[0:38] Start taking your seats. Settle down, conversations, vice chairman, not of TPO, but of the county.

[0:47] Not calling you, I'm not calling you, I'm a friend. All right, so the door having technical difficulties for private conversations? All right, guys, quiet down. We're going to try to get started here as quickly as possible, if I can, before we do official roll call, if we can have our newest,

[1:07] Our newest board member come up to get sworn in, Commissioner Lopez, and board member Lopez.

[1:18] Can we officially swear her in and have her sit as an official member of the typical?

[1:22] Thank you.

[1:53] Thank you.

[1:54] The

[1:58] government, the Constitution of the United States,

[2:06] I like to be close.

[2:07] I'm so proud of this.

[2:08] I'm a part of the law.

[2:09] I'm a little on the subject, please.

[2:13] It's really important that I'm as a member,

[2:17] as a member of the United States,

[2:19] as a member of the United States,

[2:24] as a member of the United States,

[2:24] and I'm sure that the United States

[2:25] will have the rest of the college.

[2:51] All

[2:56] right, congratulations, Commissioner and Board Member Lopez, welcome to the TPO.

[3:05] If we can all stand and newly sworn in, Commissioner Lopez will lead us in the pledge.

[3:34] We received notification that the following board members will not be present for today's meeting that's board member Garcia and board member Harris.

[3:44] for member Lanzo.

[3:46] For member Bacion.

[3:48] For member Ramirez.

[3:49] For member Kownvo.

[3:52] For member Korn Higgins.

[3:54] For member Desumay.

[3:56] Here.

[3:57] For member Fraga.

[3:59] For member Gilbert.

[4:01] For member Gonzalez.

[4:03] For member Hardeman.

[4:05] For member Lago.

[4:06] Here.

[4:06] For member Eddie Lopez.

[4:08] Here.

[4:09] For member Vicky Lopez.

[4:10] Here.

[4:11] For member Lavana.

[4:12] Here.

[4:12] Board Member McGee, Board Member Million Orbis, Board Member Pages, Board Member Pardo,

[4:19] Board Member Regolato, Board Member Steinberg, Board Member David Suarez, Vice Chairman

[4:26] Diaz Pedrón, Chairman Rodriguez.

[4:29] I'm present.

[4:29] We have a quorum.

[4:31] All right.

[4:32] Sounds good.

[4:33] All right.

[4:34] Mr. Madame Attorney, is it in order to move into a reason of opportunity at this time?

[4:38] Yes.

[4:39] Yes.

[4:39] All right, so a reason for the public to be heard is now open and it is now closed because

[4:43] I have no registered speakers for a reason of opportunity.

[4:49] But I would like to take a moment and, of course, recognize our new board member, Vicki

[4:56] Lopez, officially on the record now that we've done roll call and you have your part of

[5:01] it.

[5:02] And we have another board member that's not here today that will hopefully be swearing

[5:06] in in our next meeting, Mayor of Haya-Lia, but congratulations, thank you.

[5:20] Now I would like to take a moment of personal privilege and congratulate our executive

[5:24] director for her 10 years of service as the executive director for the TPO.

[5:31] And

[5:35] I have to say, our executive director, Alimbo Clay, is obviously exceptional and we all

[5:40] know this.

[5:41] We've been working with her for several years now and some for many, many years, but I mean

[5:46] I mean, she is so dedicated to her work that it is exhausting even for me.

[5:52] It is a lot.

[5:53] It is all that she lives, she breeds, eats, I mean, this is what she lives for and we couldn't have somebody better representing us at the county level for TPO and for all of our municipalities, whether it's you representing us locally at the state or federal level.

[6:10] And, of course, I know you can't do that without your great team that's behind you, or beside you, but thank you for all of your service because it is because of your dedicated service that we're able to accomplish as much as we do in this TPO.

[6:24] So, thank you, and I want to officially give you the 10-year pin that we gave at the county.

[6:30] So, I'm

[6:40] an officially pin you here.

[6:41] I should have practiced on this before.

[6:45] Give

[6:54] her a nickname, is that what you're suggesting?

[6:55] I'm just saying, yeah.

[6:56] He's just making stuff up.

[6:58] I don't know how, man.

[6:59] I'm going to go back.

[7:00] All right.

[7:03] She's official.

[7:04] She's been pinned 10 years.

[7:11] We'll do an official picture all of us later.

[7:15] All right.

[7:15] Now, we've got all the pleasantries out of the way.

[7:19] Mr. or Madam Maternity, now I say both because at the BCC, just never know who's responding.

[7:25] Is it proper at this time to set the agenda?

[7:28] You may set the agenda at this time.

[7:29] The following changes to your agenda are requested for agenda item 6B2, board member Million Orbis requested to be listed as a co-sponsor.

[7:39] In addition, a motion was made at the bicycle fatalities, injuries, and reduction task force to add an item to

[7:47] to this agenda, six B-4 to today's agenda.

[7:50] It is a resolution urging the Florida Department of Transportation to work with the TPO to locate funding,

[7:56] to accelerate the construction of the project along Quail Roost Drive from Southwest 137 Avenue to Southwest 127 Avenue,

[8:04] including the bicycle path, and that would be FM number 445804-1.

