Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #182FY0102

Earlington Heights Airport Connector

Requester:

Danny Alvarez

Organization:

Miami-Dade County

Project Title:

Earlington Heights Airport Connector

Date Submitted:

1/9/2002 5:11:46 PM

Sponsors:

Daryl Jones

Statewide Interest:

The Earlington Heights-Airport Connector will provide critical access to employment opportunities in the Miami International Airport (MIA) area, one of the County's largest employment centers, for transit dependent populations within neighboring communities.� This project promotes intermodalism and provides a much needed regional link through various modes of transportation.� This project meets the goals and objectives of the County's Long Range Transportation Plan, TEA-21, as well as the State's objective of fostering the development of a transportation system that optimizes the movement of people and goods while reinforcing fundamental guiding principles of sustainability, equitability, and environmental compatibility.

With a poverty rate of 31.2%, Miami-Dade County is the nation's fourth poorest urban area.� The jobs, income and investments afforded by this project and construction of the Earlington Heights Airport Connector, in conjunction with the Miami Intermodal Center, will work toward closing the economic gap and improving the quality of life for the residents of Miami-Dade County.� The project will improve the region's economic competitiveness by allowing employers to take advantage of human� resources that were previously unattainable.� The possibilities open venues for new markets that will make the region more attractive and allow current and new business operators to compete more effectively with like businesses from other regions.� The State benefits through additional revenues generated by new businesses, increase sales tax revenues, increased property values, and a series of tourism-related fees and surcharges created by the development of this project.� All of the energy and activity around this project translates into temporary and permanent jobs and business opportunities, promotes community and business development, and important role in the economic stability of Miami-Dade County, accessibility to MIA is imperative if it is to remain competitive with other major metropolitan airports.� Investing in the County's infrastructure, in particular funding of the surrounding infrastructure of MIA, is a sound investment in this State's future that will benefit the State and County with additional revenues.� Funding will enable further advancement of this project to coordinate with the completion of the MIC-MIA Connector project expected in 2006, which will allow for the MIA to link with the Metrorail system.

Recipient:

Miami-Dade Transit

Contact:

Danny Alvarez

111 N.W. 1 Street, Suite 910

Contact Phone:

(305) 375-2995

Miami 33128

Counties:

Dade

Gov't Entity:

Yes

Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):

Project Description:

The proposed Earlington Heights-Airport Connector project is envisioned to provide a fixed guideway connection between MIA and the Metrorail system.� This linkage would be achieved through the future MIC to be located less than a mile east of the MIA passenger terminal.� The MIC, also known as the "Gate to the Airport," will house car rental facilities and provide a local transfer point for various transportation modes including bus, charter service, commuter rail, automated guideway, heavy rail and taxis. �The proposed transit corridor extends from the Earlington Heights Metrorail Station located at the SR 112/N.W. 22nd Avenue interchange and proceeds westward to MIA.� The new connection from the MIC to the County's Metrorail system will provide a critical link for passenger travel throughout Miami-Dade County.� Currently, vehicles traveling from south and west Miami-Dade County heading to downtown Miami must travel the same route as vehicles bound for the airport.� Based on traffic conditions, there is a need to provide an alternative form of transportation to and from MIA.� Currently, the highway infrastructure in the airport area is over capacity.

All improvements made to the highway infrastructure in and around the airport area will not be enough to curb vehicular traffic that today congests the MIA roadways.� This Earlington Heights-Airport Connector will provide a convenient and seamless connection to MIA.� By connecting the MIC to the Metrorail system, passengers will be able to travel to northern and southern portions of Miami-Dade County, as well as downtown Miami.� Airports with direct rail public transportation include: Atlanta (GA), Baltimore (MD), O'Hare (IL), Cleveland (OH), Kennedy (NY), Philadelphia (PA), Reagan Washington (DC), etc. Overall, ten of the top 15 transportation agencies have direct access from rail to the airport.� This project will increase access to employment areas, increase reverse commute opportunities, generate employment opportunities, enhance tourism, and promote multimodal access to major activity centers.

Future project development phases beyond the Draft Environmental Impact Study stage are not funded.� This project is an important component to the success of the MIC.� The project is being advanced to coordinate with the Metrorail system.� This funding request will keep the Airport-Earlington Heights Connector project advancing through the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Preliminary Engineering and advance right-of-way acquisition stages.

Measurable Outcome Anticipated:

Overall, ten of the top 15 transportation agencies have direct access from rail to the airport.� Cities where this type of project has been incorporated have seen increases in ridership, stimulation of economic development and overall customer satisfaction as reported in annual statistical reports.� Ridership projections have yet to be finalized but will be available early 2002.

Amount requested from the State for this project this year:

$2,500,000

Total cost of the project:

$188,000,000

Request has been made to fund:

Construction

What type of match exists for this project?

None

Was this project previously funded by the State?

Yes

Fiscal Year:

2000

Amount:

$735,000

Is future-year funding likely to be requested?

Yes

Amount:

$2,500,000

Purpose for future year funding:

Non-recurring Construction

Will this be an annual request?

Unknown

Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?

Yes

Agency:

Transportation, Department Of

Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?

Yes

Is there a documented need for this project?

Yes

Documentation:

The North Corridor FEIS

Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?

Yes

Hearing Body:

Board of Miami-Dade County Commissioners

Meeting Date:

9/25/2001