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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE ENTERPRISE TO EXAMINE (I) THE CONFIGURATION OF THE HOMESTEAD EXTENSION OF FLORIDA�S TURNPIKE (HEFT) SOUTHBOUND OFF-RAMP AT SW 211TH STREET WITH RESPECT TO SAFETY CONCERNS RELATED TO VEHICLES USING THIS OFF-RAMP TO TRAVEL WESTBOUND ON SW 211TH STREET, AND (II) THE FEASIBILITY OF REDESIGNING THE CONFIGURATION OF THIS OFF-RAMP TO ADDRESS ANY SAFETY CONCERNS

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WHEREAS, the Homestead Extension of Florida�s Turnpike (HEFT)�the north-south toll road southern extension of the Florida�s Turnpike�is used daily by commuters and travelers to and from South Dade, the Florida Keys, and Everglades National Park; and
WHEREAS, the HEFT is operated by the Florida Turnpike Enterprise (FTE), a business unit of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT); and
WHEREAS, various County facilities including the South Dade Government Center, the South Dade Regional Library, and the Miami-Dade Cutler Ridge Police Station, are located at the SW 211th Street HEFT exit; and
WHEREAS, southbound traffic exiting the HEFT at the SW 211th Street exit off-ramp traveling westbound onto SW 211th Street needs to traverse multiple lanes which can create a conflict with vehicles traveling through from the adjacent frontage road; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned traffic condition may pose a safety concern for vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the area; and
WHEREAS, this Board encourages FDOT and FTE to review the configuration at the HEFT SW 211th Street southbound off-ramp for safety concerns, particularly with respect to the conflict between vehicles exiting the HEFT via the SW 211th Street off-ramp traveling westbound onto SW 211th Street and the through vehicles from the adjacent frontage road,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urging the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Turnpike Enterprise to examine the configuration of the Homestead Extension of Florida�s Turnpike (HEFT) southbound off-ramp at SW 211th Street, in particular with respect to any safety concerns that may exist as a result of any conflict between vehicles exiting the HEFT via the SW 211th Street off-ramp traveling westbound onto SW 211th Street and the through vehicles from the adjacent frontage road, and to examine the feasibility of redesigning the configuration of that off-ramp to address any safety concerns.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation, the Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, and the Executive Director of the Florida Turnpike Enterprise.
Section 3. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the actions described in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2018 State Legislative Package when it is presented to the Board.