AGENDA ITEM REPORT
TITLE:
title
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION FOR FUNDING FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) SHARED-USE NONMOTORIZED (SUN) TRAIL PROGRAM FOR THE SEAGRASS TO SAWGRASS PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE BRIDGE AND MULTI-USE PATH PROJECT ALONG THE STRANAHAN RIVER/CYPRESS CREEK CANAL FOR INCLUSION IN THE WORK PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT CYCLE THROUGH FISCAL YEARS 2029/2030.
body
BACKGROUND:
Trails are valued by communities across the country, providing everything from inspiring experiences in open green space to invigorating daily commutes and restorative social connections. Since the early 1990s, America has undergone an historic expansion of all types of trails in every community context. As individual trails have multiplied, they have connected into vast networks crossing local, regional, and state lines. Moreover, trail networks have grown to have significant impact on many aspects of our communities, providing economic, health, transport, and social benefits.
Modern trail efforts involve numerous stakeholders and organizations working together to achieve their goals. Trail projects are most successful when three (3) key components are fulfilled: public agency buy-in; planning; and community support. Having all three (3) components in place will ensure that a project is carried from start to finish.
This multi-use path project is a collaboration of multiple local agencies, including the cities of Coral Springs, Margate, North Lauderdale, Tamarac, and Broward County, along with the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The City of Coral Springs is the lead agency responsible for the application, and Coconut Creek has assisted the lead local agency in submitting an application for funding from the FDOT SUN Trail program for a pedestrian/bicycle bridge extending over the Sawgrass Expressway near Atlantic Boulevard and connecting to the Sawgrass Trailhead Levee, along with various trails or multi-use paths interconnected along the Stranahan River/Cypress Creek Canal through various neighboring cities, including the City of Coconut Creek, near Fern Forest.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Coral Springs has completed the design portion of the project and is submitting an application to pursue construction funding. As part of this application, FDOT funds for the construction are projected to be available in approximately fiscal years 2029/2030.
As a supportive local agency, the requirements outlined in the FDOT SUN Trail application calls for the local agencies to adopt a resolution expressing support for the proposed project, which the City is a supporting agency for such funding. This resolution supports the application for funding from the FDOT SUN Trail application for the construction of a pedestrian/bicycle bridge and shared-use pathway connection for the multi-use path along the Stranahan River/Cypress Creek Canal, thus connecting the Seagrass to the Sawgrass. The project is more particularly described in Exhibit “A,” attached.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A