RESEARCH DIVISION
TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY & UTILITIES SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
February 6, 2017
City Council Chamber
Ground Floor, City
Hall
Immediately following the 2:00 Committee meeting.
Attendance: Council Members: Al Ferraro (Chair), Doyle Carter (Vice Chair), Greg Anderson, Anna Lopez Brosche, John Crescimbeni, Reggie Gaffney; Council Member Reggie Brown was excused; Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston; Kim Taylor, Council Auditor’s Office; Jordan Elsbury, Administration, Yvonne Mitchell, John J. Jackson, Council Research Division; Legislative Assistants Jennifer Bechtold, Philip Zamarron.
The Chairman called the special committee meeting to order at 2:26 p.m.
The focus of the Special Meeting was the Public Works Department’s bridge management program.
John Pappas, Director, Public Works Department, made the PowerPoint presentation.
Mr. Pappas noted that there are 185 bridges in Jacksonville. There are 142 typical bridges ( Laura Street Bridge over Hogan’s Creek is an example) and there are 41 bridge culverts described as single or multiple openings with spans greater than 20 feet. There are 2 bridge-like parking structures (i.e., the Old Courthouse parking lot).
Mr. Pappas explained that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) conducts routine inspections on all road bridges. The inspections evaluates the bridges’ deck, superstructure and substructure. Biennial inspections are standard and more frequently as conditions worsen. Each of the three systems are rated 1 – 8, 8 being best. FDOT conducts separate scour inspections of the underwater footings of the bridges that are separate from structural evaluations.
If a bridge is assessed as structurally deficient, it means that the bridge should undergo a series of repairs or replacement within the next six years. If a bridge is deemed functionally obsolete, it means that the bridge does not meet current dimensional road design standards. If a bridge has deficiencies that require immediate attention which may require closure of the bridge to traffic and pedestrians, it is a category cited as prompt corrective action. The health standard measures the overall condition of a bridge. A health index below 85 generally indicates that some repairs are needed, though it does not mean the bridge is unsafe.
A sufficiency rating helps determine whether a bridge that is structurally deficient or functionally obsolete should be replaced or just repaired. The sufficiency ratings for bridges are part of a formula used by the Federal Highway Administration when it allocates federal funds to the states for bridge replacement. Scour critical measures the depth below the channel bottom at the end bents and individual pier supports to determine if the scour depth is within tolerance of the structure’s original bridge design. The analysis determines whether or not a structure is experiencing critical scour impacts.
In the prioritization of bridge improvements, the Public Works Department utilizes FDOT inspection results to rate (1 -8, 8 is best) a bridge’s deck, superstructure and substructure. Rating are added for an overall “structural integrity” score (0 -24). The lower the score, the higher the priority for immediate action. For instance, the Liberty Street Bridge is the department’s only “0”; a score of 24 would indicate a newly constructed bridge (Newnan St. Bridge). A bridge with any of the 3 systems rating below a 4 is considered structurally deficient. The department utilizes FDOT scour critical inspection results to prioritize scour repairs.
The department’s current bridge inspection status of the City’s 185 bridges: 9 are rated structurally deficient. 8 bridges are rated structurally deficient and include Coastline Drive Bridge and the Old County Courthouse parking structure. 22 bridges are rated as functionally obsolete. (Not up to current dimensional standards). 80 bridges are being monitored and addressed for scour critical issues.
Bridges recently replaced or repaired include: Egrets Nest-COJ (repaired); Dillon Road-FDOT (replaced-new bridge); Newnan Street-FDOT (replaced-new bridge); Bessent Street-FDOT (replaced-new bridge); 2nd Avenue North-COJ (repaired); Grove Park Road Pedestrian Bridge-COJ (repaired).
Bridges identified for near term repair and/or replacement include: Lakeside Drive replacement.
Mr. Pappas concluded his presentation with bridge management program funding. For the Fiscal Year 2016/2017 Budget “CIP” $11,799,848. $3,000,000 for Countywide intersection improvements & bridge rehab – bridges. The Fiscal Year 2017/2018 Budget “CIP” that is currently being prepared includes funding requests for Countywide intersection improvements & bridge rehab – bridges; specific bridge projects – design and construction.
Mr. Pappas fielded questions at the end of the PowerPoint presentation. When asked if he had heard anything about President Trump’s pronouncements of a commitment to invest billions in infrastructure projects, Mr. Pappas replied that he had heard nothing to date.
There being no further business, the Special Meeting was adjourned at 2:55 P.M.
John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729
02.09.17
Posted: 3:00 p.m.