2015 TIGER Sarasota County RiverRoad Application

FY 2015 TIGER Grant
River Road Regional
Interstate Connector
Project Summary
Project Type
Selection Criteria (details on pages 7 to 18)
Road, Economic Development, Sustainable/
Livable Communities
✓State of Good Repair
✓Economic Competitiveness
✓Livability
✓Environmental Sustainability
✓Safety
✓Job Creation and Economic Stimulus
✓Innovation
✓Partnerships
Project Name
River Road Regional Interstate Connector
Type of Application
Road/Complete Streets
Location
Sarasota County/City of North Port
Congressional Districts FL-16, an urban area
River Road Regional Interstate Connector
Project Cost:
$23.6 MILLION
FY 2015 TIGER Grant Funds Requested:
$18.7 MILLION (79% OF PROJECT COST)
Approved State/Local Funds:
$4.7 MILLION (21% OF PROJECT COST)
Contains Confidential Business Information:
NO
Sarasota County is aware of and will comply with all Federal reporting
requirements (DUNS: 073192924 )
Project Readiness (further detail on page 22)
✓Project Development
✓Project Construction
Project Benefits
✓Economic Development
•
Increased real estate values
(commercial and residential)
•
New development
•
Improved economic competitiveness
•
Regional connectivity and urban mobility
✓Regional and Local Employment
•
Local and regional planning land use policies
✓Environmental/Safety
•
Reduced surface transportation-related crashes,
injuries and fatalities
•
Reduced congestion and emissions
Primary Point of Contact:
✓Partnership
Heather Larson, Fiscal Consultant
Office of Financial Management
•
Greater collaboration of state, local governments
and other public and private entities
Sarasota County
1660 Ringling Boulevard
Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: 941-915-4116
email: [email protected]
✓Funding
•
Greater use of technology and innovative approaches
to transportation funding and project delivery
Table of Contents
I. Project Description...................................................................................................................... 2
II. Project Parties................................................................................................................................... 4
III. Grant Funds and Sources/Uses of Project Funds.............. 6
IV. Selection Criteria........................................................................................................................ 7
A. Long-Term Outcomes.................................................................................................................. 7
State of Good Repair...................................................................................................................... 7
Economic Competitiveness...................................................................................................... 8
Livability..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Sustainability..................................................................................................................................... 13
Safety......................................................................................................................................................... 15
B. Job Creation and Economic Stimulus................................................................. 16
C. Innovation........................................................................................................................................... 17
D. Partnership......................................................................................................................................... 18
E. Benefit-Cost Analysis............................................................................................................. 18
F. Evaluation of Project Performance......................................................................... 20
V. Project Readiness and NEPA................................................................................ 22
A. Project Readiness...................................................................................................................... 22
B. NEPA........................................................................................................................................................... 22
VI. Federal Wage Rate Certificate........................................................................ 23
VII. Appendices................................................................................................................................... 24
Appendix A. Overview of Benefit Cost Analysis........................................... 24
Appendix B. Supporting Data.............................................................................................. 25
[1]
U.S. 41 AND RIVER ROAD INTERSECTION
I ‐ Project Description
which is a 1.75-mile segment of the River Road Regional
Interstate Connector, beginning north of the U.S. 41/
River Road intersection to West Villages Parkway.
The River Road Regional Interstate Connector (formerly
known as Englewood Interstate Connector or EIC) is a
13.5-mile segment that begins at State Road 776 in
Charlotte County and ends at Interstate 75 in Sarasota
County (Figure 1). It serves as the primary hurricane
evacuation route for the Cape Haze Peninsula, including
portions of Sarasota County, Charlotte County, City of
North Port and Lee County. Elements of the project
include: 1) widening of North River Road from U.S. 41 to
Center Road to a six-lane divided facility, 2) widening of
North River Road from Center Road to I-75 to a fourlane divided facility, and 3) bicycle lanes, sidewalks,
streetscaping and street lighting along the corridor.
Project Need
The FY 2015 TIGER Grant Discretionary Grant is necessary
for the development and completion of North River
Road. River Road is the critical link providing the
necessary capacity to allow for increased residential and
non-residential development. River Road development
will benefit tourism, new construction and real estate for
the surrounding communities.
Other modes of transportation will also be significantly
improved with this project. Completion of the
project will reduce overall travel times and improve
transportation efficiency within the area. The project
will also provide bicycle lanes, sidewalks and lighting
along the project limits.
Recognizing that FY 2015 TIGER Grant funding is limited
and highly competitive, Sarasota County has identified
a phasing strategy that can accelerate the construction
of a multimodal corridor and evacuation route with
a FY 2015 TIGER Grant request of $18.7 million. This
application is specifically for the proposed Segment 1A,
[2]
FIGURE 1: RIVER ROAD REGIONAL INTERSTATE CONNECTOR SEGMENT 1A (U.S. 41 TO WEST VILLAGES PARKWAY)
[3]
II ‐ Project Parties
The overall River Road Regional Interstate Connector
project is a multi-jurisdictional partnership benefitting
communities in Sarasota County, Charlotte County, the
City of North Port, Lee County and Englewood. Sarasota
County will be the maintaining agency and is the
applicant for this FY 2015 TIGER Grant.
A Wide Range of Regional Support
Sarasota County has received numerous letters of
support for the River Road Regional Interstate Connector
from a wide variety of agencies, organizations and
businesses, including many letters from legislators.
The following section describes each of the
project partners:
Elected Officials
Charlotte County
•Congressman Vern Buchanan, U.S. House of
Representatives, 16th Congressional District
As a neighboring county which relies on River Road as
the primary hurricane evaluation route for its residents,
Charlotte County remains a committed supporter. In
addition to their letter of support for this project,
Charlotte County contributed to the project by completing
$11.9 million in improvements to Winchester Boulevard at
the intersection of River Road, which is part of the River
Road Regional Interstate Connector.
•Rep. Jim Boyd, FL State Representative,
District 71
•Rep. Ray Pilon, FL State Representative,
District 72
•Rep. Greg Steube, FL State Representative,
District 73
•Rep. Julio Gonzalez, FL State
City of North Port
Representative, District 74
The City of North Port has a strong commitment to
support the acceleration of the River Road Regional
Interstate Connector project, and this grant application
directly supports the goals of North Port’s economic
development. On Sept. 8, 2008, the City of North Port’s
Commission adopted a resolution for the use of impact
fees toward the improvements at the intersection of U.S.
41 and River Road, which is included in the U.S. 41 to
Center Road segment of the overall River Road project.
State, Regional, and Local
Government
•Sarasota/Manatee MPO
•Charlotte County
•Charlotte County-Punta Gorda MPO
Private Businesses/Economic
Development
West Villages Improvement District
•West Villages Parkway
The West Villages Improvement District has been a key
partner in the acceleration of the River Road project.
