[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 112 (Thursday, July 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1907-E1908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2009

  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I submit the 
following:
  Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Account: TCSP
  Name of Requesting Entity: City of Doral
  Address of Requesting Entity: 8300 NW 53rd Street, Suite 100, Doral, 
FL 33166
  Description of Request: I have secured $400,000 for the City of Doral 
Street Improvements. This funding will be used for the resurfacing of 
two current streets and the construction of six new streets within the 
City of Doral. It is the City of Doral's intention to provide its 
residents and visitors with the safest and most convenient 
transportation within its limits. The completion of these small 
sections of roadway would complete the City's grid pattern and provide 
additional options for increasing traffic to avoid already congested 
intersections. This project will help to alleviate traffic congestion 
and improve driver and pedestrian safety. Additionally, this project is 
estimated to create over 300 jobs in the area.
  Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Account: Buses & and Bus Facilities
  Name of Requesting Entity: City of Doral
  Address of Requesting Entity: 8300 NW 53rd Street, Suite 100, Doral, 
FL 33166
  Description of Request: I have secured $350,000 for the City of Doral 
Transit Circular. This funding will be used for further implementation 
and expansion of its Transit Circulator Program. The City of Doral is a 
municipality incorporated in 2003 which is located in west-central 
Miami-Dade County, directly west of the Miami-Dade International 
Airport (MIA). Approximately 40,000 people live in Doral and over 
100,000 more travel to and through the City each day for employment and 
business activities. Due to its proximity to the urban core of Miami-
Dade and major transportation facilities, as well as the rapid 
development of its component communities, Doral contends with a unique 
array of transportation concerns that require immediate and significant 
attention. The City of Doral launched the Transit Circulator Program in 
early 2008. The goals were to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce 
pollutant emissions by removing vehicles from the roadways. 
Additionally, the Doral Transit Circulator serves residents who are 
outside of the routes operated by Miami-Dade County's transit system 
(North of 41 Street and west of 97 Avenue). Since its introduction, the 
Transit Circulator Program has been extremely successful. Its usage and 
demand are far greater than were originally expected. The City of Doral 
is now looking to expand the routes of the Circulator and provide 
greater services to the residents of Doral via the purchasing of two 
new trolleys. This will further the City's goal of bringing convenient, 
safe, and environmentally-friendly transportation to its residents. The 
federally-funded portion of the project is estimated to create four new 
jobs within the City of Doral. The City of Doral embarked upon this 
program to bring public transportation to the City for a number of 
reasons. The most socially-conscious of these reasons are to reduce 
traffic congestion and reduce pollutant emissions. The City also wants 
to make sure that there are alternatives for transportation available 
to residents, since the County Transit system does not service much of 
Doral--the area north of 41st Street and west of 97th Avenue.
  Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Account: TCSP
  Name of Requesting Entity: Collier County, FL
  Address of Requesting Entity: 3301 E. Tamiami Trail Naples, FL 34112
  Description of Request: I have secured $500,000 for the Interstate 
75/Everglades Blvd. Interchange. This funding will be used or the 
design of a proposed interchange at or around Interstate 75 and 
Everglades Boulevard. Much of Collier County's current growth is 
occurring in an area known as Golden Gate Estates, one of the largest 
platted subdivisions of its kind in the world. This area is roughly the 
size of Washington, D.C. and is adjacent to the Big Cypress development 
which is anticipated to add another 23,000 dwelling units to the area. 
The only east-west routes between the eastern Estates and Naples area 
activity/employment centers are Golden Gate Boulevard and Immokalee 
Road and while the western portion of the Estates and Golden Gate City 
proper have access to interchanges at Immokalee Road, Pine Ridge Road, 
State Road 951 (Collier Boulevard) and Golden Gate Parkway, residents 
of the eastern portion of the Estates have no access to Interstate 75. 
Also, the lack of an interchange at Everglades Boulevard forces 
additional traffic onto already congested portions of Interstate 75, 
affecting not only local but inter-regional traffic on the Interstate. 
The lack of access to the Estates also creates safety problems, 
particularly in the event that its residents must be evacuated during 