[8:09] With that, a motion to set the agenda is in order.

[8:13] I want to take a motion at the agenda that's been moved by Board Member Bermutus.

[8:17] I'd like to be listed as a co-sponsor for non-public hearing item number two.

[8:21] And will you second it at this point?

[8:23] Yep.

[8:23] All right, so show it's seconded by Board Member Parto and listed as a co-sponsor for request by TPO

[8:31] Vice-Termin Eric Dienspodrom for the South Los Angeles Street improvements.

[8:36] Show them as a co-sponsor if that's okay, Vice-Chair.

[8:37] All right.

[8:39] All in favor of setting the agenda, saying if I may say aye.

[8:43] All right.

[8:43] All opposed nay.

[8:44] Show the agenda hereby set.

[8:47] Madam Executive Director, before we get into the formal agenda, can you at this time announce

[8:54] the TPO 2025 Public Service Announcement Contest Winners?

[8:58] Yes, Mr. Chairman.

[8:59] Thank you.

[9:00] So I'm proud to present today the Public Service Announcement Contest Winners to you and the governing

[9:06] board.

[9:06] on the my direction and deputy director Zayn Amselim,

[9:11] Miami-Date TPO, coordinated with Miami-Date County School Board,

[9:16] specifically board member Alonzo and his team.

[9:18] Thank you, board member Alonzo, as well as the students and schools

[9:25] to have a contest featuring safety messages on rail safety.

[9:31] As you know, we do have an issue at rail crossings

[9:34] with fatalities and injuries and incidents and so this is a message that the students have

[9:39] developed at the student level to increase safety. So I would like to show the video so everyone

[9:44] can see the number one video that was selected at this time and then Mr. Chairman invite the

[9:51] winners up for first, second and third place.

[10:05] Trains are something all people used to do sort of things. These tries have taken people to work

[10:11] to their loved ones, and to go home.

[10:13] But these same tracks have cost people

[10:15] to never be able to go home again.

[10:22] We're going to have aboard this ride.

[11:07] Every three hours someone in the US

[11:08] is hit by a train.

[11:11] Most of these accidents happen because people

[11:13] ignore simple safety rules.

[11:15] Please move way faster than you think.

[11:16] And once I break it, it can take over a mile to stop.

[11:19] You won't hear it in time if you're distracted.

[11:21] I can put you train tracks like a short car

[11:22] or maybe even a cool plastic photos.

[11:24] But phones, headphones, and running across

[11:26] those on small mistakes, their life changing risks.

[11:29] Always

[11:35] stop when you feel warning signs, never try to beat a train and never walk on the tracks, ever.

[11:41] Treat road road areas like you would, regular busy roads.

[11:45] One wrong move can affect your family, your friends, and your future.

[11:49] Staying safe isn't hard, it just takes one smart decision.

[11:52] Remember, the next time you're on a train track, stay off your phones,

[11:58] stay safe.

[12:00] Stay off the track, and most importantly, stay alive.

[12:04] Every

[12:30] year dozens of individuals get hurt because they believe trains are

[12:33] slow in the bulk years of coming in time but truth is they're much faster and

[12:37] quieter than you may think. Always expect the train even if the tracks look

[12:41] unbeaten. Trains can take over a modest solve the engineered

[12:44] canches hit the brakes and avoid you. Trains can't swerve and your safety isn't

[12:48] your hands.

[12:51] Most railroad accidents involve vehicles or pedestrians, not

[12:54] train-by-rollments. So stay alert! Never walk along the tracks or try to be the

[12:59] training and crossing. If the lights are flashing or the gates are down, stop and wait. No picture, no shortcut, and no rush is worth your life.

[13:07] Warning lights and gates are placed to prevent serious injuries and deaths.

[13:12] So stay smart. Stay safe. Stay off the tracks. Railroad safety starts with you.

[13:24] Definitely give her a round of applause. I mean, I don't know. I couldn't have done that in high school myself.

[13:28] So congratulations to all of the students that participated in the teachers, the principals and the system principals.

[13:34] So now I'm going to go ahead and call up and I see that they're already making their way up, so thank you for being so efficient.

[13:40] I must be the teachers and principals and all of that.

[13:43] And I want to start with third place. I don't know if they can hear me out there.

[13:48] And they, yes, nod if you can.

[13:51] All right, you're coming. All right. So third place is.

[13:55] Young man from the young men's prep academy.

[13:59] Where is young men's prep academy located?

[14:02] Where is young man's pervacatomy?

[14:04] All right.

[14:06] And we have our principal, Mr. Pierre Edward.

[14:09] Thank you for being here and the teacher, Mr. Howard Bloom.

[14:13] And of course, our third place group winner, Josiah Gideon.

[14:18] Did I say that right?

[14:20] I said it right.

[14:21] Look at that.

[14:22] All right.

[14:22] Congratulations.

[14:24] All right.

[14:25] So hold a standby.

[14:27] Just stand by.