The District was part of a three-way, public-private
partnership with Sarasota County and the City of North
Port to fast-track the improvements at the U.S. 41 and
River Road intersection. In addition, the District has
made significant improvements to the intersection of
River Road and West Villages Parkway. Currently the West
Villages Improvement District and Sarasota County are
in negotiations regarding joint-use ponds that would
support the stormwater needs of the River Road project.
Improvement District
•The Ranch Land Partners, LLLP
•Enterprise Charlotte Economic Council
•Venice Area Chamber of Commerce
Educational Institutions
•Sarasota County School District
•State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
[4]
WEST VILLAGES OF NORTH PORT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
[5]
III ‐ Grant Funds and Sources/
Uses of Project Funds
The total project cost of Segment 1A of the River
Road Regional Interstate Connector are estimated to
be $23.6 million. Of this amount, Sarasota County
is requesting $18.7 million in FY 2015 TIGER Grant
funding to complete the widening of North River Road
from U.S. 41 to West Villages Parkway from a twolane undivided roadway to a six-lane divided roadway.
In addition, the requested FY 2015 TIGER Grant funds
will be used for the construction of bicycle lanes,
sidewalks, streetscaping and street lighting – all of
which will provide multimodal benefits for pedestrians
and bicyclists that are not available today.
through local match funds. This revision will not only
promote environmental sustainability but it will also
lower the contribution percentage of requested FY 2015
TIGER funds for this project.
The Sarasota County Commission, during their Feb. 20,
2014, Budget Workshop Board Meeting, approved the
submission of the FY 2015 TIGER Grant application and
made a commitment for local match funds from general
ad valorem revenues to complete portions of the project.
Specifically, the match funds would be used to hire a
Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) firm,
purchase remaining right-of-way (ROW), update of design
plans, and cover some portions of the construction costs.
Overall, the requested FY 2015 TIGER Grant funds will
comprise 79 percent of the total project costs with local
and state funds providing the remaining 21 percent of
costs as match. Table 1 below summarizes these costs.
At the time of the pre-application submission for
this project, project costs were originally estimated
to be slightly lower at $23.4 million. This amount
has increased by an additional $200,000 for redesign
costs to add LED lighting, all of which will be supplied
TABLE 1
River Road Regional Interstate Connector Segment 1A - Source of Funds
FY 2105 TIGER
Grant Funding
Local
Funding
TOTAL:
$18,700,000
$1,300,000
$20,000,000
CEI:
Includes hiring CEI firm for monitoring construction activities
and compliance with DOT specifications and other federal
requirements.
$0
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
Design:
Includes updating previous design work to satisfy current needs
which includes LED light install design work along segment.
$0
$400,000
$400,000
ROW Acquisition:
Includes purchase of remaining ROW along project location.
$0
$200,000
$200,000
$18,700,000
(79%)
$4,900,000
(21%)
$23,600,000
(100%)
Project Components
Construction:
Includes widening roadway, additions of bicycle lanes, sidewalks,
streetscaping and street lighting.
TOTAL:
(% of project cost)
[6]
IV ‐ Selection Criteria
A. Long-Term Outcomes
flooding in relatively common rainfall events. Based on
River Road’s elevation and current drainage facilities,
there is no simple, short-term solution for this problem.
The regional, long-term plan for improving the condition
of River Road, including the flooding problem, is to
reconstruct the roadway.
State of Good Repair
The construction of Segment 1A will enhance the
multimodal connectivity, improve the condition of the
roadway and address the flooding issues on the most
heavily traveled section of a major evacuation route.
Long-term operation and maintenance of the River Road
improvements are the responsibility of Sarasota County.
Sarasota County uses local motor fuel tax revenue to
fund roadway maintenance.
The existing North River Road segment is in poor
condition. Within the 1.75-mile project limit, the road
is a two-lane, undivided county maintained roadway. The
pavement is 24-feet wide, and the road has no bicycle
lanes or sidewalks. The pavement condition of the
roadway has been rated “Undesirable”. The condition of
the roadway is primarily due to the relatively high traffic
volume and time elapsed since it was last resurfaced in
1997 using micro-resurfacing methods. The travelway is
estimated to have approximately three years of use left
before it will need to be resurfaced again. In addition
to the deteriorated roadway condition of River Road, the
roadway is subject to frequent flooding during normal
rain events, which further contributes to the overall
undesirable roadway conditions.
The River Road Regional Interstate Connector is
consistent with the local transportation and land use
plans for Sarasota County and the City of North Port, as
well as the regional growth plans.
FIGURE 2: SARASOTA COUNTY EVACUATION ROUTES
While the current traffic capacity of River Road is
operating at Level of Service (LOS) C, the expected
LOS in 2016 is a limiting factor for the overall roadway
operating conditions. It is expected that this roadway
segment will perform at LOS D with a 15,184 average
daily traffic. This does not meet the county criteria of
LOS C. Recent traffic growth has been relatively flat
but even at a low growth rate of one percent per year,
2038 volumes are expected to reach 45,268 vehicles
per day which have a corresponding level of service of
LOS F, which does not meet county or state criteria for
similar arterial roadways of LOS D. This will necessitate
widening River Road independent of other operational
improvements along the corridor.
As a designated hurricane evacuation route (Figure 2)
for three counties and their respective municipalities,
the existing condition of the River Road is also
unsatisfactory because it is subject to significant
[7]
Economic Competitiveness
Provide more transportation choices.
The River Road Regional Interstate Connector fosters
greater economic competitiveness by increasing
accessibility to targeted employment centers, education,
and medical facilities in the unincorporated Sarasota
County, Charlotte County and the City of North Port. The
increased accessibility generates travel time savings
and thereby improves productivity for commuters and
increases land and property values in an area that is
rebounding from the recession.
The area that this roadway connects has long been an
area of slower growth, characterized by agricultural
areas, small communities, and access to less dense
beaches and excellent fisheries; while more urbanized
areas were found further north in the downtown
Sarasota area, and to a lesser degree in the Port
Charlotte area. However, beginning in the late 1990s
southern Sarasota County and the Cape Haze Peninsula
did begin to exhibit significant growth, especially the
area around the City of North Port. During this period
North Port grew in population from a community of
12-13,000 people to become the most populous city in
Sarasota County with a population approaching 60,000
residents today. Much of that growth occurred in an area
adjacent to River Road and U.S. 41 which is known as
the “West Villages.” The West Villages became part of
the City of North Port through annexations in the 2000s.
This area is experiencing significant development today,
and was steadily developing throughout the recent
economic downturn. It is expected that, at build-out,
15-16,000 dwelling units will be developed in the West
Villages. This growth, combined with the growth that
is projected for the Englewood area and Venice, shows
that southern Sarasota County is developing at rates
currently experienced in northern Sarasota County.
The River Road project will provide transportation
capacity needed to support the development of
approximately 677,000 square feet of commercial/office/
industrial development and 2,290 residential units. The
impact from this project as it progresses will generate
approximately $9.8 million in salaries and produce a total
economic output of $38.5 million to the community.
