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Martin County

File #: 25-0601   
Type: Public Hearing Status: Agenda Ready
In control: Board of County Commissioners
On agenda: 5/20/2025 Final action:
Title: PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A ROAD TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR SW MARTIN HIGHWAY, SE INDIAN STREET, NE JENSEN BEACH BOULEVARD, AND NE CAUSEWAY BOULEVARD
Attachments: 1. 2025-05-20 MC_FDOT Transfer Resolution .pdf, 2. 2025-04-21 MC_FDOT Transfer Agreement_Final.pdf, 3. Presentation.pdf

PLACEMENT: Public Hearings

TITLE:

title  

PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A ROAD TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR SW MARTIN HIGHWAY, SE INDIAN STREET, NE JENSEN BEACH BOULEVARD, AND NE CAUSEWAY BOULEVARD

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

executive summary

The Board of County Commissioners is asked to adopt a Resolution that authorizes the execution of a Road Jurisdiction Transfer Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to transfer:  a portion of CR-714 (SW Martin Highway) and SE Indian Street from the County to the FDOT and to transfer SR-732 (NE/NW Jensen Beach Boulevard) and SR-732 (NE Causeway Boulevard) from the FDOT to the County.

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DEPARTMENT: Public Works                     

PREPARED BY:                      Name: Lisa A. Wichser, P.E., CFM                     

                     Title:                     Chief Project Engineer                     

REQUESTED BY: FDOT’s Director of Transportation Development                                          

 

PRESET: 1:30 PM

PROCEDURES: None                     

 

BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:

 

1.                     Agreement drafted by:

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Martin County

 

2.                     Parties to the Agreement:

FDOT and Martin County

 

3.                     Purpose of the Agreement:

To transfer the rights-of-way and to establish the responsible agency and the maintenance responsibilities for CR-714 (SW Martin Highway), SE Indian Street, SR-732 (NE/NW Jensen Beach Boulevard), and SR-732 (NE Causeway Boulevard)

 

4.                     New/Renewal/Modified:

New

 

5.                     Duration of the Agreement:

Perpetuity

 

6.                     Benefits to Martin County:

The FDOT will maintain the bridge on SW Martin Highway over the South Fork of the St. Lucie River, known as the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, and will continue to maintain the three bridges on NE Causeway Boulevard across the Indian River Lagoon

 

7.                     Cost to Martin County:

It is anticipated that the County’s maintenance cost will be reduced due to the transfer of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge.

 

At the request of the FDOT’s Director of Transportation Development, the Martin Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Public Works Administrative staff reviewed the County’s road network and recommended the following be transferred to the FDOT (ON to the State Highway System):

 

                     CR-714 (SW Martin Highway) from SR-714 (SW Martin Downs Boulevard) to SR-76 (South Kanner Highway), including the bridge over the South Fork of the St. Lucie River; and

                     SE Indian Street from SR-76 (South Kanner Highway) to SR-5 (US-1/SE Federal Highway).

 

These roads form a connected corridor between Florida’s Turnpike and US-1 / NE Federal Highway, which are roads that are on the State Highway System.  In response, FDOT staff considered the five criteria established in Florida Statutes to determine whether these roads could be transferred to the State Highway System:

 

                     national defense needs;

                     travel to and through urban areas;

                     access to intermodal facilities including airports, seaports, major terminals, and transfer points;

                     access to regional public facilities; and

                     disaster preparedness and emergency evacuation.

 

FDOT staff determined that these roads are classified as regional primary arterials and that four of the five criteria are met.  In exchange, the FDOT staff recommended the following be transferred to the County (OFF of the State Highway System):

 

                     SR-732 (NE/NW Jensen Beach Boulevard) from SR-5 (US-1/NW Federal Highway) to CR-723 (NE Savannah Road); and

                     SR-732 (NE Causeway Boulevard) from CR-707 (NE Indian River Drive) to SR-A1A (NE Ocean Boulevard), excluding the three bridges over the Indian River Lagoon.

 

Although both are designated as SR-732, these roads are not connected and are separated by NE Jensen Beach Boulevard (from NE Savannah Road to NE Indian River Drive) and NE Indian River Drive (from NW Jensen Beach Boulevard to NE Causeway Boulevard), which are roads that are not on the State Highway System.

 

The staff have developed the proposed Road Jurisdiction Transfer Agreement that identifies these roads to be transferred ON to the State Highway System and OFF of the State Highway System and includes the operational and maintenance responsibilities for each of the roads being transferred.  The net length of roads being transferred ON to the State Highway System is 4.11 miles; the net length of roads being transferred OFF of the State Highway System is 3.48 miles.  The FDOT has agreed to maintain the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge over the South Fork of the St. Lucie River and to continue to maintain the east relief bridge, the Frank A. Wacha Bridge, and the west relief bridge over the Indian River Lagoon.

 

In accordance with Florida Statutes and the FDOT’s Transportation System Designations and Road Jurisdiction Transfer Handbook, this request is conducted as a public hearing.

 

ISSUES:

 

The Board is asked to delegate the responsibility of administrative actions necessary to implement the provisions of the Agreement to the County Administrator, or designee.

 

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:

 

This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law, has identified and addressed legal risks, and has developed strategies for legal defensibility.

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

 

RECOMMENDATION

Move that the Board adopt the Resolution authorizing the Chair to execute the Road Jurisdictional Transfer Agreement and delegating the County Administrator to implement the provisions of the Agreement.

 

ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

Direct staff accordingly.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

RECOMMENDATION

Saving the costs associated with the maintenance of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge.

                     

ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

None

 

DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:

Budget Transfer / Amendment                      Chair Letter                                                               Contract / Agreement

Grant / Application                                          Notice          Ordinance                     Resolution

Other:     

This document may be reproduced upon request in an alternative format by contacting the County ADA Coordinator (772) 320-3131, the County Administration Office (772) 288-5400, Florida Relay 711, or by completing our accessibility feedback form at www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback <http://www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback>.