hurricane or wildfire season. As Collier County's population expands 
from the nearly 330,000 residents today to a projected 1,066,000 at 
buildout, this situation will worsen. The current IJR and PD&E Study 
will evaluate the amount of traffic that would use a new interchange at 
Everglades Boulevard and the impact that it will have on adjacent 
interchanges and the Interstate's mainline operations. In order to 
ensure that there will be minimal to no environmental impacts 
associated with this project particular attention will be paid to the 
need for wildlife crossings or other such mitigation measures. An 
interchange at Everglades Boulevard and I-75 is an identified need in 
the MPO's Cost Feasible and Needs Plan and is the highest priority with 
the residents of Golden Gate Estates. Funds will be used for the next 
appropriate phase which may include design, right of way, mitigation of 
construction, depending on the availability of potential state and 
local funds that may expedite the project. The project will provide 
better access for an area that covers more than 100 square miles while 
improving interchange operations at three (3) existing overburdened 
interchanges. Additionally, the interchange would provide critical 
access to a route for safe evacuations from storms and fires as 
significant growth continues in eastern Collier County.
  Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Account: New Starts/ Fixed Guideway
  Name of Requesting Entity: Miami-Dade County, FL
  Address of Requesting Entity: 111 NW 1st St., Suite 1032, Miami, FL 
33128
  Description of Request: I have secured $4,000,000 for the Metrorail 
Orange Line Expansion. This funding will be used for the construction 
of a 9.2-mile Metrorail extension along NW 27th Avenue between the 
existing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Metrorail station and the Broward 
County line. The Department is also undertaking the implementation of 
the alternative analysis for Phase 3 of the Miami-Dade County East-West 
Corridor Rapid Transit Project. This 10-13-mile Metrorail project will 
extend from the Miami Intermodal Center to Florida International 
University and points west. This expansion will allow for more options 
for commuting and travel around Miami-Dade County. Additionally, this 
will take vehicles off the road in the County, allowing for increased 
public transit, which is more environmentally-friendly. The target 
population includes those who live along the areas of the expansion 
both NW 27th Avenue, as well as from the Miami Intermodal Center to 
Florida International University, who could utilize the expanded 
Metrorail service for commuting/traveling throughout Miami-Dade County. 
The North Corridor provides transportation access to the City of Opa-
locka and the City of Miami Gardens. Additionally, the corridor will 
provide access to Miami-Dade College, Florida Memorial University and 
St. Thomas University as well as major employment and activity centers 
including Dolphin Stadium and Calder Race Course. The East-West 
Corridor will provide transit access to the City of Miami, the City of 
Sweetwater and the City of Doral. Additionally, the corridor will 
provide access to Florida International University as well as major 
employment and activity centers including Miami International Airport, 
Dolphin Mall, Miami International Mall, Mall of the Americas and 
Waterford at Blue Lagoon Corporate Park.
  Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Account: FL--Federal Lands (Public Lands Highways)
  Name of Requesting Entity: Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida
  Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 440021, Tamiami Station, 
Miami, FL 33144
  Description of Request: I have secured $1,750,000 for the Tamiami 
Trail (U.S. 41) Safety Improvements. This funding will be used to 
create east and west turn lanes on Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) into the 
Miccosukee Tribe's Headquarter at Mile Marker 68 and 70. The funds will 
be used for the clearing & grubbing, excavation, embankment, asphalt, 
guardrails and traffic stripes needed to create the turn lanes and 
widen the Tamiami Trail entrance. This project would address 
significant safety concerns associated with turning into the Miccosukee 
Tribe Headquarters from Tamiami Trail, U.S. 41, on the Miccosukee 
Reservation. These entrances lead to housing for all Tribal members as 
well as the School, Clinic, Court and all other government offices. 
Currently, the entrance is a two-lane highway where speed limits are 
reduced upon approach from 55 M.P.H. to 45 M.P.H., but pose serious 
risks to Tribal members and tourists who visit attractions. Many 
accidents have

[[Page E1908]]

been reported at this section of Tamiami Trail because of the 
deceleration needed to safely turn into the Headquarters, resulting in 
severe injuries and damage. The creation of the turn lanes from the 
east and west will significantly reduce the current danger of serious 
accidents.

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