When combined with the economic impact of
commercial and residential development, the River Road
construction project would create 4,764 jobs with over
$157.6 million in wages, generating a total economic
output of approximately $563.7 million.
Both state and local governments will benefit from this
economic impact by virtue of increased sales tax and
other revenues.
However, this area is characterized by a limited road
network to move people and goods through the
community. Besides U.S. 41, the only other major
roadways of note are River Road and State Road 776,
with River Road being the only route offering direct
access to I-75. River Road has been the connector to
Cape Haze area for many years as a two-lane roadway
that is known for safety issues. Currently, more than
100,000 households occupy southern Sarasota County,
Port Charlotte and the Cape Haze Peninsula with a
population of more than 230,000 full-time residents.
Almost one-fourth of workers living in Charlotte County
and southern Sarasota County travel outside their
home county to reach their work destination. With the
continuing and forecasted growth for this area, it is
essential that this primary connector road is upgraded
with enough lanes and safety features to handle the day
to day traffic that will be generated by growth in the
area, as well as to serve as the primary exiting road for
evacuation of the Cape Haze Peninsula and the North
Port (West Villages)/Englewood area if threatened by a
tropical system or other natural or man-made event.
Livability
Mobility plays a vital role in the “livability” of a
community. Investments which consider the relationships
between transportation, land use, housing, public
health, economic development and the environment can
have a much more positive and holistic impact on the
prosperity of a community than when these quality of
life aspects are considered in isolation from one another.
The Partnership for Sustainable Communities; formed by
the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT); the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD);
and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified
six “Livability Principles” to enable better coordination of
policy among the agencies and aid in the decision-making
process. The River Road Regional Interstate Connector
supports each of these principles and will enhance the
quality of life for residents and visitors to Sarasota County.
[8]
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
Source: Sarasota County Property Appraiser; prepared by Sarasota County Planning Services
Transit service in southern Sarasota County is still limited
and infrequent. Eighty percent of the area commuters
drive a single-occupant vehicle and less than one
percent use public transportation. With the forecasted
growth, transit should become a larger alternative
travel mode for residents and visitors. Furthermore,
the addition of bicycle lanes and sidewalks on both
sides will provide a safer alternative for bicyclists and
pedestrians. Planning for transit-related amenities as
part of this project, will reflect good planning with a
vision for the future of this growing area.
County were sold in the communities of North Port,
Englewood and South Venice.
However, while southern Sarasota County has a high
concentration of working families in need of more
affordable housing, the majority of employment centers
are located in the northern portion of the county.
There is a strong need to better connect residents of
Charlotte and southern Sarasota County to commercial
centers and places of work in northern Sarasota County.
River Road enhancements will support the mobility
needs of these working families. The improved commuter
route, including its bicycle lanes and access to public
transit, will make affordable housing for working families
more viable in this area by decreasing their travel time,
increasing their commuter options and helping to reduce
their transportation costs.
Promote equitable, affordable housing by
expanding location and energy efficient
housing choices.
Due to the availability of land and older platted
subdivisions, the southern portion of the county is
growing as an ideal location for affordable housing. An analysis of home sales from January through October
2014 indicated that more than 60 percent of houses
classified as affordable for a family of four in Sarasota
A better and safer road network in the area may also
be an economic driver that could create more job
opportunities in the southern area of the county, which
[9]
NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SALES IN SARASOTA COUNTY
NUMBER OF SALES
(by Census Block Group)
0
1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 60
61 - 180
Source: Sarasota County Property Appraiser Sales Data of 2+ bedroom units (Jan. - Oct. 2014) and HUD 2014 affordability classifications for a
family of four. Prepared by Sarasota County Planning and Development Services.
provides greater opportunities for residents of southern
area of the county to live and work in close proximity,
as opposed to spending time and money to travel to
far-off jobs in northern portion of the county or locals
further away.
Improve economic competitiveness of
neighborhoods
Residents, commuters and tourists all will be better
served with the enhanced mobility options provided by
the improvements to River Road, which serves as a vital
gateway to the rapidly growing region. The enhancement
of this regional connector would boost connectivity not
just to the employment centers in northern Sarasota
County, but also to major facilities and attractions in
the area, including the State College of Florida, the
North Port branch of the University of South Florida,
Englewood Community Hospital, the Englewood Sports
Complex and a multitude of beach and bay front parks.
The southern portion of Sarasota County is also home
to a plethora of environmental treasures and unique
natural settings including Warm Mineral Springs, Myakka
State Forest, Sleeping Turtle Preserve, Deer Prairie Creek
Preserve, Little Salt Springs and a variety of trails and
blueways providing a multitude of hiking, boating and
kayaking opportunities. Improving access to the existing
natural features and attractions will strengthen the ecotourism industry in the area and provide incentive for
more eco-based businesses to locate here.
Opportunities for economic development should increase
with a widened and safer River Road. The road, along
with U.S. 41, will be the major points of access into
the West Villages portion of the City of North Port. Up
to 16,000 residences will ultimately be built in this
“Village-Style” development. River Road will allow better access to the proposed Town Center and
[10]
Englewood is situated on Lemon Bay, straddling both
unincorporated Sarasota and Charlotte counties. This
is a community of approximately 15,000 full-time
residents, whose population approximately doubles
during the winter/tourist season. Englewood thrives
on its historical past, hometown atmosphere, cultural
events, nature parks, beaches, fishing and boating.
In response to local concerns about the need to
improve conditions in the central area known as “Olde
Englewood,” the Englewood Community Redevelopment
Area (CRA) was established in 1999. Its goals to reduce
blighted conditions and promote redevelopment are
being implemented while maintaining the community’s
reputation as “quaint, quirky and old Florida.” River
Road has been identified by the community as a vital
corridor connecting Englewood residents to I-75.
Improvements to North River Road, a significant portion
of the River Road Regional Interstate Connector, are
supported by the goals of the CRA and the residents of
the Englewood community.
Another unique local community dependent on River
Road is Warm Mineral Springs. The community is named
because it is situated at Florida’s only naturally formed
warm water mineral spring. Prehistoric artifacts have
been found in the depths of the spring and scientists
Olde Englewood Village
Village Centers that will be part of this development for
local residents as well as visitors. There are also county
and city activity centers near River Road, which have
little to no development in them at this time. As the
area grows, and with better access provided, it can be
anticipated that other types of businesses may find this
area more attractive, especially with direct connections
to I-75. This probability is enhanced further by the
fact that the demographics of the south area of the
county, with a younger working-age population and
higher unemployment rates, can provide the employees
that these businesses will need to operate successfully.
Furthermore, the resulting increase in economic activity
can positively impact the residents of the county’s
southern communities where median household incomes
are up to $16,000 less than the county as a whole (2014
Esri Community Analyst.)
Target federal funding toward
existing communities
River Road plays a vital role to the revitalization of
several unique established communities. Two such
communities are Englewood and Warm Mineral Springs.
