Consistent with the Town's Strategic Plan, and the Town Council's directive, Town Staff facilitated a Transportation Summit to formulate comprehensive solutions to the Town's transportation challenges. The Transportation Summit included the participation of all relevant transportation agencies and identified several key strategies to improve transportation and the distribution of traffic flow in Miami Lakes. Subsequent to the Summit, the Town Council Approved Resolution No. 15-1330 to address the transportation and mobility challenges through identified strategies. One of the identified strategies was to “Extend NW 59th Avenue south to Miami Lakes Drive”.

The NW 59th Avenue Roadway Extension and Redevelopment Project includes the design and construction of a bridge and roadway improvement extending NW 59th Avenue over the C-8 Canal (Canal #870609) south to NW 151st Street. Completion of the extension to NW 151st Street requires the purchase of privately held land adjacent to NW 151st Street, and the acquisition of a 5.86-acre parcel from the Miami-Dade Aviation Department which runs along the C-8 Canal. The balance of the latter parcel not used for roadway can then be developed with a public works vehicle storage facility, an area for a public private partnership to operate a boat storage facility, and parking to adjacent property owners or others. A complete description of the entire project is outlined in Exhibit A.

Complete Streets design and construction of NW 151st Street/NW 153rd Street shall be implemented to facilitate traffic flow at the bridge connection point, thereby encouraging users to utilize local mobility options in lieu of the State Highway System (SHS). To complement this new connection, an overlay zoning district will be applied to facilitate the growth of a commercial hub along the 151st/153rd Street corridor.

Resolution No. 15-1330 directs the Town Manager to pursue grants for planning services and for design/construction of infrastructure consistent with these strategies, and to recommend budget revisions necessary to implement these strategies. A solicitation is available from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the County Incentive Grant Program (CIGP). The County Incentive Grant Program (CIGP) was created for the purpose of providing grants to municipalities and counties to improve a transportation facility, including transit which is located on the State Highway System (SHS) or which relieves traffic congestion on the SHS, per Section 339.2817, Florida Statutes.

The NW 59th Avenue Roadway Extension and Redevelopment Project is an eligible project under this Statute. In FY 2018/2019, $11.5 million has been appropriated for the FDOT CIGP. The NW 59th Avenue Extension and Redevelopment Project estimated cost is approximately eight (8) million. A 50% local match is required and will be provided through public-private partnerships (P3s) and the 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan. The current fiscal year budget allocation for this Project is $775,000. The County Incentive Grant Program (CIGP) would enable the Town to proceed with the essential design, acquisition and construction of this Project. The local match will be derived from mobility fees and PTP transportation funds.

The NW 59th Avenue Roadway Extension and Redevelopment Project is included in the Transportation Summit Community Forum Adopted Strategies, Town of Miami Lakes Adopted Comprehensive Plan, Adopted Strategic Plan, and Adopted 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan. The Project will benefit the Town, neighboring jurisdictions, Miami-Dade County, and regional industries by providing essential north-south connectivity to access businesses and commerce located on and around NW 59th Avenue, relieving traffic congestion on the State Highway System (SHS) NW 57th Avenue (Red Road), improving public infrastructure which brings economic recovery and enhancement to vacant spaces, and reducing the burden on the Miami Lakes population to travel outside Town boundaries to access local businesses, jobs, and services.