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Item B02 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: October 18, 2001 Division: Growth Management Bulk Item: Yes X No Department: Planning AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Safety Project application to the Florida Department of Transportation County Incentive Grant Program, and to provide 50% matching funds from Monroe County Transportation Impact Fees. ITEM BACKGROUND: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has executed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for the maintenance of 28 miles of existing segments of the Overseas Heritage Trail. Signs, pavement markings and pavement improvements proposed for this project will increase the safety oftrail users and reduce potential conflicts with motor vehicles. PREVIOUS REVELANT BOCC ACTION: May 18, 2000- Resolution 205-2000 to allow the FDEP to design, build, construct the Overseas Heritage Trail. June 21, 2001- Board approval of the Memorandum of Understanding with FDOT and FDEP for the design, construction and maintenance of the Overseas Heritage Trail CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: None ST AFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval TOTAL COST: $ 1,055,949.09 BUDGETED: Yes x No COST TO COUNTY: $ 527,974.56 REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No x AMOUNT PER MONTH Year APPROVED BY: County Atty -L OMB/Purchasing NI A Risk ManagementN/A DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL: DOCUMENTATION: Included X To Follow Not Required_ AGENDA ITEM # :!) - Ed DISPOSITION: 11- Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Safety Project County Incentive Grant Program Application August I, 200 I LETTER OF APPLICATION FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COUNTY INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM FLORIDA KEYS OVERSEAS HERITAGE TRAIL SAFETY PROJECT (1) Applicant Monroe County, Florida Board of County Commissioners 5100 College Road, Public Service Bldg. II Stock Island, Key West, FL 33040 (2) Proiect Description The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (FKOHT) is intended to provide safe non-motorized transportation to schools and businesses, enhance community recreation opportunities, stimulate sustainable economic development and enable residents and visitors to enjoy the magnificent natural and cultural resources along US Highway 1 in Monroe County. The trail will incorporate cultural features such as Flagler's Historic Bridges and significant environmental elements unique to the Florida Keys. The trail will act as an economic stimulus for adjacent businesses and provide safe, convenient recreation and alternative transportation for children and families. The FKOHT will establish an interconnected linear trail for shared recreational uses and alternative transportation uses. It will incorporate new construction and reconstructed local pathways within the state road right of way, and over both the state road and historic bridges, in a continuous trail from MM 0 (Key West) to MM 106.5 (Key Largo). The trail will reduce traffic congestion on the state highway by reducing the numbers of local vehicle trips and by eliminating many of the traffic-slowing effects of vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian interactions. Trail safety is a main priority in the design and implementation of the FKOHT. One of the FKOHT project goals is to establish a safe, two-way, non-motorized trail with safe travel clearances for all trail users. Limit vehicular traffic interaction with trail traffic, but when interaction must occur, provide warning to both drivers and trail users at all intersections, maximize separation from U.S. 1 local streets and congested parking areas by using traffic barriers, signage, striping and crosswalks. These improvements along the length of U.S. 1 will greatly increase safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks (DRP) will enter into a Maintenance Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to maintain existing sections of the trail. As part of these responsibilities, the DRP is seeking assistance through Monroe County to upgrade the existing trail sections in order to provide safe passage at road crossings and business frontage. In addition, the DRP is seeking to repair existing sections of pavement where the current path is degraded to the point where it is dangerous to trail users. 