The Miami River Commission’s (MRC) Economic Development and Commerce (EDC) Working Group convened on February 11, 2003, at 2:30 PM, in the Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Library Map Room.  Cleve Jones Jr. and Megan Kelly chaired the meeting.  The sign in sheet is enclosed.

Professor Richard Weisskoff presented the draft “Comparing Costs of Options for Reconstructing the 12^th and 27^th Avenue Bridges Over the Miami River”, commissioned by the MRC.  The study compared initial construction costs, and the estimated maintenance costs, over a 70-year life cycle, for both bascule bridges and tunnels located at 12^th and 27^th Avenues.  In addition, Weiscoff explained the report estimated the value of time lost for commuters stopped during bridge openings at both 12^th and 27^th Avenues.  In order to accurately model these estimates, the bridge opening records were obtained from bridge tenders at these locations, and traffic surveys were obtained from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).  Weisskoff stated tunnel developers are able to use new air circulation technology and tunnel construction technology, which has significantly reduced tunnel construction costs.  Weisskoff studied the Fort Lauderdale tunnel under the New River and found that Ft. Lauderdale officials determined the need for constructing their tunnel beneath the New River, without economic studies.

The study concludes that over a 70-year life, the two tunnels would cost $1.4 million less than two bridges at these locations.  The group agreed that this fact must be placed in the report’s executive summary.  Projected traffic growth rate was conservatively estimated at only 1% per year.  The number of passengers per vehicle was conservatively estimated at 1.1 people per vehicle.  Weiscoff will add the existing bridge opening curfew information.  Mr. Jorge Estevez recommended a revision to the final sentence on page 7, and adding an explanation to justify the 70-year bridge (current river bridge average) and tunnel life cycle.  Weiscoff will verify that the expected life cycle of a tunnel is 70 years or longer.  The EDC unanimously recommended the draft report, with agreed upon revisions, be presented to the MRC on March 3, 2003 with the recommendation that the report be accepted and forwarded to the FDOT, City, County, and other transportation officials.  Weisskoff stated he would provide the revised draft report to MRC staff for inclusion in the MRC board member’s February mail out package. 

The EDD confirmed their next regularly scheduled 2^nd Tuesday of the month meeting, March 11, 2:30 PM, in the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy., Dean’s Conference Room.