29565132 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services


Notice: 29565132
Notice of Meeting/Workshop Hearing

Division:	Infinite Source Communications Group, LLC


Overview



	The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announces a hearing to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME:	Thursday May 22, 2025, starting at 5:30 p.m.

PLACE:	The meeting will be held both in-person and virtually. Attend In Person: AC Hotel Miami Aventura at 20805 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura, Florida 33180. Attend Virtually: Register online at: https://tinyurl.com/i95virtualpublichearing. Participants may also call in (audio only) by dialing (562) 247-8422; access code: 684-690-233.

Subject:	The FDOT will host a Public Hearing for the I-95/State Road (SR) 9 Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study from south of SR 860/Miami Gardens Drive to north of the Broward County Line, Miami-Dade County, Florida. The project identification number is 414964-1-22-01. The hearing will be held May 22, 2025, with the open house portion starting at 5:30 p.m. and the formal presentation starting at 6 p.m. FDOT is offering two ways to participate in the hearing. Interested persons may join virtually using a computer, tablet, or phone, or attend in-person. This hearing is being held to allow interested persons an opportunity to be informed and provide comments concerning the location; conceptual design; and social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed improvements. The purpose of the project is to provide additional capacity to accommodate future travel demand while improving overall safety along the project corridor and enhancing mobility for the surrounding community. All participants, regardless of how they choose to participate, will receive the same information and be provided with the opportunity to comment. The open house portion of the Public Hearing will provide an opportunity for meeting attendees to review and discuss project information with the project team. The open house will be immediately followed by a formal presentation and public comment period. A court reporter will be present at the hearing to record a formal transcript. All comments provided at the hearing will become part of the Public Hearing record. Two recreational resources exist within the project limits which are anticipated to be affected by the proposed improvements. These are Milton Littman Park and Snake Creek Trail. The project will require permanent right-of-way (ROW) from the northern and western edges of Milton Littman Park, and may require a temporary easement along I-95 within the park during the construction phase. The project will also require temporary closure of the Snake Creek Trail where it crosses underneath I-95. The park is located at 600 NE Miami Gardens Drive and is owned by the City of North Miami Beach (CNMB). The trail is located along the south bank of the Snake Creek Canal (C-9) just north of SR 860/Miami Gardens Drive and is owned by the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces (MDPROS). The FDOT, CNMB, and MDPROS have coordinated on the proposed improvements. Milton Littman Park is approximately 1.1 acres in size and adjacent to the east side of I-95. The park includes two pavilions and water fountains, a playground, a double bay swing set, a walking path, an outdoor fitness equipment cluster, and open landscaped green space. Snake Creek Trail is approximately 6.5 miles long, connects to other trails in the network, and crosses underneath the I-95 bridges that go over Snake Creek Canal. The trail provides a paved asphalt path for walking, bicycling, and inline skating and includes trailside amenities, picnic shelters, and fitness stations. The project improvements involve the use of properties protected under 23 U.S.C. § 138 and 49 U.S.C. § 303, commonly referred to as Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act. Therefore, the following effects and improvements have been coordinated: a) For Milton Littman Park, the proposed project will require the acquisition of approximately 3,204 square feet along Miami Gardens Drive (northern edge of the park); and approximately 3,072 square feet along I-95 (western edge of the park). An additional approximately 2,099 square feet of existing FDOT ROW is located within the existing limits of the park along Miami Gardens Drive (northern edge of the park) and will be required for the project. Measures to minimize and mitigate harm include the following six commitments: 1) The FDOT will enter into an agreement with the CNMB by which parklands lost shall be appropriately mitigated; 2) The FDOT will coordinate with the CNMB on considerations for aesthetic treatment(s) of the proposed I-95 structural retaining wall within the limits of the park; 3) The FDOT will work with the CNMB to identify trees that need to be relocated or replaced from within the park; 4) The FDOT will relocate/replace park fencing, paved pathway, landscaping, and associated conflicting irrigation components along the northern and western edges of the park; 5) Access to the park will be maintained at all times during construction, to the extent practical for safety; 6) The FDOT will coordinate with the CNMB on the need for a Temporary Construction Easement (TCE) within the limits of the park. The TCE will be cordoned off by temporary construction fencing, or similar, as needed for safe construction practices. Based on the limited impacts of the proposed action on the activities, features, and attributes that qualify Milton Littman Park for protection under Section 4(f), together with the measures to minimize and mitigate harm, the FDOT intends to pursue a Section 4(f) de minimis finding for the proposed use of land within the park. b) For Snake Creek Trail, access to the trail under I-95 will be temporarily closed. Exact closure timeframes will be coordinated with MDPROS by the FDOT. The trail will be closed off with temporary fencing and appropriate signage. There is no feasible safe detour that can be provided to trail users during construction. The FDOT will construct an improved, replacement trail between the FDOT limited access ROW limits for I-95, a distance of approximately 358 linear feet, matching the existing trail width, and providing a minimum of 10 feet of vertical clearance over the paved trail to the bottom of the new I-95 bridges. The new trail segment will be located close to the proposed southern bridge support wall with some separation from the edge of the existing Snake Creek Canal. Specific design details, including the proposed elevation of the trail, will be coordinated with MDPROS during the final design phase of the project. There are Exceptions to the requirement for a Section 4(f) approval. Section 23 CFR 774.13(d) provides the conditions under which temporary occupancies of land are so minimal as to not constitute a “use” within the meaning of Section 4(f). The FDOT has determined that these conditions are anticipated to be met with this project; therefore, temporary occupancy (temporary closure and reconstruction of the trail segment) does not constitute a use under Section 4(f) for the Snake Creek Trail, and the FDOT may pursue an Exception to the requirements for Section 4(f) for these activities. As an important part of making these decisions, the FDOT is seeking public comment concerning the impacts of the proposed action to the activities, features, and attributes of both recreational resources. The PD&E Study documents will be available for public review from May 1 30, 2025, through June 1, 2025, at the following location: North Dade Regional Library 2455 NW 183 Street Miami Gardens, FL 33056 Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. These materials will also be available at the Public Hearing beginning at 5:30 p.m. on May 22, 2025 until the end of the hearing. Additionally, the PD&E Study documents along with other pertinent information developed by the FDOT will be available on the project website at www.southflroads.com/i95northPDE. Persons desiring to submit written comments in place of or in addition to oral statements may do so at the hearing; or by sending them to the FDOT Project Manager, Auraliz Benitez P.E., at the Florida Department of Transportation - District Six - Adam Leigh Cann Building, 1000 NW 111 Avenue, Room 6251, Miami, Florida 33172; or via email at Auraliz.Benitez@dot.state.fl.us. All comments postmarked on or before June 1, 2025, will become a part of the Public Hearing record. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by the FDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. § 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated May 26, 2022, and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and the FDOT. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status.


	A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Community Outreach Specialist Monica Diaz at (305) 640-8122 or via email at monica@iscprgroup.com. For more project information, please visit www.southflroads.com/i95northPDE.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:	5/14/2025 Vol. 51/94


REFERENCE MATERIALS:	No reference(s).

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Overview