Item M4BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
TIME CERTAIN REQUESTED
Meeting Date: Feb. 21 20071Ke La o
Bulk Item: Yes No x
Division: BOCC
Department: DISTRICT FIVE
Staff Contact Person: Donna Hanson
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Presentation by Hal Heim concerning the use of colored dividers
on the 18 mile stretch reconstruction project. The Florida Department of Transportation will
consider use of a color additive if there is community interest from the citizens of Monroe
County.
ITEM BACKGROUND: See attached letter from Hai Heim. Also, per Alice Bravo, FDOT, the
cost of the additive will he borne by Monroe County.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACTIAGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST: unknown
COST TO COUNTY: unknown
BUDGETED: Yes No x
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included x Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #f
Beautify the Stretch
In a series of meetings and correspondence wish Florida Department of
Transportation District 6 authorities, I have urged that consideration be given to
applying an aesthetically pleasing pastel color on the concrete divider that is to
be installed on a newly constructed 18-Mile Stretch road, instead of the standard,
unattractive, dirty grav cement. Just visualize an appropriate coloring"that would
blend in with the surroundings, enhancing safety as seen by people in the eight
million vehicles traveling on it annually.
Our federal government transportation department has encouraged and sup-
ported a new approach relative to our highways and replaces long-standing, one -
size -or -color -fits -all designs. Let's not forget, the Stretch is our signature gateway
to the Florida Keys, not just another road.
Another aspect we are working on includes FDOT's plans to install 8-foot-high
cyclone, chain link fencing on one or both sides of the Stretch, to help direct
wildlife to specified crossings rather than onto the roadway. We agree but with
the provision that the Fencing be a green color or not evoke images of a gal
-
nized, high -security prison fence for 18 miles._
FDOT has stated there needs to be evidence of community interest and pub-
lic support before they would consider deviating from their standard plan. If
yuu agree, 1 heed yow support. Please call or write a brief note to me at 96W
Overseas Highway, CC-9, Key Iargu, or 852-9984 pronto.
Marty thanks.
Hal Heim, Key Largo
REPRINTED FROM THE FREE PRESS
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Honda Depal'Unew of rrans1101-131iiin
Drstricl Six Construction 111-o ect '1•'lalla`er
1 .00 North West I I I'll avenue
Miaini. Florida ; ; 1 ?'
,Attu. Ms. Dan Force, Construction Project Mana_er
R1:: Project `I M M 1 Uh Mkill roc Count} to LIS " I F101•id-I Citn, Dade Count\
Denr Ais VOrce'
At our Cieller.tl �1cn)hcrtihip meanw, in January, 2007 the construction project uliderttia% on L.S i l (the
l S \ I I I e stanch ) vas discussed, r1 motion \gas made. seconded and approved unaniill aus1% that the Island
of Key I.ar_ao Federal of'Ilomeowner Associations, lnc. IIKLFIIA) off c ial Iv request the FI)0-I in lhrir
c01lNIruct1011 , reconstruction and linislied plans of this 111i�,11wa\ North of the .1cw ish Creek Brid�,e to make
it as hoautiftll as it is protectiVe of Ilahitat anti motorists. We suoLest
1) 1 he C. %clone Ferlcirt,�-, used to protect habitat should be a color to blend ill with the natural
ens irortmtnt such as ureen, on Loth sides of the hiu,h.tiathe entire [ell _t]i.
'] The I I i_L- .11 1)iN ider a soft green or tan color ill ixed in the concrete so as to blend w ith tilt
Colors of the ens ironnlent.
} I he Soutlt Bound entrance ramp to the Brill e t��er Je fish Creek in Monroe Count\ could be
made Into an ins itim! "Welcomc to Ko. LarLo and The Florida Kcv s- bN usin-, designs of
ens ironmental al-t.
i} I lie North Bound ramp should he as beautiful and menlorable-
I hank %0It for �Otl1• CO11Sidel',11.i0]l -
Richard kk . Lancaster.
prcS;idetlt
CCop� : Monroe Cnunn ROCC
]lade C.-nunt. B()CC
Other on-'arlizations
HAROLD F. HEIM
96000 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY, CC-9
KEY LARGO, FL 33037-2108
PHONEIFAX (308) 862-9984
August 31, 2006
Luis Tellechia, Project Manager
Florida Department of Transportation #6
1000 N. W. 111th Ave.
Miami, FL 33172
Dear Mr. Tellechia,
Subj-. US 1 South Project - Color Additive for Concrete Barrier Divider
In Alice Bravo's letter of July 20, 2004 stating a decision had been made to pro-
ceed with placement of a Standard CN8 TBarrier without color additive for aesthetic
purposes, �,fi*ss there was community -wide support o-r different color that would not
conftict with the natural beauty of lands surrounding the project area. This certainly co-
:ncides with all of our previous letters and visitations in this matter.
It is not surprising that FOOT frequently invokes the term ,best standard de-
sign". However since Congress passed landmark laws in the 1990's, the federal gov-
ernment has both encouragedand supported a new approach relative to our highways,
bridges, etc, known as CONTEXT - SENSITIVE DESIGN, and replaces long standing,
ere -size -color -fits -all designs. It involves all stakeholders to develop a road facility that
fits it's physical setting, preserving and enhancing scenic. aesthetic aspects while
maintaining safety. An excellent example of this is what we have previously shown
you, found in the grater area of Phoenix. AZ, having similar environmental aspects to
Ours. District Six has also built some structures adjacent to a major highway that show
aesthetic value. If the side of a hill can be beautified, then why can't 20 miles of unat-
tractive dour dirty gray color concrete be made to blend in for greater aesthetic appear-
ance for 8 million vehicles that travel the Stretch annually? Let's not forget, this road is
our signature gateway to the Florida Keys, making it more than "Just another road in-
CILding 2-3 million visitors.
Mary Peters. Director of the Federal Highway System has stressed the impor-
tance of this new approach, stating that context - sensitive design offers preservation
of historic, scenic, natural environment and other community values on an S_ ual bans
with economics and safety. In this light, we respectfully urge FOOT District B to con-
sider a distinctive PASTEL color, perhaps in a suitable shade of green or tan, subject
to your consideration. Attached are examples only of what we are proposing.
again
co nice that going #rom a Class 3 to Glass vvii; be more t nn� y Florida
We re 9 kind roadway,
bear in mind this is going to be a u111que, "one of a
but m the entire �;nited States, and. tru`y reflective ^f your District's skill to be inno'�s-
+.sve, in accordance with federal goas.
k event of Dividers needing to be re -Painted because �es�mably
In the unllke y
scarring them, let's not forget there will be 6 ft. shoulders
to he Divider. si e, p
with yellow StriQing or reflectors, to delineate distance
wiii resent our vieGv
As bath you and Director of operations have suggested, : P
to the Monr
oe %aunty Board of Commissioners for consideratia sv n November 15
here in Key Largo. We invite your attendance if you are alp a to
LUIS, thank you for listening.
ResPectfully,
Kai Heim
cc. Alice N. Eravo, P.E•,
Director of Planning, Enwronmental Management
Gus Pe>go. P.E.. Director a# OPerations
Barbara B. Cuihane, P.E., Environrnentai