Subject:
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Bridge Investment Program grant application with the Federal Highway Administration for design fees for the replacement of the Dunedin Causeway Bridges.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval to grant the County Administrator authority to sign the Bridge Investment Program grant application with the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) for design fees for the replacement of the Dunedin Causeway Bridges.
• Grant funding request is for design fees only for the replacement of the Dunedin Causeway Bridges
• Proposed new bridges will meet all current safety standards and provide enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
• Requested grant funding is $4,500,000.00 (73.8%); anticipated County match is $1,600,000.00 (26.2%).
• County match will be funded through the Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Capital Improvement Program Local Infrastructure Sales Tax (Penny for Pinellas).
• Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Chairman to sign the letter of support.
• Request authority for the County Administrator to sign the application on behalf of the BCC.
• Application deadline is September 8, 2022.
PID 000423A; Total design cost is approximately $6,100,000.00, with grant funding requested in the amount of $4,500,000.00; Authorize the BCC Chairman to sign the related letter of support; Authorize the County Administrator to sign the grant application.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.5 Enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.4 Invest in infrastructure to meet current and future needs
4.5 Provide safe and effective transportation systems to support the efficient flow of motorists, commerce, and regional connectivity
Summary:
Summary
The BCC is authorizing the County Administrator to sign the Grant Application for design for the replacement of the Dunedin Causeway Bridges due to time constraints. The Application is currently being prepared by the County’s consultant, WSP, Inc., with anticipated completion by mid-August, which is after the agenda deadline for the next BCC meeting. The next BCC Meeting is scheduled for the same day the grant application is due to FHA. The final application will be provided through a future delegated item.
Grant funding will support design fees for the replacement of the Dunedin Causeway bridges in anticipation for construction that is to begin in FY 2025-2026.
The proposed new bridges will meet all current safety standards, increase capacity, provide enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and eliminate the need for frequent repairs. Aging machinery and electrical equipment of the bridges has required ongoing and increasingly intensive intervention to keep the bridges in operation. This project renews infrastructure which is at the end of its useful life and has significant citizen impacts.
The Dunedin Causeway bridges are the only access connecting the City of Dunedin to Honeymoon Island State Park, businesses, and residential communities. Both bridges were constructed in 1963 and are considered "functionally obsolete" because of their narrow width. According to a 2015 Florida Department of Transportation Bridge Inspection Report, the main bascule bridge contains fractured critical components and is considered scour critical. It has a sufficiency rating of 48.6 out of 100. There are no shoulders on the bridges, and the sidewalks on the north side are only 3 ½ feet wide. The multi-use path on the south side of the bridge is only 6 feet wide. Both the main and tide relief bridges do not meet current engineering standards for resisting damage from high waves during significant storm events and vessel impacts. Ongoing maintenance and repair of the main (bascule) bridge machinery also affects reliability, and results in traffic delays. Major rehabilitation or replacement of both bridges is needed to keep the bridges open, and the main (bascule) bridge operating efficiently.
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Background Information:
The Dunedin Causeway bridges are located on Causeway Boulevard in the City of Dunedin. The two-point five (2.5) mile stretch crosses St. Joseph Sound, a part of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway connecting the mainland of the City of Dunedin from SR 595 (Alternate US 19) to businesses, residential living areas, and the entrance of Honeymoon Island State Park and its barrier islands.
A total of $2.36 billion BIP funds were made available through FHWA, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that specializes in highway transportation. Funding will be granted to selected projects that involve bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection. The deadline for the grant application to be submitted is September 8, 2022.
Fiscal Impact:
The total design cost of the Dunedin Causeway Bridges is approximately $6,100,000.00. Requested BIP funding is $4,500,000.00 (73.8%); anticipated County match is $1,600,000.00 (26.2%).
The Dunedin Causeway Bridges project 000423A is currently reflected in the proposed budget funded by the Local Infrastructure Sales Surtax (Penny for Pinellas) and will provide the local match.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
USDOT
FWHA
City of Dunedin
Attachments:
BCC Letter of Support
Notice of Funding Opportunity
OMB Intent to Apply
Project Location Map