitted Alternative Corridor Evaluations Report (ACER) to reflect Corridor 7C as the locally preferred corridor, rather than Corridor 7A. The requested change in the preferred corridor follows recent discussions with International Paper about the significant property impacts that would occur if Corridor 7A were chosen. Corridor 7C allows for a connection from the new interchange to existing CR 99 (Beulah Road), substantially reducing construction costs and property acquisition.

Upon modifications to the ACER, Atkins will proceed with the PD&E Study from existing Kingsfield Road (just north of I-10) to CR 184 (Muscogee Road). Escambia County staff will continue to coordinate with FDOT to ensure that project deliverables and deadlines remain on schedule.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

N/A

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

N/A

PERSONNEL:

No additional personnel will be required.

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

N/A

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

Upon approval, county staff will continue with the PD&E Study from West Kingsfield Road north to CR 184 (Muscogee Road), and will continue to coordinate efforts with FDOT District 3 staff and other appropriate stakeholders.

Attachments
EIS Email - FDOT D3
EA Map with Alt. 7C
BCC Mins 100418