Warm Mineral Springs
[11]
anticipate that future excavations may reveal findings
that may date as far back as 30,000 years, to a time
when the spring was a dry cave. Due to its namesake
landmark, Warm Mineral Springs is recognized as a
“natural health spa” where its local residents and
thousands of visitors come to absorb the warm soothing
mineral waters believed to be helpful in healing many
ailments. This 1950s era attraction is, in fact, so popular
with eastern Europeans that a large, primarily Ukrainian,
community has settled in the Warm Mineral Springs area.
The actual springs complex lies within the City of North
Port, which designates the site as an activity center
in its Comprehensive Plan. Plans are currently under
review to develop the area for medical tourism to take
advantage of the health benefits that the springs offers.
With an unemployment rate of 15 percent (2014 Esri
Community Analyst), it is anticipated that the medical
tourism development will spur the revitalization of the
Warm Mineral Springs community and will provide more
jobs for area citizens while maintaining and enhancing
the health and historic/cultural amenities that the area
is known for. River Road is the closest point of access
from I-75 to Warm Mineral Springs. Thus, improving River
Road and adding other mobility features (e.g., sidewalks
and transit access) will expand the connectivity between
this community and the region.
route, an improved and safer road to access other areas
of the region, and it will meet the local and regional
transportation needs of a rapidly growing area that
includes three counties: Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee.
Enhance the unique characteristics
of all communities
River Road is a vital traffic corridor in a rapidly growing
area of Southwest Florida. The road is used by many
communities in Southwest Florida for travel purposes.
Communities in the region that frequently have to
utilize this road include the City of North Port and the
communities of Warm Mineral Springs, Englewood, the
beaches at Manasota Key, South Venice, Grove City,
Rotonda, Placida and the world class fishing destination
at Boca Grande. In most cases, River Road offers the most
direct and quickest route, from I-75 to these communities.
The entire region surrounding the above-noted
communities is experiencing substantial growth. North
Port has become Sarasota County’s most populous City,
and the West Villages portion of the city is a primary
driver of that growth. The West Villages is bounded by
River Road on its entire eastern side. The continued
growth of Englewood and South Venice are merging with
Align federal policies and funding
The proposed improvements to River Road are supported
in multiple areas of the State Comprehensive Plan
including public safety, public facilities, transportation
and plan implementation. There is also consistency with
the Comprehensive Plans of Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee
counties as well as the City of North Port. The project is
also consistent with the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO) Long Range Transportation
Plan and the Southwest Florida Regional Policy Plan. As
well, the proposed section of River Road is identified as
an opportunity corridor within the Florida Greenways
and Trails System.
Currently, as a two-lane, undivided, unlit road subject to
frequent storm event flooding, River Road is inadequate
as a hurricane evacuation route and as the major
commuter route it has become. Although this FY 2015
TIGER Grant application is for an existing roadway, the
overall improvements proposed will make this an entirely
different facility and it will be of benefit to existing and
future residents. The result will be a safer evacuation
[12]
Flooded River Road
the North Port growth and create a need for a better
connected and safer road network, with River Road
being the major entry point into these communities.
During the winter “season” the population that needs
to utilize River Road expands greatly as tourists from all
over the America’s and the world flock to the area and
its beaches, such as those on Manasota Key and Boca
Grande, to enjoy the subtropical climate and various
activities that the area offers.
benches/shelters, bike lanes, trails and transit stops
will ensure that this development is one that is well
connected, both internally and externally. These
amenities will dovetail perfectly with the additions
proposed for the River Road project(s). Beyond
connectivity, an enhanced River Road corridor will better
serve the West Villages and the surrounding area if an
evacuation event occurs.
Since River Road is the primary north/south roadway
that serves the City of North Port’s “West Villages”
it is important to focus on the development that is
forecast to occur along River Road. This “village-style”
development is approved for up to 16,000 dwelling
units, or more, at build-out, and will include a number
of villages with associated village and neighborhood
centers, as well as a Town Center, to serve all of the
community as it develops. Also, internal to the West
Villages, is the campus of the State College of Florida,
Sarasota-Manatee which has been serving the areas
younger population for many years. The “West Villages”
emphasizes sustainable development and encourages
new urbanism standards that promote walkability and
alternative modes of travel. Requirements for sidewalks,
Sarasota County has a long commitment to sustainability
principles and practices. In fact, Sarasota County was just
recognized as the greenest county in the state by the
Florida Green Building Coalition’s Green Local Government
certification program. The county has a commitment to
LEED Certification on all its new facilities, with a total of
17 Certified or Registered LEED projects.
Sustainability
The county has a successful environmentally sensitive
lands acquisition program, has applied Low Impact
Development on several projects and has reduced its
energy use from existing buildings by nearly 12 percent
since 2005 (part of a 20 percent reduction goal in
place since 2008.) The development of the River Road
Regional Interstate Connector will demonstrate the
[13]
Scenic Myakka River
county’s continued leadership and commitment to
sustainable design and construction practices that makes
the county a premier location to live, work and play.
The benefits of River Road relative to the environment
have been evaluated in the completed and approved
Project Development and Environmental Study (PD&E).
The PD&E found that a Winchester Boulevard/River Road
route was the best option for this needed transportation
and evacuation facility. Use of the existing River Road
corridor avoided adverse environmental impacts that a
new corridor would have.
Environmental Findings of the PD&E
•The project is not likely to adversely
affect threatened or endangered species.
•The project has relatively low wetland
impacts displacing approximately 10.41
acres of wetlands of which the majority
are channelized creeks/ditches or
“edge” impacts.
•The project complies with all federal
requirements for the protection of
Essential Fish Habitat.
An air quality impact analysis completed for the
project demonstrated that the project passed the FDOT
COSCREEN98 (revised) screening test and that the project
is expected to have minimal impacts on air quality.
Additional environmental benefits of the River Road
project include an environmental tract of approximately
68 acres located adjacent to the Jelks Preserve. A
conservation easement was acquired on this property,
to provide additional habitat, stormwater and other
environmental benefits.
That parcel only adds to the significant acreage of
conservation lands in this area of the county. The
project will improve the connection to two large scale
preserves, Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, a nearly 6,500
acre preserve and the Myakka State Forest which is
over 8,500 acres. They are both located along the Wild
and Scenic Myakka River with a total of 90 miles of
hiking trails, equestrian access and a kayak launch.
The improved access will encourage more residents to
visit these preserves, promoting an active lifestyle and
encouraging contact and appreciation of nature.
