Rapid Transit Corridors in Miami-Dade County presentation to the MPO Governing Board's rapid transit workshop.

1. Rapid Transit Corridors in Miami‐Dade County
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
January 8, 2015

2. Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
Historical Overview
2
1984
Metrorail &
Metromover
1989 1994 2003
Tri-Rail Metromover
Extensions
Busway
1997
Metrorail Ext
To Palmetto Station
2007
Busway Ext
To Naranja
2005
Busway Ext
To Florida City
Metrorail Ext
To MIC
2012
Network 86
1986

3. Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
People’s Transportation Plan (PTP)
• Half‐cent sales surtax approved by county voters in
November, 2002
• Eight (8) Rapid Transit Corridors
• Multitude of Transit, Roadway, and Non‐motorized
Improvements
• Citizen’s Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) was
created
• Nearly 20% generated funds allocated to municipalities
• Nearly $1.33 billion generated for transit plan through 2013
3

4. PTP Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
4
• AirportLink – Completed in 2012
• North Corridor
• East-West Corridor
• Beach Corridor (Bay Link)
• Northeast Corridor (Coastal Link)
• South Corridor (South Link)
• Kendall Corridor (Kendall Link)
• Douglas Road Corridor

5. 5
Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
North Corridor
Past Efforts
• 9.5 miles ‐ Planned Metrorail
• Integrated to existing Metrorail
system
• FTA New Starts Project Evaluation
(2009)
• Purchase of 14‐acre property at the
northern terminus (2010)
• Enhanced Bus Service (EBS) Plan
completed (2013)
• FTA issuance of Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) in 2014
for EBS
Current Efforts
• 11.2 miles ‐ Bus Rapid Transit
(BRT) being analyzed as part
of the BRT Implementation
Plan
• Connecting to the existing
Metrorail system and the MIC
• Planned park & ride facilities
at NW 215th St and NW 27th
Avenue
• Coordination of regional
services with Broward County
Transit (BCT)
NW 215th Street P&R
MIC
SR‐112
HEFT
Miami Gardens Dr.
NW 79th Street

6. 6
Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
East‐West Corridor
Past Efforts
• Record of Decision (ROD) was issued for
Palmetto and the Port of Miami segment 1998
• Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) (2008) for extension
between MIC and West Dade with connections
to FIU, Sweetwater and Doral
• Connection from MIC to downtown Miami
AirportLink completed on (2012)
Current Efforts
• EBS planned along Flagler Street
• Planned bus facility improvements at FIU and
at SW 147 Ave and 8 St
• BRT being analyzed as part of the BRT
Implementation Plan along Flagler Street
• Express Bus Service along SR‐836
• Consideration of commuter rail service along
existing parallel rail corridors
Flagler StreetFIU
SR‐836
Downtown
Miami
NW 12th St.
$18.5 M programmed in FY 2015 TIP
$12.0 M programmed in FY 2015 TIP

7. 7
Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
Beach Corridor
Direct Connection (DC)
Past Efforts
• Bay Link Study completed in 2003 with a Light Rail Transit (LRT)/
Streetcar locally preferred alternative (LPA) selected, which included:
 Mixed traffic operations, except along McArthur causeway
Current Efforts
• Beach Corridor Transit Connection Study to be
completed in early 2015
 Direct Connect alternative preferred
 Operations in exclusive lanes
 P3 project delivery desired
 LRT Catenary‐free system under consideration
• Next phase environmental documentation (NEPA)

8. 8
Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
Northeast Corridor
Current Efforts
• TRCL project entering FTA’s Project Development Phase
• All Aboard Florida (AAF) First Phase will operate from West Palm
Beach to Downtown Miami
• TRCL and AAF continue close coordination regarding
infrastructure and service options
Past Efforts
• South Florida East Coast Corridor (SFECC) Study began in 2005 now rebranded as
the Tri‐Rail Coastal Link (TRCL)
• 13.6 Miles in Miami‐Dade County
• Proposed integrated commuter rail system
• Completed EBS Implementation Plan for Biscayne Blvd in 2013

9. 9
Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
South Dade Corridor
Past Efforts
• Completed an Alternatives Analysis (South Link Study – 21
miles) in 2006
• MPO approved the LPA for enhanced BRT and Metrorail
extension to SW 104th Street, including grade separation at
major intersections and additional park & ride facilities
Current Efforts
• MDX conducting a PD&E for express lanes along the
Busway
• Elevated busway at all intersections
• Consideration of upgrading park & ride facilities
• Integration of busway enhancements with MDX planned
express lanes