[14:28] I'm going to call everybody up and then we'll give everybody their certificates and those

[14:32] that need trophies trophies and then we'll do a group picture as well.

[14:35] And then second place and first place, I'll call them separately, but they're both from

[14:40] Hailegaardins High School.

[14:41] I'm a little jealous.

[14:42] I don't know if this win everywhere.

[14:45] Yeah, I don't know what's going on with Board Member Alonzo and Bermuda's here.

[14:50] But from Hailegaardins High School we have a system principal, Christine Estevez.

[14:55] Kristina Stavas, you're here.

[14:58] Yes, come on up.

[15:00] So coming up, as I call your name, don't hide, don't be shy. We're only politicians. We have

[15:05] a teacher, Alex Garrido, maybe. All right, maybe he's here. All right. And then our

[15:14] second place group, we have three of their very bright students, Adriana Codero, Sofia

[15:21] Amanda and Raquel Perez, all right, and then

[15:31] our first place group winner, our first

[15:34] place group winner also from Hailea Gardens High School.

[15:38] What is going on here?

[15:40] They have a trial real station.

[15:43] That's probably what it is.

[15:45] That's probably what it is.

[15:46] Westchester has to step it up.

[15:48] Rafael Perez, come on in, Luis Briceno, Alexandro Garcia,

[15:55] Congratulations, and of course, our assistant principal who I call earlier, Christine Estevez and teacher Alex Carrillo.

[16:01] Congratulations on first place, let me get

[16:07] them to certificates, their trophies, and then we could do a photo with them.

[16:12] And stand by while we do all the pleasantries with our winners.

[19:37] Mr. Chair, Mr.

[19:50] Chair, while you're doing that.

[19:55] So first, I love the fact that all three gave a shout out to Tri-Rail.

[19:58] And we'll be talking about SFRTA a little bit later, but Miami-D County actually officially

[20:05] declared actually join the rest of the nation in train safety week, which is in September.

[20:12] So Madam Executive Director, I hope that Miami-D County can use these in September.

[20:17] So now all over the United States during a week in September, it's a C-TRAX thing train.

[20:26] You know, so we're working on that also, but we would love to use them on the county platforms because we're trying to educate people about trained safety.

[20:37] There are certain areas where people are just not used to the crossings, right, because they've been abandoned for a long time.

[20:42] So it really is.

[20:44] So thank you for picking this topic.

[20:46] I know that everyone at SFRTA was very excited to have the kids filming at the higher legal location.

[20:51] All right, thank you for that board member, Regolato.

[20:56] And I don't know if this is the first meeting that I'm sharing that actually Mayor Lago is present.

[21:02] So, thank you for being and joining us today, I appreciate you being here.

[21:06] You wore a tie for me, you did, you did.

[21:08] Now, how does zoning meeting, so zoning meetings I slack.

[21:11] If it was a board of county commission's meeting, I would have had a tie.

[21:15] All right, let's settle down and

[21:18] and Mr. or Madam Attorney, can we go ahead and go into public hearing items at this time?

[21:24] Yes, Mr. Chair, would you like me to read them all together?

[21:27] All of them.

[21:27] You got it.

[21:30] 6A1, fiscal year's 2026-2030 transportation improvement program amendment removal of the town of Miami Lake sidewalks improvement project.

[21:39] Resolution approving an amendment to the fiscal year's 2026-2030 transportation improvement program to remove the town of Miami Lake sidewalk improvement project.

[21:47] financial project, identification number 4366182.

[21:54] 6A2, fiscal year's 2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program Amendment,

[22:00] removal of the Southwest 157th Avenue Roadway Improvement Project.

[22:05] Resolution improving an amendment to the fiscal year's 2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program to remove the Southwest 157th Avenue Roadway Improvement Project from Southwest

[22:18] to Southwest 8th Street, financial project identification number 4-5-4-9-81-1.

[22:27] 6A3, fiscal year's 2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program Amendment,

[22:34] addition of the F.D6 District 6, D4 District 4 Commuter Services Project,

[22:41] resolution approving an amendment to the fiscal year's 2026-2030 Transportation

[22:46] improvement program to add the Florida Department of Transportation Districts 6 and 4 commuter services project.

[22:53] Financial management number 4, 5, 7, 3, 8, 6, dash 1, all three of these are public hearing items, and a roll call vote is required.

[23:03] All right, is there any bifurcations on any other items?

[23:07] For many of my colleagues, any bifurcations?

[23:10] Seeing no bifurcations, I'm going to go ahead and open a roll, settle down guys.

[23:16] I settled down, I know we're eager, but this is not every day that we have Mayor Lago here, we're going to take my time.

[23:23] All right, I'm going to go ahead and open up public hearing at this time.

[23:26] I don't have any registered speakers, right?

[23:28] So public hearing is hereby closed as well.

[23:32] Madam Attorney, can I have a board member move out three items since there's no bifurcations?

[23:36] Yes.

[23:37] All right, now I'll entertain a motion to move out of the three.

[23:39] It's been moved by board member Lopez, seconded by board member Orbiz, and we need a roll call on this.

[23:49] Yep, that's correct.

[23:49] Please call the roll.

