FDOT kicks in $440,000 more

Published July 4th, 2008

By John Johnston
Managing Editor

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has increased it’s funding by $440,000 of a new Intermodal Facility in West Palm Beach.  This increases FDOT’s funding to $2.47 million, said Palm Beach County commissioners.

FDOT is providing the additional funding in connection with the planning, design, and construction of the new intermodal facility, adjacent to the existing South Florida Regional Transportation Authority station on South Tamarind Avenue. Improvements will include bus bays and pedestrian friendly features, said commissioners.

Bus Donations

Separately, commissioners have agreed to donate eight, 30 foot, and 1997 Gillig Phantom buses to seven to non-profit groups, and an bus to the City of Pahokee.

Commissioner said the buses have reached the end of a useful life, and in accordance with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidelines, may be disposed. 

If Palm Tran would have offered these buses up for disposal by auction, commissioners said each could have realized up to $4,900 each in revenue. In turn, commissioners from Districts 4, 6 and 7 have agreed to utilize respective gas tax funds to reimburse Palm Tran for that loss of revenue, and then operationally by Palm Tran.

Commissioner Mary McCarty will sponsor two buses to Barton’s Boosters, Inc.; Commissioner Addie Greene will sponsor one bus to Bridge the Gap-Empowerment Center, Inc. and one bus to Omnipotent Outreach Ministry, Inc.; Commissioner Jesse Santamaria will sponsor two buses to Street Beat, Inc., and two buses to the City of Pahokee. 

Other Business

In other recent business commissioners:

• Amended a contract with West Construction, Inc., implanting the first renewal of the firm’s maximum value job order contract. The contractor will continue to perform as an annual general contractor for implementation of maintenance and capital projects, said commissioners.

Approved a $6,680 consulting contract with Hanson Professional Services for additional design services for the Government Center Central Energy Plant project.  Commissioners said the Thermal Energy Storage component of the central energy plant requires installation of an 85 foot by 60-foot water storage tank.  Additional conceptual tank designs, renderings and site development plans are required to be presented to the City of West Palm Beach Planning Department for review, said commissioners.