10. 10
Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
Kendall Corridor
Past Efforts
• Conducted Kendall Link Study in 2007
• No LPA selected by the MPO
• Examined dedicated busway facilities
along Kendall Drive, SW 137 Avenue, CSX
and FEC
• Implementation of Kendall Cruiser in 2010
• West Kendall Bus Terminal
Current Efforts
• BRT being analyzed as part of the BRT
Implementation Plan
Dadeland Mall
Dadeland South
Metrorail Station

11. 11
Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
Douglas Corridor
Past Efforts
• Completed Douglas Corridor Transit
Study in 2014
• Identified for potential BRT and LRT
along SW 37 Avenue
• No determination of locally preferred
alternative
Current Efforts
• BRT being analyzed as part of the BRT
Implementation Plan
• Connects the MIC and Douglas Road Metrorail Station
• Possible integration with the North Corridor BRT
project at the MIC
MI
C
Douglas Rd. Metrorail
Station
NW 37thAve.
SR‐
836
SW 8th St.
SW 22nd
St.

12. 12
Other Rapid Transit Initiatives
Miami Streetcar
• FDOT funded Alternatives Analysis and Preliminary Engineering (2006) –MPO Resolution #13‐06
(03/23/06)
• Recent efforts to revive the project:
 City of Miami Resolution #14‐0388 (09/29/14)
 Item placed at the MPO meeting on October 23, 2014 for prioritization, but deferred
• Preliminary Capital Cost Estimates $200 M – 7 miles one‐way loop
• Funding for capital and operations need to be identified
Source: City of Miami
(1) The 2035 LRTP
included only the
development of the
PD&E, as Priority I.
(1)

13. 13
Other Rapid Transit Initiatives
All Aboard Florida
• Privately led initiative
• Trains will run on hourly basis with stops in Fort Lauderdale,
West Palm Beach and Orlando
• Tri‐Rail Coastal Link project being coordinating with All
Aboard Florida for shared facilities

14. Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
PTP Corridors Capital Cost Summary
14
 Operating & Maintenance Costs not included
Estimated Total
Investment
Over $6 billion
CORRIDOR MODE
CAPITAL COST
($M)
($) YEAR
AirportLink Metrorail 560 2012
North Metrorail 1,400 2016
East‐West Metrorail 2,300 2019
Beach Light Rail 532 2014
Northeast Commuter Rail 810 (1) 2012
South BRT/Metrorail 398 2005
Kendall BRT/DLRT 443 2006
Douglas Light Rail 310 2013
(1) Tri‐Rail Coastal Link (TRCL) –Total Region

15. Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
TIP Funding Status
15
CORRIDOR LINE ITEM
PRIOR to
FY 2015 ($ M)
FY 2015
‐2019
($ M)
TOTAL
($ M)
East ‐West
Flagler St. EBS ‐ 12.0 12.0
SR 836 Express 9.0 18.4 27.4
Kendall Drive Kendall EBS 15.1 ‐ 15.1
North NW 27th Ave. EBS 12.8 11.0 23.8
Northeast Biscayne Blvd. EBS 18.0 9.0 27.0
TOTAL 54.9 50.4 105.3
Projects identified as Priority 1 in the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

16. 16
Rapid Transit Corridor Projects
2040 LRTP Project Status
PRIORITY PERIOD CORRIDOR
TOTAL
YOE ($ M)
2
2021 ‐
2025
Biscayne EBS 3.4
Douglas EBS 17.8
Kendall EBS 11.9
NE 79th St. EBS 68.3
3 2026 ‐
2030
NW 7th Ave. EBS
54.0
4 2031 ‐
2040
NW 27th Ave.
BRT
533.0
TOTAL 688.4
YOE –Year of Expenditure

17. Funding Sources Options
• Federal/State Discretionary Programs
• State and Local Funds
• Partnership Opportunities
17

18. 18
• Section 5309 ‐ New Starts and Small Starts Program:
 Long queue, requires long‐term planning
 Significant local share necessary to be competitive
 Small Starts ‐ Projects under $250 M requesting under $75 M funding
• TIGER Grant
 Upper limit of previous awards approximately $20M
 Highly competitive
• State New Starts Program
 Requires project to be eligible for federal News Start program
Funding Sources Options
Federal and State Discretionary Programs

19. 19
Funding Sources Options
State and Local Funds
• National Highway System (NHS) ‐ can be used for transit if in same corridor as
NHS route and improves NHS route and regional traffic
• Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) ‐ must be used on SIS designated corridor
• State Transit Block Grant
• Sales Surtax ‐ People’s Transportation Plan (PTP)
• Local Option Gas Tax (LOGT)
• Turnpike/MDX Toll Revenue
• Tax Increment Financing
• Special Assessment Districts