[23:50] Board member Alonzo.

[23:52] Yes.

[23:52] Board member Bermuda.

[23:53] Yes.

[23:54] Board member Cohn Higgins.

[23:56] Board member Desumme.

[23:57] Yes.

[23:58] Board member Hardeman.

[23:59] Board member Lago.

[24:01] Yes.

[24:01] Board member Eddie Lopez.

[24:03] Yes.

[24:04] Board member Vicki Lopez.

[24:05] Yes.

[24:05] Board member Lathner.

[24:07] Yes.

[24:07] Board member McGee.

[24:08] Yes.

[24:08] Board Member Million Orbis, Board Member Pages, Board Member Pardo, Board Member Regolato, Board Member Steinberg, Board Member Suarez, Vice Chairman Diaz Pedrón, Chairman Rodriguez, the item's passed.

[24:26] All right, show those items approved.

[24:29] All right, Madam Attorney, if we could move into the non-public airing item, 6B162 and 6B3.

[24:36] Mr. Chair, just a reminder that 6B4 was added at the setting of the agenda.

[24:41] Yes.

[24:42] The resolution.

[24:43] Would you like them to be read into the record?

[24:44] Please do now, yes.

[24:46] Okay.

[24:48] 6B1, request by TPO Board Member Mick Steinberg, resolution approving a scope of services and

[24:53] budget to conduct a planning study for the Urges Urban Area District, 6B2, request by TPO

[25:01] Vice Chairman Eric Diaz-Padrone, resolution urgent of Florida Department of Transportation

[25:06] to allocate funding for a landscape project along State Road 90, Southwest 8th Street

[25:12] from Southwest 76 Avenue to Southwest 22nd Avenue for inclusion in the next FDOT work program

[25:20] cycle in collaboration with the button municipalities in Miami-Dade County, 6-B-3 resolution establishment,

[25:27] the Florida Department of Transportation's vision zero safety performance measures targets

[25:32] for traffic fatalities and injuries for calendar year 2026 and six before which was added at the

[25:38] setting of the agenda with dilution urging the Florida Department of Transportation to work

[25:43] with the TPO to locate funding to accelerate the construction of the project along quail roost

[25:49] drive from southwest 137 Avenue to southwest 127 Avenue including the bicycle path and that is

[25:57] It's FM number 445804-1.

[26:03] All right, anybody for occasions?

[26:06] You move all items.

[26:08] All right, we have a motion, we have a second.

[26:12] All in favor, say no if I may say aye.

[26:14] Aye.

[26:14] All opposed, nay.

[26:15] I'll show all the non-public hearing items passed.

[26:18] All right, Mr. Mayor, Madam Attorney, let's move into committee appointments.

[26:22] Do we have any appointments?

[26:24] Mr. Chairman, I was requested by Board Member.

[26:27] best end to read the following if one of her colleagues would be so inclined to make the motion.

[26:33] She would like to appoint Pierre Loro to the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee.

[26:41] All right, it's been moved, it's been seconded, all in favor of saying if I may say aye.

[26:48] All against nay, show that person appointed, Mayor Lago, you have an appointment?

[26:54] Yes, I have three, Mr. Chair, if I may, I have Dina Bell, who is the director of the City of Coral Gables.

[27:00] I also have Thomas Snook and I have Shane Patel.

[27:03] A pointing to?

[27:04] We're appointed to the TARC, the BPAC, and the CTAC, the citizen's transportation advisory committee.

[27:09] All right, board member logo moves, those three appointments.

[27:11] So moved, seconded by board member Lopez, on favor of second five, I say aye.

[27:16] Aye.

[27:17] I'll oppose the name so that I'm appointed any additional appointments.

[27:20] one point Joe Ruiz to C-TAC. All right so it moved but we'll remember part of

[27:26] seconded by board member Lopez. You're like a really good seconder. I love it, I love it, I love it.

[27:32] I am. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed name. All right so I'm

[27:39] appointed any additional. We got some good appointments in here though. You got your

[27:44] photo, highly of squad. All right, so we're done with appointments. All right, do we need

[27:53] to approve the minutes? Yes, I have motion to approve. The minutes have been moved. Second,

[27:58] it's been second in.

[28:02] Well, you didn't get the second out.

[28:06] You're wearing here. Oh, good

[28:07] point, but you could have read them. You could have read them. All in favor of approving the

[28:12] May the minister signify by say and I follow his name shall the minutes approve.

[28:16] All right, Madam Director, do we have presentations at this time?

[28:19] Yes, Mr. Chairman, we have a request by the Florida Department of Transportation in South Florida Regional Transportation Authority for two brief presentations.

[28:28] All right, can we take up the F1 first?

[28:33] Yes.

[28:34] All right, let's do F1 first and then following by SFRTA.

[28:37] Okay, we'll have staff put up the presentation, thank you.

[28:40] Perfect. And it is hot. And I thought

[28:49] it was just me.

[28:58] We lost the screen. We lost the screen. Good afternoon. Can you hear me fine? We could hear you, but we need the screen. We got the screen now.

[29:05] All right.

[29:07] All right.