The additional traffic capacity of the River Road project
will also improve energy efficiency and thereby reduce
dependence on oil through more efficient vehicle use,
less delays and a higher level of service. The Benefit Cost
Analysis for this project shows a quantified reduction of
over 118,000 tons of CO over the 20 year period, which
is equivalent to removing 22,536 passenger vehicles
from the road or the sequestration of 88,000 acres of
forests in a year. The project is also estimated to reduce
VOCs by over 20 tons, NOx by 27 tons and PM by 3.9
tons. These improvements will be beneficial to Sarasota
County’s air quality, as on-road mobile sources represent
41 percent of local air emissions. Furthermore, the EPA
is currently reviewing the National Ambient Air Quality
Standard (NAAQS) for ozone. Based on recent health
studies it is expected that the standard will be reduced
in 2016. Reduction in VOC emissions, a precursor to
ozone, will be critical in ensuring that Sarasota County
complies with the NAAQS and maintains an attainment
designation for its air quality. The present value of these
reductions, based on U.S. DOT guidance for monetizing
emissions reductions, is $5.2 million discounted at 3
percent or $4.8 million discounted at 7 percent.
The project will also add bicycle lanes and sidewalks,
increasing safety and encouraging alternative modes
[14]
recognize the sensitive nature of the Wild and Scenic
Myakka River corridor to the east of the project.
The urban streetscape and tree cover is important for
Sarasota County’s commitment to healthy, safe and
environmentally sustainable communities. Not only
are trees essential for our quality of life, they create
a valuable legacy for future generations. The River
Road Regional Interstate Connector project will utilize
native tree planting within the central median to the
greatest extent possible and leverage their ability to
naturally clean the local air by capturing pollution
particles, taking in carbon dioxide and providing oxygen
to breathe. The proposed landscaping will contribute
to the environmental sustainability of the project by
preventing erosion and flooding through the absorption
of local rain water; and improve water quality as they
act like filters to prevent the pollution of nearby rivers
and streams. Enhancements to the urban tree canopy
cover, keeps ambient temperatures down by increasing
the amount of shaded areas and releasing moisture
into the air through their leaves. Neighborhoods with
trees feel friendly and inviting while providing a visual
interest through their vast variety of species and can
help alleviate traffic noise and motivate drivers to
maintain safe driving speeds.
of transportation. The quality of life and potential
for sustainable and active modes of transportation
are affected by the inter-relationship between land
use and transportation. The River Road Regional
Interstate Connector project focuses on transforming
the area’s connectivity and mobility through stronger
regional connections, better options for travel and
a renewed paradigm to moving people, rather than
cars. Development that is well designed with multiple
modes in mind, helps create healthy, vibrant, safe and
sustainably complete communities.
Transit is also an important component of the county’s
multimodal transportation strategy. While there is not
currently transit service on this road, it is included
in the ten year plan by Sarasota County Area Transit,
pending funding. Development of this road and addition
of the bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure above will
make that future bus capacity all the more important.
Energy efficient LED lights will be specified for the
project, both increasing the safety and decreasing the
energy demand and greenhouse gases of the project’s
long term operation. The lights will be designed to
With the commercial development planned for this area
upon completion of the road, residents in the region
will need to travel dramatically shorter distances to
essential services and will therefore reduce their vehicle
emissions. They will also be more likely to be able to
mode-shift to bicycle or pedestrian options.
Safety
The project will result in the improvement of an
approximately 1.75-mile segment of the existing
two-lane undivided River Road to a six-lane, divided
highway, with raised elevations and provisions
for sidewalks, bicycle lanes and other multimodal
opportunities; including expanded bus routes and bicycle
and pedestrian connections within an area planned for
live-work/mixed-use development. On the River Road
segment, from 2010 to 2014 there were 88 accidents
(36 accidents in 2013 alone) resulting in 22 injuries, 4
incapacitating, and 4 non-incapacitating. However there
were no fatalities recorded for the segment.
The proposed project significantly improves the safety
conditions compared to the existing River Road.
Opposing traffic will be separated by a wide median and
[15]
RIVER ROAD CROSS SECTION
the additional lanes will eliminate the potential dangers
that exist when passing on a two-lane, undivided
roadway. In addition, the project will implement a
comprehensive access management plan to control
access on to and turning movements from the roadway.
North River Road's improved ability to perform as a
functional hurricane evacuation route is the proposed
project's major contribution to public safety. The
existing roadway’s ability to serve even in a limited
capacity is questionable given the flood prone nature
of the existing roadway. The project provides for more
travel lanes and therefore an increased capacity,
and also raises the elevation of the roadway so that
the road is able to be traversed and is available for
evacuation in the event of a major storm. The Southwest
Florida Regional Planning Council's (SWFRPC) Strategic
Regional Policy Plan – Emergency Preparedness Element
notes, “Hurricane induced flooding and wind damages
are the region’s single greatest individual threat….
Routes that move person from flood zones have been
identified in the past and some funding priority given
to route improvements, but continued growth requires
the constant reassessment of routes and reevaluation
of needs and resources. Current forecasted times are
high, and future growth will make them higher without
comparable systematic road improvements.”
The River Road Regional Interstate Connector, including
the proposed North River Road project, will help
meet this need and reduce overall evacuation times
for the area. The SWFRPC’s Sarasota County Hurricane
Evacuation Study notes, “Many routes along the shore
are low lying. Their propensity to flood or; in some
cases, to wash-out; due to surge or tidal action may
cause their use as an evacuation route to cease several
hours before storm landfall.” The study goes on to
identify River Road as a route subject to flooding and
notes, “As with previous updates the highest evacuation
times are for Longboat Key and Lido Key until a category
three when Englewood South River Road zone has higher
times.” The study identifies River Road as one of two
ultimate constricting routes (evacuation routes) for
landfalling storms within Sarasota County.
B. Job Creation
Job Creation and Economic Stimulus
To assess the potential job creation and economic
benefits that would be generated by the project,
County staff performed an IMPLAN analysis of the road
construction project and the development expected to
occur in the corridor. Table 2 presents a summary of the
IMPLAN results.
Short-term, the road project will quickly create jobs
and stimulate economic activity in the region. FY 2015
TIGER Grant funds are expected to immediately add 121
jobs directly related to the construction project over the
next three years, 69 jobs indirectly related to the project
(e.g., among suppliers to the construction contractor)
and 56 other jobs generated by the household spending
of workers involved with the road construction project.
These new jobs would generate approximately $9.8
million in salaries, which would be injected into the
local economy. The initial $23.6 million expenditure for
this project would result in total economic output of
$38.5 million.