1 Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Safety Project County Incentive Grant Program Application August 1, 2001 Table 1 Below is a list of the existing bicycle trails the DRP shall be responsible for maintaining. The list contains the state road, the limits and length of areas to be maintained. Marathon, the Village of Islands, Islamorada and Key West will coordinate improvements with the City Visioning process and therefore, the present proposal does not address these incorporated areas. County State Road From: To: Side of Length Width Bikepath Section (Local Name) Road (Mile) (Feet) Material 90010 5 AlA Mile Post 0 South 0.700 8.0 Asphalt (Key West) (MM 3.840) (MM 4.531) Bound 90020 5 Four (4) Star Key Haven South 0.737 8.0 Asphalt (Stock Island) Rental Road (MM Bound (MM 4.531) 5.268) 90020 5 Coppit Road Jade Road South 0.900 10.0 Asphalt (Big Coppit) (MM 9.830) (MM10.720) Bound 90020 5 Ships Way Cunningham South 1.061 8.0 Asphalt (Big Pine Key) (MM 29.890) Lane (MM Bound 30.950) 90020 5 Cunningham Industrial Road South 0.130 4.5 Asphalt (Big Pine Key) Lane (MM (MM 31.080) Bound 30.950 90030 5 Industrial Road 3rd Street South 0.259 4.5 I Asphalt (Big Pine Key) (MM 31.080) (MM 31.340) Bound 90030 5 Parking Lot (MM 47.000) Added at the request ofDEP on (Knights Key) (MM 47.000) 4/3012001 90030 5 7 Mile Parking Mile Marker 48 South 0.924 7.0 Asphalt (Marathon Key) Lot (MM Bound 47.030) 90040 5 Mile Marker 48 End of Median South 6.474 8.0 Asphalt (Marathon Key) (MM 54.430) Bound 90050 5 Long Key South Layton North 2.810 6.0& Asphalt (Long Key) Bridge (MM Drive (MM Bound 9.0 65.570) 68.380) 90060 5 Dickie Way Road North 4.390 6.0& Asphalt (Key Largo) (MM 92.190) Crosswalk Bound 8.5 (MM 96.580) 90060 5 Road Crosswalk Atlantic Blvd. South 2.950 6.0 Asphalt (Key Largo) (MM 96.580) (MM 99.53) Bound 90060 5 Atlantic Garden Cove North 6.830 8.0 Asphalt (Key Largo) Boulevard (MM Dr. (MM Bound 99.53) 106.360) 2 Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Safety Project County Incentive Grant Program Application August 1,2001 (3) Work Pro2ram Number Pending (4) Certification from County Pending Monroe County approval to use County Impact Fees as 50% match. County Impact Fee Match: $527,974.55 See Attachment B for Monroe County certification. (5) Details of Proiect A preliminary survey was conducted to review conditions of existing intersections that pose potential hazards to the safety of future trail users. The scope of this survey was to identify the major safety concerns and what can be accomplished quickly to satisfy and improve relationships with the community, enhance the trail experience on existing sections and improve safety, thereby reducing potential crashes on the trail. A more detailed survey addressing individual design criteria for every intersection to be upgraded will be conducted, along with public and regulatory participation to identify signage placement, striping and repaving priorities. Proposed are five recommendations based on preliminary observations that will help establish our commitment to safety on the FKOHT. a. Signage Signage instructing trail users and vehicles of an impending traffic conflict. Figure 1 from the AASHTO Manual, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities contains an example of conflicts found at a typical intersection on U.S. I. Initially, we intend to review existing sign location and line of site from each intersection. The cost estimate includes two signs at each intersection warning vehicles of trail traffic. A third sign will be placed along the trail reminding trail users to yield to oncoming traffic. Location of signage will be reviewed and compared with existing signage as to discourage over signage at an intersection. Great effort will be taken to combine signs or not add signs where they would create confusion. All signage will adhere to the (MUTCD), Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. A proposed warning sign depicted as Figure 2 is being considered by the MUTCD for use on roadways that parallel trails. This sign is presented in the FDOT Trail Intersection Design Guidelines available from the FDOT web site. 3 Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Safety Project County Incentive Grant Program Application August 1,2001 Figure 1 Figure 22. Example of Adjacent Path Intersection According to the AASHTO manual, the above represent common conflicts found along parallel paths at intersections. It is these common conflicts that we hope to address. Figure 2 "''v' PlpIw 11. lloil... Aft_ ...... S4IP 'Ao'10-2......r...t b...,.ad podt ri,:Iol- 1fPIlNl.... The above trail sign is recommended as an advance warning sign for a parallel trail. This sign is still under review and can be applied for