[29:08] Go ahead.

[29:08] All right.

[29:09] So we're here today to present the Palmetto South

[29:12] project on the development of an environmental study,

[29:15] PD&E.

[29:18] The PD&E, the project is located in southwest Miami-Dade,

[29:25] along Palmetto Expressway from US 1 to Northwest 25th Street.

[29:31] Sorry, I forgot.

[29:32] My name is Raul Contell.

[29:33] I'm the FDOT priority manager for this PDN study.

[29:37] The total priority length is approximately 8.4 miles and it's all located within, on

[29:43] incorporating my American.

[29:45] Next slide.

[29:50] On this slide, we showcase the FDOT compass with the key focus areas that we focus on when

[29:56] for all our projects.

[29:58] these areas are

[30:12] This is a good example of a project that will meet all the focus areas on the compass.

[30:20] Next slide.

[30:24] The purpose and need for a PD&E provides a basis for considering developing

[30:31] in eliminating, evaluating alternatives for the PD&E.

[30:36] The purpose and need of this project is to accommodate travel demands for future travel

[30:42] demands and hands safety, improved system linkage, improved private mobility, and enhanced

[30:49] emergency response and evacuation.

[30:52] Next slide.

[30:52] The

[30:56] scope of this project is to, in general terms, is to add lanes who are going to be improving

[31:05] interchanges within the prior limits. We're going to be improving intersections.

[31:11] We're going to be evaluating the social, economic, physical and environmental impacts for the associated with improvements.

[31:20] all with the objectives of reaching a preferred alternative.

[31:27] We are evaluating traffic for years 2035 and 2055.

[31:34] The Palmetto's Pressway, as you see on the slide on the right side, the current condition

[31:39] of Palmetto, the one on top is from US-1 to stay road A-74.

[31:46] The Palmetto in the northbound direction has three lanes, general use lanes, and the southbound

[31:52] direction has two general use lanes with auxiliary lanes between interchanges.

[31:59] From stay road 874 to stay road 836, Palmetto has six lanes in ancient region.

[32:07] Next slide.

[32:11] On this slide, we were showing all the alternative that we evaluated.

[32:16] We also evaluated the no-build alternative and alternative two was eliminated from the study because it included H.O.V. lanes, which the programming is no longer entertaining.

[32:28] So for better understanding of the slide, we have divided the slide, the project in two segments.

[32:37] The one on the left will be from the U.S. want to stay road A-74, the one on the right

[32:44] will be from U.S. want from stay road A-74 to stay road A-26.

[32:50] The white arrows are general use lanes, the blue arrows are auxiliary lanes between interchanges,

[32:58] The brown arrows are on toll-managed lanes with separated by the lineators, and the green

[33:07] arrows are express lanes, toll- express lanes separated by the lineators.

[33:13] On alternative one, the one on top, the study proposed to add one general use lane throughout

[33:23] the entire limits of the project, from US-1 to State Route 836, and we are also, it also

[33:29] proposed adding auxiliary lanes between interchanges. On alternative three, the study proposed

[33:37] to add an on top managed lane throughout the entire length of the project, and auxiliary

[33:42] lanes between interchanges.

[33:43] Alternative 4 has one general use lane from US 1 to stay road 8.74 and one toll express

[33:54] lane from 8.74 to 8.36 and also it adds auxiliary lanes between interchanges.

[34:02] Alternative 4A was as a result of our public information meeting that we have back in November.

[34:11] We heard the public and we made some revisions to alternative 4 and we came up with alternative 4a, which adds one general use lane throughout the entire length of the project, plus we are adding one express lane from state road A74 to state road A36.

[34:32] This alternative 48 has been selected as a preferred alternative.

[34:37] Next slide.

[34:41] This is a schematic diagram for the preferred alternative.

[34:46] The lines in blue are the general use lanes that we're proposing.

[34:49] As you can see, we are adding a general use lane from US1 to stay road 836.

[34:56] The orange line is the new express lane from A74 to A36, and the yellow line is the existing

[35:05] express lane that's coming from the north.

[35:10] Access to express lanes in the northbound direction, you can access the express lane from

[35:17] from State Road A74, and you can exit the express lane to access State Road A36 Eastbound.

[35:26] We will build a new flyover that will connect to State Road A36.

[35:31] You can also continue on the existing express lanes to the north.

[35:36] And you could also exit the express lanes at that location to access the general use lanes.

[35:42] and we will also have an English point at that location where you can enter the

[35:48] express lane from any interchange to the south. In the south-bound direction, if you

[35:53] come in from the north, in the express lane already, you can exit at north-west 363

[36:00] to access any of the interchanges to the south, or you can continue on the

[36:05] press lanes and go directly to State Road A74.

[36:10] Next slide.

[36:15] The preferred tenant, if not only at Lane, it has a lot of additional benefits.

[36:22] We are enhancing the existing CD Road in the southbound direction from State Road A36 to

[36:29] A3.

[36:31] That CD Road currently has two lanes, so we're going to be widening to three lanes.