[16]
TABLE 2
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS SUMMARY
Output
Direct
Indirect InducedTotal
Commercial Construction (677,000 s.f.)*
$ 60,623,500 $ 14,388,843 $ 18,300,155 $93,312,498
Residential Construction (2,290 units)**
241,301,880 114,161,335 $ 76,431,261 431,894,476
Subtotal $301,925,380 $128,550,178 Road Construction***
23,600,000 8,630,068 Total $325,525,380 $137,180,246 $94,731,416 $525,206,974
6,220,922 38,450,990
$100,952,338 $563,657,964
Employment (Jobs)
Direct
IndirectInducedTotal
Commercial Construction (677,000 s.f.)*
466.0 104.4 162.6 733.0
Residential Construction (2,290 units)**
1,956.0 1,149.3 679.4 3,784.7
Subtotal
2,422.0 1,253.7 842.0 4,517.7
Road Construction***
121.4 68.7 56.1 246.2
2,543.4 1,322.4 898.1 4,763.9
Total
Employee Compensation
Direct
IndirectInducedTotal
Commercial Construction (677,000 s.f.)*
$ 22,352,146 $ 3,551,935 $ 4,965,093 $ 30,869,174
Residential Construction (2,290 units)**
67,380,169 28,824,726 20,742,228 116,947,123
Subtotal $ 89,732,315 $ 32,376,661 $ 25,707,321 $147,816,297
5,977,173 2,129,716 1,714,050 9,820,939
Total $ 95,709,488 $ 34,506,377 $ 27,421,371 $157,637,236
Road Construction***
* Commercial construction costs are based on a mix of retail (364,000 s.f.), office (260,000 s.f.) and light industrial (53,000 s.f.) space in zip code
34293, using 2013 RS Means projected costs
** Residential construction costs are based on an average new home price of $105,732 in the project vicinity
*** Road construction costs are from the FY 2015 TIGER Grant application
C. Innovation
The project will use innovative strategies to achieve
long-term outcomes to significantly enhance the
overall transportation system within the area, including
improvements in operational performance of the
facility. The project will enhance the overall traffic
safety based on roadway improvements, reduce the
potential for flooding during rainfall events and also
improve hurricane evacuation capacity and travel times.
In addition, stormwater design for the roadway has
been completed utilizing the latest National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) guidelines. This
will significantly reduce pollutant discharge into the
Myakka River, which has been designated as “Wild and
Scenic” by the Florida Legislature in 1985, and leads to
Charlotte Harbor. It will also reduce runoff volumes to
the Myakka River and help to re-establish historic runoff
volumes to the river.
In addition to design innovations, this project
proposes several construction innovations, including
the implementation of public/private partnerships to
ensure timely construction, competitive bids and job
creation. One example is the willingness of adjacent
property owners to partner with Sarasota County during
construction to provide fill material at or below market
rate from borrow pits that have already been sighted,
permitting, and construction of truck scales, adjacent
to the project, allowing the transport of fill material
[17]
to occur off road direct to where it is needed. This will
keep dump trucks off local roads, reduce emissions
from longer transports and reduce the risk of vehicle
collisions with construction equipment. Another example
is the willingness of adjacent property owners to partner
with Sarasota County during construction to provide
staging areas for material, field offices and parking for
construction workers.
D. Partnership
The subject project is a component of a multijurisdictional project for the ultimate construction of
the River Road Regional Interstate Connector project.
River Road from U.S. 41 to West Villages Parkway lies
within unincorporated Sarasota County, and the county
is the applicant and maintaining agency. However, it
has been made possible through a series of partnerships
that provide complementing components of the overall
project. Arguably the most important of these is the
county’s partnership with the City of North Port and
the West Villages Improvement District to reconstruct
the major intersection of U.S. 41 at River Road at the
southern terminus of the subject project.
Current Status/
Baseline & Problem to
be Addressed
Change to Baseline/
Alternatives
In addition to support from the local jurisdiction
and elected representatives of the region, the overall
River Road Regional Interstate Connector project has
received support from the State College of Florida,
Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Englewood Community
Redevelopment Agency, Sarasota and Charlotte County
School Boards, Sarasota and Charlotte Economic
Development Committees, the Sarasota-Manatee
Metropolitan Planning Organization, as well as
numerous Homeowners Associations. Additional support
has also been received from Sarasota County Emergency
Management and the Charlotte County Office of
Emergency Management.
E. Benefit-Cost Analysis
Results of Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA)
The River Road Regional Interstate Connector project
will significantly reduce congestion, resulting in shorter
travel times, reduced emissions, fewer accidents and
reduced vehicle operating costs. The matrix below
describes the project impacts and the associated
benefits that have been quantified in the BCA.
Type of Impacts
Population Affected
by Impacts
Economic Benefit
Page Reference
in BCA
Congestion on regional
connector and
mitigation of flooding on
evacuation route
Road expansion
and elevation, and
stormwater mitigation
Reduced
congestion and
decreased travel
time
Vehicle operators and
passengers currently
traveling on regional
connector and nearby
alternate route
Monetized value
of travel time
savings
pp. 3-5
Congestion on regional
connector and
mitigation of flooding on
evacuation route
Road expansion
and elevation, and
stormwater mitigation
Reduced emissions
levels
Residents of nearby
neighborhoods
Monetized value
of emissions
reductions
pp. 6-10
Congestion on regional
connector and
mitigation of flooding on
evacuation route
Road expansion
and elevation, and
stormwater mitigation
Reduction in
accident rate
Drivers and
passengers involved
in accidents on the
regional connector
Monetized value
of reduced
accident costs
p. 11
Congestion on regional
connector and
mitigation of flooding on
evacuation route
Road expansion
and elevation, and
stormwater mitigation
Reduction in fuel
and other operating
costs
Drivers currently
traveling on regional
connector and nearby
alternate route
Operating Cost
Savings
pp. 12-14
[18]
The BCA assumes that vehicle traffic would be
impacted as follows during this period:
•2016: Design is under way. There is no difference in
travel times between the Build and No-Build scenarios.
•2017-2018: Construction is under way. There is no
difference in traffic volumes between the Build and
No-Build scenarios, but average speeds on River Road
decline in the Build scenario due to construction.
There is no diversion of traffic from River Road to
alternate routes because the average speed is even
lower on the alternate routes.
•2019-2038: Some traffic on Jacaranda Boulevard shifts
over to the expanded River Road when construction is
complete. To capture the full benefits of the project,
the No-Build scenario includes the existing traffic on
River Road plus the portion of traffic on Jacaranda
Boulevard that would shift over to River Road if it
were expanded.
TABLE 3
All costs and savings were converted to 2014 constant
dollars using the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s GDP
Price Deflators, then discounted to 2015 using both a
3-percent and 7-percent discount rate. The methodology
is contained in Appendix A. Table 3 summarizes the
findings of the benefit-cost analysis.
In total, the project has a net present value of almost
$200 million discounted at 3 percent, or $103 million
discounted at 7 percent. The largest benefit is, by far,
the travel time savings, but vehicle operators would
also accrue substantial savings in operating costs. By
improving traffic flow, the region would benefit from
reduced emissions, estimated at $5.2 million (3-percent
discount rate) or $4.8 million (7-percent discount rate.)
Table 4 shows the BCA results, by year, for each of the
categories discounted at 3 percent. The detailed BCA
also contains the results in this format discounted at 7 percent.