and used with permission from the FHW A. 4 Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Safety Project County Incentive Grant Program Application August 1, 2001 b. Crosswalks The project will provide crosswalks at each street intersection along the trail where feasible and necessary. It is proposed to replace poorly visible crosswalks and add new ones where there are none. For this proposal a one foot wide stripe ten to 12 feet long will be placed 12 - 24 inches apart. The length of the line will accommodate the future widening of the trail. Striping may not be necessary at some intersections due to the lack of traffic. In this case a simple crosswalk without striping may suffice. An evaluation of stop bars will also be conducted. A study conducted for the FDOT on making crosswalks safer for pedestrians recommends advance stop lines (ASL's) in front of crosswalks. The document published in July, 2000, "Making Crosswalks Safer for Pedestrians", by the Center for Urban Transportation Research can be found on the FDOT web site. A closer review of each crossing will determine the need and feasibility for an ASL. Another critical component to a safe crossing is signalization. The location of pedestrian crossing signals will be recommended at high volume traffic locations along the trail. c. Striping The project will provide striping along both sides of the trail along business frontage where parking facilities and business entrances conflict with trail traffic. The FKOHT Master plan recommends defining the trail along business frontage for trail user safety. Presently the trail is undefined in many locations or used as a parking space. We recommend paving and striping both sides of the trail along business frontage and adding signage in the form of a painted template warning vehicles not to park on the trail. Recommendations for barricades or other forms of landscape barriers and curb islands will be proposed. Colored striping may be an option in very congested areas. d. Paving The proj ect will pave existing trail sections that have degraded and pose a safety concern and where permitable, widen to accommodate multi-use trail traffic. Sections of the trail show signs of wear and disruption. It is recommended that these sections be re-paved to enhance usage of the trail. It is also recommended that repaving the path along congested sections would greatly enhance visibility of the trail. e. Road Shoulders It is proposed that the road shoulder used as a bike path in Big Pine between Avenue A and 3rd Avenue be painted red to enhance visibility. This proposal should be presented to the community for review. A study conducted in Lake County Florida for the FDOT entitled "Evaluation of Red Shoulders as a Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility" was prepared for FDOT in July 1998. The photographs below show the shoulders as they currently exist in Big Pine, and what the proposed red shoulders appear as in the above referenced study. 5 Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Safety Project County Incentive Grant Program Application August 1,2001 Existing Road Shoulders in Big Pine Lake County Red Road Shoulders Future Design Improvements It is proposed that these safety upgrades be part of a continuing renewed effort to improve trail safety by using the most up-to-date design recommendations available. Future design improvements should include landscape barriers, or other attractive barriers, to protect trail users, trail and curb islands, defined wide ingress and egress aprons, revised parking and line of site where possible on business frontage, pedestrian signalization, lighting and educational materials incorporated into FKOHT trail literature. f. Phases The requested matching funds will be applied to the project phases scheduled for development in 2002 and 2003. These projects will be designed and constructed as one project. Table 2 contains the estimates for each phase. Table 2. Estimated Project Costs 2001 Throu Design I Year Construction: CEI I Year Total 6 Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Safety Project County Incentive Grant Program Application August 1,2001 (6) Cost Estimate Current cost estimates for the scheduled project phases are shown in Table 3, below. Table 3. Safety Improvements Cost Estimates Mile Marker Miles STOCK ISLAND BIG COPPITT 4- 5.4 9.8-10.7 1.5 BIG PINE 29.8 - 31.3 KEY LARGO 106 - 91 TOTALS No. of Intersections 2 Design / Year 4 7/1/02 12 7/1/02 11 7/1/02 Construction: 1/1/03 1/1/03 1/1/03 Repaving 43,999.50 29,333.0 58,666.0 Repaving Red Shoulders 7,000.00 Striping 11,880.00 7,920.00 15,840.00 Signage 1,200.00 3,600.00 4,950.00 Crosswalks N/A 3,000.00 2,750.00 Sub-Total 57,079.50 43,853.00 89,206.00 CEI / Year 1/1/03 1/1/03 1/1/03 Total Striping quoted at $ 7,920.00 per mile. Red Shoulders $ 7,000.00 per mile. Signage: $ 150.00 per sign Crosswalks $ 250.00 each Repaving: $ 29,333.00 per mile Note: Estimates based on quotes by Monroe County Stock Island intersections have pedestrian crossing lights, signage not required. Layton bike path is marked and crossings at intersections and are marked. 