[36:36] We're going to be doing a major and minor interchange improvement, we're also doing intersection

[36:44] improvements, we're reducing travel times within the corridor, we are reducing crashes

[36:52] and improving safety, improving regional mobility, we are building a new drainage system,

[36:59] new lighting system, we're improving signals at the interchanges, we're building a new

[37:06] ITS system. Next slide.

[37:13] This is one of the the mayor interchain improvements that we're

[37:17] doing as part of the project. This is the very road interchanged. Norse is to the right.

[37:24] We're introducing an innovative concept of elevated U-turns to eliminate two left-turns,

[37:31] left-turn movements at this interchanged. How does it work? If you follow the red line,

[37:37] line, the red doter line, we coming from the south, if you want to go east on

[37:44] bird, you will do, you will exit the same way you do today, you exit on the

[37:49] other ramp and you will make it right up bird. If you want to go west, instead of

[37:54] making a left turn at the interchange, you will continue on the elevator ramp

[37:59] and you continue on the elevator you turn and get off on the on that off ramp on

[38:05] on the west side of Palmetto and make it right.

[38:09] That's, by doing that, we eliminated one left-term movement

[38:13] at this end of the change in the southbound direction.

[38:17] If you want to go west on bird, you will exit at the off-ramp,

[38:24] and you will make it right, a bird.

[38:26] Now, if you want to go east, you will continue on the elevator ramp,

[38:30] get on the elevator U-turn, and then on the off-ramp

[38:34] and make a right to go east.

[38:39] By eliminating these two left-term movements

[38:42] from this interchange, we have the opportunity

[38:45] to improve the operations by giving more green time

[38:49] to other movements.

[38:52] Next slide.

[38:56] The other major interchange that is being improved

[39:00] by this project is the State Road 836, 826.

[39:07] And this, the impacts of this improvement not only impacts the interchange itself,

[39:12] but the actual Palmeiro mainline.

[39:15] We're adding a new flyover ramp that connects the express lanes,

[39:20] the northbound express lanes to the eastbound State Road 836,

[39:24] as you can see on the red.

[39:28] By having this direct connection, which is a new flyover, we are removing a lot of traffic

[39:35] from the Palmeiro general use lanes.

[39:38] We are improving safety by reducing all the wind from the traffic going from A74 to A36

[39:46] that we've all those lanes along Palmeiro.

[39:50] So we're improving safety, especially between State Road A74 and State Road A36.

[39:59] Next slide.

[40:03] The status of the project, we are in the final stages of the PDNE phase.

[40:10] We have, we're going to have a public hearing on March 2nd, and we plan to get the final

[40:17] approval for the PDNE by June of 2026.

[40:20] The sign phrases scheduled to begin in 2027, right away, is partially funded and construction is currently on funded.

[40:31] The total cost of the project is $1.1 billion.

[40:36] With this, we'll include the presentations.

[40:39] We want to open up questions.

[40:42] Thank you for the presentation and I just want to say that we're close to losing quorum.

[40:48] We had two more members leave but on mine I just wanted to ask that and thank you for that

[40:53] Thank you for keeping us abreast of of this

[40:55] But if you if you can just continue coming back to us and and keeping us updated

[41:02] As the project moves forward, but specifically as to what the community feedback is right as a community in favor of this

[41:09] If it isn't that is the

[41:13] the new

[41:14] the new roads. We're going from no tolls to tolls so what is the kind of what is

[41:21] the community feedback on that? I think that's important for us to know as you

[41:24] guys move this forward. With that is there any other questions or unreadiness from

[41:29] my colleagues on this particular presentation? No? All right. Thank you very much.

[41:36] Thank you. And then our next presentation is from SFRTA on the Transit

[41:42] development plan, annual update, physical years 27 through 2036.

[41:49] Lorraine, come on up.

[41:51] Good afternoon.

[41:54] Lorraine Cargill, director of strategic planning with the South Florida Regional

[41:59] Transportation Authority, and we also operate the Tri-Rail commuter rail system.

[42:05] Our executive director, Mr. David Deck, couldn't be here today but he does send his regards.

[42:11] So this afternoon, I will present SFRTA's Transit Development Plan annual progress reports

[42:19] for fiscal years 2027 through 2036.

[42:25] I will speak briefly about the CDP process, highlight some of our funded and unfunded projects

[42:31] and conclude with our ongoing coordination with each of the MPOs.

[42:36] Next slide.

[42:37] So transit development plans are required by public transit agencies in the state of Florida.

[42:47] The plans typically cover a 10-year planning horizon with major updates completed every five years.

[42:56] And annual progress reports completed in the interim years.

[43:02] So, in early last year, as the FARTA did complete, it's major updates of its transit

[43:11] development plan and submitted that document to FDOT on the due date of March 1st.

[43:17] And so this annual report will also be submitted to FDOT on March 1st of 2026, next slide.

[43:24] So

[43:27] before I speak more about our capital projects, I just wanted to take a minute to highlight the Tri-Rail commuter rail service.

[43:38] We currently have 19 stations throughout the Tri-County area.

[43:43] Our 19th station was actually opened in January of 2024 at the MIME Central Station, where we are co-located with the Brightline system.