20. • Public‐Private Partnership (P3)
 For transit, P3 is a financing / project delivery mechanism; not a funding source
• Florida State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) Loan
• Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA)
• Local corridor based surtaxes
• Miami‐Dade Expressway Authority (MDX)
20
Funding Sources Options
Financing Opportunities

21. 21
Funding Sources Options
How do P3s work?
• Under the Design‐Build‐Finance Availability
Payment P3 Structure, the public entity makes
periodical payments at a predetermined rate/fee
with the following benefits:
 Accelerate design and construction
 Financial flexibility to meet possible funding
availability constraints
 Fast delivery
PortMiamiTunnel
SR 826/SR 836 Interchange Project Rendering

22. 22
Funding Sources Options
Outcome of Past Experience
• A lot of efforts in planning
• MPO Governing Board recommendations
• Most of the corridors have to start from the beginning of the process:
 NEPA Process
 Project Development
 Design
• Funding is still an issue
• Time constraints, etc, etc, etc…
In other words, we continue looking for solutions

23. 23
It’s time to work together and move from…
toPlanning ‐ ‐ Reality
Next Steps

24. 24
Next Steps
Experience in Other Cities
CITY
PLANNING
YEARS
OPENING
YEAR
LENGTH
(miles)
COST/MILE
($ M)
MODE
Charlotte 14 2017 9.3 125 LRT Extension
Minneapolis 11 2014 9.8 98 LRT
Phoenix n/a 2016 3.2 102 LRT Extension
Atlanta 10 2014 2.6 35 Streetcar
Ft. Lauderdale 11 2016 2.7 53 Streetcar
Tucson 10 2014 3.9 51 Streetcar
Las Vegas 4.5 2004 7.5 3 Dedicated Bus Lane
Cleveland n/a 2008 9.4 21 BRT Centerline
Boston n/a 2002 2.4 12 Arterial Section

25. 25
Next Steps
How Do We Start?
• Re‐focus team
 To move projects from planning to reality
• The players are:
 MPO
 FDOT
 County
o MDT
o CITT
 MDX
• Leverage existing funds

26. 26
Next Steps
Potential Implementation Scenarios
Using the
Availability
Payment P‐3
Structure
ENTITY
(A)
$M/YEAR
(B)
$M/YEAR
(C)
$M/YEAR
MPO 10 15 20
FDOT 10 15 20
COUNTY 10 15 20
TOTAL 30 45 60
BONDING
CAPACITY
$240 M ‐
$300 M
$360 M ‐
$450 M
$480 M ‐
$600 M
15 year time frame
• Re‐programming of funds will start in FY 2021
• Bonding capacity depends on:
 Interest rate
 Time (10, 15, 20… years)
 Who is issuing the bonds?... Among other factors

27. 27
Next Steps
How it could be done?
• FY2015 – 2019 TIP and 2040 LRTP were approved by the MPO
Governing Board in 2014
• Re‐program existing funds for capital costs only with the
approval of the MPO Governing Board
• Accelerate project implementation
• Funds to build one or more BRT corridors, depending on the
bonding capacity
• Re‐focus EBS projects to full BRT projects
• Possible implementation time 5‐6 years for BRTs
• No impact on existing rail projects
• Not excluding other funding sources

28. 28
Next Steps
Conceptual Costs
CORRIDOR
LENGTH
(miles)
MODE
TOTAL EST.
COST ($M)
Beach (1) 6.5 LRT 532
Douglas Road (2) 5.5 BRT 55
Miami Streetcar (3) 7.0 Streetcar 200
E‐W / Flagler St. (2) 12.0 BRT 170
Kendall Drive (2) 9.5 BRT 142
North (2) 11.5 BRT 152
Northeast 13.1 Commuter NA
South (4) 21.0 BRT/Metrorail 398
Preliminary costs will vary on a
case by case basis
(1) LRT Beach Corridor Study (2014)
(2) BRT Implementation Plan (2014)
(3) Estimated costs provided by the City of Miami
(4) South Link Study (2006)

29. 29
Next Steps
Departmental Level
• MPO
• FDOT
• County
 MDT
 CITT
• MDX
o Amend LRTP and TIP, as appropriate
o Develop inter‐agency agreements, as
necessary
o Evaluate the mechanisms and tools to move
the project (s) forward for implementation
o Develop an action plan for MPO Governing
Board approval
o Advance projects into Environmental and
Project Development phases

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Next Steps
Policy Level
• Decisions at MPO Governing
Board level
 Use Federal or State process for
Environmental and Project Development
 Establish priorities of the corridors
o Choose three (3) corridors for analysis
and further implementation
 Determine financing and implementation
mechanisms