Summary of BCA Results
DiscountedDiscounted
to 2015 at 3% to 2015 at 7%
$22,009,651 $20,124,143
Costs
Construction
Operations & Maintenance
TOTAL COSTS
$23,357,672 $20,516,308
Travel Time Savings
$175,797,030 $97,066,949
Emissions Reductions*
5,243,367
4,830,129
Accident Reductions
2,311,405
1,468,141
Vehicle Operating Cost Savings
37,499,481
20,107,530
1,348,021
392,166
Benefits
TOTAL BENEFITS
$220,851,283 $123,472,749
NET PRESENT VALUE
$197,493,612 $102,956,441
BENEFIT-COST RATIO
9.5
* In accordance with U.S. DOT guidance, the value of carbon emissions reductions is discounted at 3% only.
[19]
6.0
TABLE 4 BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS SUMMARY
Discounted to 2015 dollars at 3% (dollars in millions)
BENEFITS
YEAR
2016
TRAVEL TIME
SAVINGS
$ -
EMISSIONS
REDUCTIONS
$ -
ACCIDENT
REDUCTION
COSTS
VEHICLE OPERATING
COST REDUCTION
$ -
$ -
ROAD O&M
$ -
CONSTRUCTION
NET
BENEFIT
$0.583
($0.583)
2017
(0.853)
(0.008)
0.000
(0.061)
(0.016)
13.008
(13.913)
2018
(0.870)
(0.008)
0.000
(0.062)
(0.016)
8.419
(9.344)
2019
4.271
0.094
0.151
0.746
0.025
0.000
5.236
2020
4.566
0.102
0.146
0.677
(0.489)
0.000
5.981
2021
5.083
0.117
0.142
0.731
0.023
0.000
6.049
2022
5.181
0.125
0.138
0.792
0.023
0.000
6.213
2023
5.281
0.135
0.134
0.856
0.022
0.000
6.384
2024
5.655
0.149
0.130
0.975
0.021
0.000
6.887
2025
6.060
0.166
0.126
1.023
0.021
0.000
7.354
2026
6.535
0.183
0.123
1.192
0.020
0.000
8.012
2027
6.715
0.195
0.119
1.277
0.020
0.000
8.286
2028
7.324
0.200
0.116
1.459
0.019
0.000
9.080
2029
7.512
0.218
0.112
1.557
0.019
0.000
9.380
2030
8.339
0.248
0.109
1.685
(0.364)
0.000
10.745
2031
8.661
0.263
0.106
1.808
0.017
0.000
10.819
2032
9.719
0.301
0.103
2.164
0.017
0.000
12.270
2033
10.564
0.336
0.100
2.379
0.016
0.000
13.361
2034
12.050
0.381
0.097
2.803
0.016
0.000
15.315
2035
12.770
0.404
0.094
3.000
0.016
0.000
16.253
2036
14.929
0.480
0.091
3.690
0.015
0.000
19.175
2037
16.497
0.539
0.089
4.037
1.909
0.000
19.253
2038
19.809
0.625
0.086
4.773
0.014
0.000
25.279
TOTAL
$175.797
$ 5.243
$2.311
$ 37.499
$ 1.348
$22.010
$197.494
F. Evaluation of Project Performance
Project Schedule. Construction of the 1.75-mile
segment of North River Road can begin once the grant
agreements are in place and can be completed within
24-months of the start date.
Environmental Approvals. Project planning studies
are complete. The completed Project Development &
Environmental Study (PD&E) selected this alignment
based partially on environmental factors. In addition,
the necessary NEPA approvals have been provided.
Legislative Approvals. North River Road has also been
recommended for improvements by the governing
bodies of Sarasota County and the City of North Port.
The improvement is consistent with the comprehensive
plans of the County and City. The overall River Road
Regional Interstate Connector is a cost feasible
improvement on the Sarasota-Manatee MPO adopted
2035 Long Range Transportation Plan. This project
is a longstanding, high priority on the MPO's major
improvement project priority list, and the North River
Road from U.S. 41 to Center Road section is the
highest priority phase of the River Road project.
[20]
State and Local Planning. The overall River Road
Regional Interstate Connector project has been previously
identified in the adopted comprehensive plans, Long
Range Transportation Plan, Hurricane Evacuation Plans/
Studies of Sarasota County, City of North Port, Charlotte
County, Sarasota- Manatee MPO, and the Southwest
Florida Regional Planning Council. The River Road
Regional Interstate Connector is also included in the
Sarasota County Capital Improvement Program.
Technical Feasibility. An Environmental Impact
Statement and a Project Development and
Environmental Study were completed in 2004.
Engineering design is complete and permits have been
secured for the five-mile roadway segment of the River
Road Regional Interstate Connector extending from
U.S. 41 to I-75 within which the subject U.S. 41 to
West Villages Parkway segment lies.
Right-of-way acquisition within the 1.75-miles project
limits north of U.S. 41 has already been secured,
including the stormwater pond sites. The floodplain
and environmental mitigation area to the north has
also been acquired.
Financial Feasibility. The total estimated project cost
for North River Road from U.S. 41 to West Villages
Parkway is approximately $23.6 million. Funds for
preliminary studies, design, and right-of-way have
already been provided from county, state and federal
sources. The unfunded needs are $18.7 million for
the balance of construction and construction-related
engineering and inspection activities.
River Road and West Villages Parkway
[21]
V ‐ Project Readiness and NEPA
The subject of this FY 2015 TIGER Grant application is
North River Road to U.S. 41 to West Villages Parkway, a
distance of 1.75-mile. This road segment is a component
of a project evaluated for NEPA compliance as the
Englewood Interstate Connector (EIC).
permit is SAJ 2006-5691 issued on Jan. 5, 2009, and
the water management district permit is 43031462.000
issued on Sept. 30, 2008.
A. Project Readiness
The relevant project numbers for the Englewood
Interstate Connector are Financial Project ID 2006101 and Federal Aid Project FL 38 001 R. It was
approved as a Type 2 Categorical Exclusion on April
7, 2004. Since the original approval, the project was
re- evaluated for proposed changes within the North
River Road segment that is the subject of this FY 2015
TIGER Grant application. It was determined that no
substantial changes had occurred and that the previous
administrative action was still valid. These findings were
approved by the District Environmental Administrator on
Sept. 16, 2008, and by the FHWA Division Administrator
on Sept. 23, 2008.
River Road from U.S. 41 to West Villages Parkway has
the required NEPA approvals. The design is complete and
all permits have been approved. The acquisition of the
road right-of-way is complete and additional easements
might be needed. Any redesign needed to update the
construction plans to the most recent standards will
be completed prior to Sept. 30, 2017. Funding of the
county's FY 2015 TIGER Grant request would allow the
project to proceed to construction immediately.
An Environmental Impact Statement and a Project
Development and Environmental Study (PD&E) for
the EIC were completed in 2004 for the entire EIC.
Engineering design is complete and permits have been
secured for the five mile roadway segment of North River
Road from U.S. 41 to I-75; the grant request is for the
southern-most 1.75 miles of this section (Segment 1A).