[43:56] In July of 2024, we began operating two limited-stop express trains into downtown Miami,

[44:08] one in the AM from our West Palm Beach station and the corresponding train in the PM

[44:17] back from Miami Central, back to our West Palm Beach station. So over the last year and a half,

[44:24] We have seen ridership on those express trains continue to grow as well as ridership on our service into downtown Miami from our

[44:33] metro station continue to grow. Next slide. And so with that growth I am happy to report that for fiscal year 2025

[44:45] The trial system experienced its highest ridership to date of about 4.5 million and we also closed the calendar year with our highest ridership to date as well of approximate.

[45:00] Approximately 4.5 million. And so, this chart here shows our three service. The dark blue is our main, main line service into the Miami airport station. The orange is our Miami Central Shuttle trains, which goes from our metro rail station into downtown Miami. And then our express service, as I mentioned, goes from our West Palm Beach station into downtown Miami. And that's just two trains per day. Next slide.

[45:29] So,

[45:33] this next slide just provides a list of our funded and unfunded capital projects

[45:40] over the next 10 years.

[45:42] As you can see, the purchase of new rolling stock is one of the agency's top priorities.

[45:50] In fact, we have allocated about 200 million, just over 200 million for new rolling stock.

[45:57] Thanks in part to approximately 72 million in federal grants that was awarded to the agency in 2023 and the over 44.5 million that is coming from our three MPOs and FDOT for capacity improvements.

[46:20] Unfortunately, due to our funding constraints there are a couple projects that we do have on hold.

[46:26] Notably our another layover and light maintenance facility, which is going to be located in Northern Palm Beach County as well as

[46:35] the rehabilitation of all our stations along the corridor.

[46:39] Those two projects are on hold until the agency knows more about its funding situation.

[46:45] Now I'll step in for Lorraine and do the political part.

[46:47] So as many of you know, I'm the vice chair, I'm the former chair of SFRTA,

[46:53] and we've really been working hard at Tri-Real.

[46:55] Lurena is part of an amazing team.

[46:57] The federal grant that she just told you about,

[47:00] we actually had staff working on it

[47:02] throughout the entire holiday season.

[47:05] So they didn't get to celebrate Christmas and New Year's,

[47:08] but they got the grant, and we're very excited about that.

[47:11] As many of you know, last year in Tallahassee,

[47:14] SFRTA's funding was eliminated.

[47:17] I've been working with F-DOT,

[47:19] and we do have it in this year's budget.

[47:22] So, the governor did put it in his proposed budget, and we're very thankful for that, but we have been working with F-DOT for a long-term plan.

[47:31] That has not stopped us from investing in the rolling stock, from applying for more grant funding.

[47:37] And as Commissioner Hartiman knows, for planning a new station and little river that we're very excited about at no cost to SFRTA.

[47:45] We have been very responsive about F-DOT's concerns that they no longer want to pay for maintenance on anything, it's not just trains, and we've been working through that with them, and really we want to bring in a new mindset in terms of the stations and the uses of the stations, and that's what we've been dealing with with F-DOT, and I hope that we'll be presenting that in the next two months, we're wrapping that up, but we really need your support in the governor's allocation.

[48:12] We have been working with the Coastal link.

[48:15] We are a partner with Brightline on that, but FOT has been very clear that there will

[48:21] be no discussion about the Coastal link until the SFRTA funding issue is resolved.

[48:26] We've also created subcommittees with all of our counties, including Miami-Dade County,

[48:31] and now staff is embedded in those committees.

[48:33] We meet with them monthly, talking about everything from the timing of our trains to our

[48:41] our positive train management and that has been very fruitful.

[48:45] We've also been meeting with the counties to increase their contribution to SFRTA that's

[48:52] been one of FDOT's requirements that we look at the statutory and that the counties contribute

[48:57] more.

[48:58] And we're looking at doing part of that with changes to zoning.

[49:02] Miami-Dade County has changes zoning around the stations.

[49:05] We're asking our Broward and Palm Beach partners to do the same.

[49:09] and we are currently working on a TOD

[49:12] and plan to move forward other TODs.

[49:15] So happy to take all of your questions.

[49:17] We're really excited about the ridership

[49:18] and we appreciate your support of SFRTA.

[49:23] Thank you.

[49:24] Is there any questions for either presenter?

[49:32] Any questions?

[49:33] I love our trains.

[49:35] We're a lot of do on right after.

[49:38] Any questions?

[49:38] Are you asking if you're completing the presentation?

[49:44] Yeah, we're done.

[49:45] I mean, the only thing that's left is we have been working on a one ticket ride.

[49:50] So for those of you who have been following that, that has been rolled out as a pilot.

[49:54] And one of the things that we're doing at our meeting on Friday is we're going to be adding debit cards,

[49:57] so that you can pay with debit cards for use of tri-rail.

[50:01] So you'll be able to use the same ticket throughout all three transit systems in the tri-county area.

[50:07] Thank you.

[50:09] Mayor Lago, I know you had one of the mixing comments on 6P2?

[50:13] Yes, Mr. Vice Chair, thank you very much.