7 Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Safety Project County Incentive Grant Program Application August 1, 200 I (7) Proiect consistent with FDOT plan and MPO. (8) Proiect is located on state hi2hwav system. The project is located on the state designated scenic highway system. (9) Relevant Information a) The Florida State Greenways and Trails Division are well documented for creating and enhancing economic benefits where they are placed. The FKOHT, when developed in Monroe County, will provide over 100 miles of connections between cities, towns, residential areas, parks, shopping areas, lodgings and tourist destinations. Because of its unique characteristics: the year-round sunny, warm climate and the tropical scenic beauty, it is expected that the FKOHT will become a world renowned trail. This will serve to attract trail enthusiasts from a far greater area than is typical and will encourage a significant volume of use by both resident and tourist populations. Local hotels, restaurants and other businesses will benefit from this sustainable form of tourist activity through increased spending on both durable and consumable. Property owners also will benefit, since trails generally increase the value of properties adjacent to their corridor, particularly where they pass through residential neighborhoods. b) The FDEP DRP of Recreation and Parks now manages six state trails as part of the Florida state park system. None of these trails has the urban setting, destination characteristics or economic impact potential that the FKOHT will have. The DRP estimates that, in the last year, the combined 145.5 miles of state trails in the park system contributed approximately $13.3 million to the local economies in which they are located. It is expected that the annual economic benefits of the FKOHT will be significantly higher than this amount. c) The FKOHT is a long-term project. Matching funds from the County Incentive Grant Program will accelerate the completion of the project and will bring the first phases of construction into compliance with the County's master plan at a much early date than will be possible if funding is to be secured through other funding processes. 8 Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Safety Project County Incentive Grant Program Application August 1,2001 d) Environmental sensitivity is one of the primary guiding principles of the FKOHT master plan. Design criteria are included that will assure careful planning and design processes to protect adjacent sensitive natural resources such as mangroves, seagrasses and intact tropical hammocks. Cultural resource protection and enhancement is one of the greatest benefits of the proposed trail. The bridges constructed for Henry Flagler's railroad in the early 1900's will be stabilized and adapted to use for the trail to the extent feasible, and maintained as parts of the Florida state park system for future generations. Three of the bridges are on the National Register of Historic Structures, and listing of additional bridges may be accomplished in the future. e) Traffic volumes on US 1 in Monroe County have increased steadily over the last ten years, with an associated decline in the Level of Service on sections in more populated areas of the county. The seasonal influx of travelers combined with a large resident population with no viable alternatives to automobiles for day-to-day errands result in periods of time when movement along the corridor becomes highly frustrating and unsafe. The FKOHT is proposed to be a minimum 10-foot wide, average 12-foot wide and occasionally 14-foot paved bikeway from Key Largo to Key West. This provision of a safe, non-motorized alternative for residents and visitors traveling along the corridor will significantly benefit the FDOT goals to encourage intermodal transportation systems, and will result in greatly improved public safety on the state highway. Attachments Attachment A: Attachment B: Project Location Map Certification from the chief County fiscal officer Certification from the County Planning Director. 9