The permits include those from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and the Southwest Florida Water Management
District, which is the State of Florida agency responsible
for stormwater review and approval. The Army Corps
B. NEPA
Documents related to the NEPA findings will be
provided upon request made to:
Contact: Thai Tran, Program Manager,
Public Works
Address: 1001 Sarasota Center Blvd.
Sarasota, Florida 34240
Telephone: (941) 861-0889
Email:[email protected]
River Road Intersection
[22]
VI ‐ Federal Wage Rate Certificate
I hereby certify Sarasota County will comply with the federal wage rate requirements of Subchapter IV of
Chapter 31 of Title 40, United States Code relative to work on the River Road Regional Interstate Connector
from U.S. 41 to Center Road project (Segment 1A) using FY 2015 TIGER Grant Discretionary Grant funds.
_________________________________
Thomas A. Harmer
County Administrator
Sarasota County, Florida
Intersection of U.S. 41 and River Road
[23]
VII ‐ Appendices
Appendix A. Overview of Benefit Cost Analysis and Supporting Data
Benefit-Cost Analysis Overview and Assumptions:
The analysis covers the three-year period of design and
construction (2016-2018) plus the subsequent 20 years
(2019-2038). The analysis assumes that vehicle drivers
would be impacted as follows during this period:
• 2016: Design is under way. There is no difference
in travel times between the Build and No-Build
scenarios
upon vehicle type and average speed. The analysis uses
2011 model year data for the first 12 years and 2031
model year data for the last 11 years, based on the
assumption that there will be incremental improvements
in emissions over the period of the analysis. The
emissions reductions are monetized according to the
USDOT’s TIGER Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) Resource
Guide. Carbon emissions are discounted only at 3
percent, while the other emissions are discounted at
both 3 percent and 7 percent.
• 2017-2018: Construction is under way. There is no
difference in traffic volumes between the Build and
No-Build scenarios, but average speeds on River Road
decline in the Build scenario due to construction.
There is no diversion of traffic from River Road to
alternate routes because the average speed is even
lower on the alternate routes.
Accident Reductions:
• 2019-2038: Some traffic on Jacaranda Boulevard
shifts over to the expanded River Road when
construction is complete. To capture the full benefits
of the project, the No-Build scenario includes the
traffic on River Road plus the portion of traffic on
Jacaranda Boulevard that would shift over to River
Road if it were expanded.
Vehicle Operating Cost Savings:
All costs and savings were converted to 2014 constant
dollars using the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s GDP
Price Deflators, then discounted to 2015 using both a 3 percent and 7 percent discount rate.
Travel Time Savings:
Accident data were provided by Sarasota County Public
Works department. Accident rates are converted from
the KABCO scale to the AIS scale, and the reduction in
accidents is monetized according to the USDOT’s TIGER
Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) Resource Guide.
Average fuel costs are based on data from the U.S.
Energy Information Administration. Fuel consumption
rates are from the California Air Resources Board and
represent an average of 2011 and 2031 model years.
Data on non-fuel operating costs are from the American
Automobile Association and the American Transportation
Research Institute.
O&M Costs:
The analysis assumes that annual roadway O&M costs are
$17,200 for the No-Build scenario and $45,200 for the
Build scenario, with the following exceptions:
Traffic projections, average speeds, average occupancy
and impacted road lengths were provided by Sarasota
County Public Works department. Travel time savings
are monetized according to the USDOT’s TIGER BenefitCost Analysis (BCA) Resource Guide using the weighted
average value for intercity travel.
• 2016: Design is under way. The O&M costs for both
the Build and No-Build scenarios are $17,200.
Emissions Reductions:
• 2030: River Road will be resurfaced again under the
No-Build scenario at a cost of $612,500
• 2017-2018: Construction is under way. There is no
O&M cost in the Build scenario
• 2020: River Road will be resurfaced under the NoBuild scenario at a cost of $612,500
The vehicle mix was provided by Sarasota County Public
Works department. Emissions levels were derived using
California Air Resources Board EMFAC data (2011) based
• 2037: The widened River Road will be resurfaced
under the Build scenario at a cost of $3,675,000
[24]
Appendix B. Supporting Data
RIVER ROAD REGIONAL INTERSTATE CONNECTOR PAVEMENT CONDITION
ID
ROADWAY SEGMENT
FROM
TO
OVERALL
CONDITION INDEX
(OCI)
YEAR
BUILT
(APPROX.)
MOST RECENT
PAVING DATE
4938
Winchester
South River Rd
SR 776
72.95
2002
2002
5025
South River
South of Playmore Dr
Winchester
93.22
1975
2013
4728
South River
US 41
South of Playmore Dr
93.69
1996
2013
178
North River
Venice Ave
US 41
37.45
1980
1997
179
North River
I-75
Venice Ave
78.96
1980
2006
Note: Year Built is estimated from paving history in County database
OCI Rating is based on the following:
50-60Undesirable
60-70Satisfactory
70-80Good
80-90 Very Good
RIVER ROAD REGIONAL INTERSTATE CONNECTOR
TRAFFIC CAPACITY AND DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL DUE TO THE PROJECT
TRAFFIC CAPACITY
River Road Status
Daily LOS C Service Volume (vpd)3
Without the Project1
15,120
With the Project2
52,560
ADDITIONAL CAPACITY
37,440
1. Without the Project = Existing undivided two lane River Road
2. With the Project = Divided six lane River Road (U.S. 41 to West Villages Parkway)
3. Capacity in vehicles per day (vpd) is from FDOT 2012 Generalized LOS Tables
(Urbanized areas – State Signalized Arterials – Class I – Adjusted by -10%)
DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL DUE TO THE RIVER ROAD REGIONAL INTERSTATE CONNECTOR
Development Type
Additional Capacity Due
to the Project (vpd)1
Development
Potential2
Units
18,720
2,290
du
15,717
364
ksf
2,710
260
ksf
293
53
ksf
Residential
Single Family
Non-Residential
Shopping Center
Office
Light Industrial
TOTAL
1.
2.
37,440
Distribution of Additional Capacity based on anticipated development.
Based on ITE Trip Generation Manual (9th Edition):
a. Residential (LUC 210) Fitted Curve Equation (page 296) per Single Family Detached Housing, dwelling units (du)
b. Shopping Center (LUC 820) Fitted Curve Equation (page 1,561) per 1,000 Sq. Feet (ksf) Gross Leasable Area
c. Office (LUC 710) Fitted Curve Equation (page 1,259) per 1,000 Sq. Feet (ksf) Gross Leasable Area
d. Light Industrial (LUC 110) Fitted Curve Equation (page 102 ) per 1,000 Sq. Feet (ksf) Gross Floor Area
[25]
For additional supporting information,
go to the following URL:
ftp://ftp2.scgov.net/659807-5-28-15/
1660 Ringling Blvd.,
Sarasota, Florida 34236
941-861-5000
www.scgov.net
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Printed on recyled paper.
[26]
CD/6.2015