[50:16] It's just a personal point of privilege, and I also know that Chairman left.

[50:19] He was just so quick, he's like silver surfer, you know, very efficient.

[50:23] With the agenda, I'm a lot slower.

[50:24] It's been a long day, so I apologize for bringing this back up.

[50:27] But I, first and foremost, I want to commend the Vice Chair.

[50:29] And I have just a few points, not a concern, because I want to be a co-sponsor in 6P2.

[50:34] A portion of this area obviously runs and bifurcates a city of coagabals and we're very proud that you have brought this forward and I commend you for that.

[50:42] I just want to put some items on the records that we can work on them together and hopefully and find solutions because I think they're going to be issues.

[50:48] Having a little bit of a construction background, I foresee issues like the turning lanes, if we're going to really install landscape and lush landscape and we're going to put in mediums, I think it may affect businesses if we have to address the issues with the turning lanes.

[51:01] that may be a conflict, so let's try to find solutions for that.

[51:05] I think the medians in regards to landscaping

[51:08] is a beautiful solution.

[51:09] We've seen it in the city of Coral Gables,

[51:10] we're currently doing it right now up to A Street on Ponds,

[51:13] but we may have some conflicts on that front.

[51:14] And the last thing I want to do on both sides of the aisle,

[51:16] both the city of Miami and the city of Coral Gables

[51:18] is affect businesses at this present moment.

[51:22] I also want to remind everyone,

[51:23] I know that Commissioner Regalalal

[51:24] is always advocating on behalf of ADA issues.

[51:27] Our sidewalks are five and six feet in this area.

[51:30] So, by the ADA code, we're going to have a tough go at it, squeezing and landscaping in

[51:37] these areas.

[51:38] So, we're going to have to be very creative to find real solutions that I think bring

[51:42] that lusciousness and that beauty that that area is in dire need of, in dire need of, but

[51:47] we also have to obviously follow the ADA code.

[51:50] And also the final issue is just a pet peeve of coal gavels, if I may.

[51:54] You know that we always think it to the highest standard as possible.

[51:57] And I know that FDOT may only provide a certain amount in regards to landscaping, and

[52:02] they may have some sort of requirements because certain trees may do better under certain

[52:07] maintenance situations.

[52:08] I hope that in areas where, for example, Commissioner Partle in the City of Miami, West Miami,

[52:15] City of Cork Ables, that we may be consulted in regards to the landscaping that's being proposed

[52:19] there.

[52:19] We're looking to minimize water, to minimize electricity, so we're looking for a lot more

[52:24] native plants, and I think it's an opportunity that everyone in this board is really looking

[52:27] to effectuate as much change as possible.

[52:29] But in closing, I want to commend you for going out and really pushing forward this initiative

[52:34] along with all the co-sponsors and today's and on everything on today's agenda, so thank

[52:39] you very much.

[52:39] Thank you.

[52:40] And we made sure to put in there, can we add Mayor Lago's co-sponsor on that item?

[52:44] Make sure to put in there on collaboration with the better municipalities because I know

[52:48] every city is going to have best practices and also issues that are burdened to their businesses.

[53:01] Thank you so much, Vice Chair, and first of all, I want to thank our Executive Director and the Chairman and Vice Chairman for allowing our students to participate in these events.

[53:10] These are very important opportunities for our students to be given the chance to be here, but not just that, but to actually think through these issues and problems I have.

[53:19] With that in mind, I wanted to bring up something I know in our past meeting, we talked about school speed zones and the important to them.

[53:25] Unfortunately, on December 19th, we had another student in Miami-Dade County be run over by a vehicle at Carroll City Middle School and unfortunately lost this life through the holidays.

[53:35] So I just want to continue to bring that to light to this board that we're losing children here in our own burial county due to distracted drivers due to speeding and

[53:46] other issues, this student did cross in an error where there was no crosswalk, but it was still in a school zone.

[53:53] And unfortunately, we lost another life.

[53:56] So I look forward to continue the working with this board in finding ways to create these safe routes.

[54:02] And also to protect our students when they're leaving school and crossing streets so

[54:06] that they can safely get to and from school.

[54:07] Thank you.

[54:09] Thank you.

[54:10] Is there anyone else which you speak?

[54:12] I think we've completed everything in the agenda, correct?

[54:18] Yes, Mr. Vice Chairman, it's just board reports.

[54:21] I would just like to highlight that the 2025 annual report is in your agenda.

[54:27] So it's the first time we're getting it to you in January, right after it's usually

[54:31] a quarter, but I got it out there for you right away.

[54:34] And also the state has brought back the weekend institute for anyone that might like to sign

[54:40] up for training with the state.

[54:41] Please let us know.

[54:42] And lastly, the Regional Safe Roads Summit, which we do as a county is in Broward.

[54:49] If you would like to go, please let us know and we will register you.

[54:53] That is everything.

[54:54] Thank you. Is there any more presentations you can put on the screen now?

[54:56] Or okay, can I get a motion to adjourn?

[54:59] Motion.

[54:59] What's being dangerous?

TPO Governing Board Meeting

Agenda

Transcript