ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy is authorized to spend up to $125,000 for engineering and design services for the city’s Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project.
On Wednesday, Nov. 17, Murphy presented Anna Maria city commissioners with a Reimagining Pine Avenue project timeline that spans 25 weeks and includes five project phases for the safety improvements to be made: sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, a delivery truck turnaround area near the City Pier and the possible installation of bike paths.
The color-coded timeline Murphy shared with the commission indicates when he anticipates the engineering and design work for each project phase to begin, when the completed engineering and design work will be brought back to the commission for approval, disapproval or modification, and when the anticipated construction period for each project phase will occur.
Murphy expects the engineering work for the sidewalks and crosswalks to begin by Dec. 13. According to the timeline, which does not include specific dates, construction of the new sidewalks and crosswalks is expected to occur during the tenth week of the project timeline, during the first few months of 2022.
The new sidewalks will be constructed of pervious pavers that allow for better drainage than regular concrete. The new crosswalks and the improved existing ones will result in raised crosswalks that also feature signal beacons and additional lighting.
Murphy noted the timeline represents the commission consensus reached in October, which was a 3-2 vote to install bike paths along both sides of Pine Avenue and eliminate 53 city-owned parallel parking spaces along that street. Listing the bike paths as the fifth and final project phase provides city commissioners more time to evaluate the need for bike paths and the elimination of those parking spaces.
Estimated costs
The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.36 million. The mayor said the city will seek a $1.29 million appropriation from the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis to fund the majority of the project. The Florida Legislature convenes for its annual 60-day legislative session on Jan. 11. The city has already budgeted $73,000 in American Rescue Plan funds for the Pine Avenue improvements.
“This is a best-case timeline,” Murphy said. “This is an aggressive timeline. There’s caveats associated with it. The most obvious caveats are supply chain issues, labor availability and state funding.”
Murphy expects to know the status of the state funding around the ninth or tenth week of the project timeline.
The estimated engineering and design work will cost $125,000, Murphy added, which leaves about $1.23 million for the construction and installation of the Pine Avenue safety improvements.
“Before we begin heavy-duty construction, we would know if we got the state funding or not,” he said.
According to Murphy, State Sen. Jim Boyd has already expressed his support for the city’s appropriation request and State Rep. Will Robinson is also expected to lend his support.
Commissioner Mark Short asked about the risk associated with the city spending $125,000 for engineering and design services and potentially not receiving the requested state funds or receiving less than the $1.29 million requested.
In response, Murphy said, “If the state doesn’t give us any money, what do we do then? We’ve got five shovel-ready projects and all we need to do is find funding.”
He said additional funding, if needed, could be sought from the Manatee County Tourist Development Council and the Manatee County Commission. He said funds could be taken from the city’s reserve funds or raised through ad valorem taxes. He also said a city staff member is researching the possibility of Pine Avenue being declared a historic site, which could make the city eligible for additional grants.
“There’s a lot of options. If the state says no, it’s not over. We can get money from other places,” Murphy told the commission.
Short asked if the engineering and design phases will include construction cost estimates, and Murphy said they would.
