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County Administrator's Report 11. 6.

BCC Regular Meeting

Technical/Public Service Consent

Meeting Date:	05/19/2016
Issue: Transfer of State Road 97, from State Road 95 to County Road 95A, to Escambia County
From:	Joy D. Blackmon, P.E.
Department:	Public Works
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning the Transfer of State Road 97, from State Road 95 to County Road 95A, to Escambia County - Joy D. Blackmon, P.E., Public Works Department Director

That the Board authorize the Chairman to sign a letter to the Florida Department of Transportation requesting the transfer of right-of-way of State Road (SR) 97, between State Road (SR) 95 (US Highway 29) and County Road (CR) 95A, to Escambia County.

BACKGROUND:

The portion of SR 97 extending south from the east side of SR 95 is a 33’ two-lane asphalt roadway centered within a 100’ wide right of way, approximately three thousand feet in length. It has recently been resurfaced and was inspected by County Road Division staff. This road intersects the west side of CR 95A, forming a skewed “T” intersection, currently controlled by a yield sign which requires eastbound traffic on SR 97 to yield right of way to traffic traveling on CR 95A. Citizens’ requests for intersection improvements at this junction state that the ‘T’ intersection makes oncoming traffic difficult to see.

As the area along CR 95A north of SR 97 is highly residential and currently has a Truck Prohibition, the County has plans to re-align the intersection at CR 95A and SR 97 to discourage through traffic on CR 95A north of SR 97, and to improve the transition between SR 97 and CR 95A. The re-alignment would also encourage motorists to make the safer choice to use the new traffic signal, which was recently installed at the intersection of US 29 and SR 97 (Atmore Cutoff) through a partnership between Escambia County and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), instead of accessing SR 95 or areas west of SR 95 from the northern terminus of CR 95A.

The re-alignment would require work on the state-owned facility SR 97, and various State of Florida requirements would make this re-alignment very costly. It was recommended that the County request that the portion of SR 97 from SR 95 to CR 95A be transferred to the County, which would allow the intersection re-alignment project to be solely a County project.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

N/A

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

Kristin Hual, Assistant County Attorney, has reviewed the letter for legal sufficiency.

PERSONNEL:

N/A

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

N/A

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

Upon Board approval, staff will coordinate with the Florida Department of Transportation.

Attachments
Conceptual Modification Study
Letter