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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-361-4850
Fax: 305-361-4755
  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

Dr. Martin opened discussion of the FDOT Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Transportation Enhancement Project grant program “East Little Havana Greenway” application, officially filed by the City of Miami, with significant assistance from the Miami River Commission (MRC) and Trust for Public Land (TPL).  David Henderson, Metropolitan Planning Organization, (MPO) Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator, reviews and recommends approval of the FDOT grant on the local level.  Henderson stated there were two issues, which effected the East Little Havana Greenway application this cycle.  First, there were numerous excellent grant applications.  Second and more importantly, the FDOT has previously awarded the City of Miami several grants totaling $2,160,000, for Miami River Greenway development, and the City has not utilized the funds in over five years and had to request and extension of one Greenways Grant to keep from losing the money.  Henderson stated the City of Miami’s inability to spend previously awarded FDOT grant funding was a major factor in not approving the East Little Havana Greenway Grant application.  Four of the five awarded applications were for phase II greenway projects, which had successfully spent previously awarded FDOT grants to develop phase I of their projects.  Bibeau stated that prior to submitting the East Little Havana Greenway application, he met with Dianne Johnson, City of Miami, Lavinia Freeman, TPL, and David Korros, FDOT, regarding the previously awarded but unspent grant funds.  During that meeting, Korros requested a written explanation from the City as to why the previously awarded FDOT Greenway funding had not been spent.  Johnson stated she would provide a written explanation for requesting the funds to roll-over into the next fiscal year.  After submitting the East Little Havana Greenway application, yet prior to it’s denial, Korros, FDOT, provided a written critique of the application stating, “City of Miami’s track record expending previously programmed Enhancements projects is poor.  Their money has been rolling forward in the Work Program for several years.”

The Greenway’s subcommittee discussed the two outstanding FDOT allocations.  “Fort Dallas Riverwalk”, $1,260,000, was originally awarded four years ago.  The boundaries for this allocation are the north river shore, between SW 2^nd Ave and the Riverwalk Metromover station.  The only portion of this designated boundary without existing riverwalk, or privately funded and planned Riverwalk, is the privately owned property selected by the City Commission for the Marlin’s Ballpark.  The Greenway Subcommittee requested to review the original “Fort Dallas Riverwalk” grant application in order to obtain more details.  Dr. Martin asked Henderson if it is possible to spend the awarded grant funding for Greenway development not between the borders stated in the application.  Henderson explained the FDOT generally will not permit the relocation of the project.  Rather the process would be for the City to allow the FDOT to re-program the previously awarded Greenway funds, and submit an entirely new application for the different location. 

The second previously awarded FDOT greenway grant is “Lummus Park Riverwalk”, $900,000, on the north shore of the River between I-95 and NW 4^th Street.  The plans for this section of the Greenway have been presented to the Greenways subcommittee and the MRC.  Bibeau stated that a main cause of delay for the implementation of this section is that a portion of the Riverwalk is cantilevered over the water, requiring additional permits.  The City of Miami has been delayed by the additional permitting process.

The Greenway Subcommittee recommended the City of Miami, TPL, FDOT and MRC meet regarding the awarded FDOT greenway funding.  The first option is to implement the awarded funding A.S.A.P.  If it is deemed impossible to implement the available funds, the City of Miami should ask the FDOT to reprogram the awarded funds, and submit new applications, with feasible implementation plans.  The next FDOT Transportation Enhancement Project grant cycle is in March 2002.  In addition, the Greenway subcommittee noted the importance of the continuing research regarding the important Greenway management structure.  TPL contracted Greenway’s, Inc., with James L. Knight Foundation awarded grant funding, to develop a Greenway Management report and recommendations.

Bibeau stated he rode his bicycle heading north on the metro-rail greenway towards the Miami River.  The Metro-Rail path intersects the planned Miami River Greenway on SE 7^th Street.  Bibeau stated there is a wonderful opportunity to connect the existing Metro-Path to the Miami River Greenway, heading east through the popular Riverside Entertainment district, between Big Fish Restaurant, and the new Club Rio nightclub.  Bibeau stated the existing sidewalks in between the existing restaurant and nightclub are in disrepair, and the Riverside entertainment district would be significantly improved by developing the Miami River Greenway.  This proposed section of the Greenway would continue east beneath the South Miami Avenue bridge, and connect to riverwalk privately planned and funded at the Brickell Commons mixed use development, which has broken ground.  This proposed Greenway section would be an excellent transportation alternative, as it would directly link to the “Brickell” Metro-rail and “Fifth Street” metro-mover stations. 

Bibeau provided the Greenway subcommittee with a status report on the planned Publix, located on SW 5^th Street and SW 3^rd Ave, which intersects the Miami River Greenway.  On July 25, 2001, the Greenway subcommittee unanimously recommended increased landscaping to cover the Publix loading docks, which intersect the Greenway at SW 6^th Street and SW 3^rd Ave.  Publix’s landscape architect called the MRC, in response to the Greenway subcommittee’s additional landscaping request.  Publix agreed to maximize the landscaping where the supermarket intersects the Miami River Greenway, and offered to provide the revised landscaping plans to the Greenway subcommittee, prior to development.

Bibeau stated the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) participated in the development of the Biscayne Bay-Walk, through Bayfront Park, and is about to participate in the development of the Snapper Creek Greenway.  Bibeau suggested that since the ACOE Is leading the Miami River Dredging project, perhaps they could assist with the development of the Miami River Greenway as well.

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