Background:
As part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s adopted work plan, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is proposing to widen and make improvements to the Sawgrass Expressway. FDOT is currently finalizing construction plans for the phase of the project that includes the portion of the Sawgrass Expressway from Sunrise Boulevard to north of West Oakland Park Boulevard. FDOT’s project will also include the construction of a full access interchange at Pat Salerno Drive. FDOT has identified that they are planning to advertise the construction bid in late summer 2026, with construction finishing in 2028.
Separately, at the January 11, 2022 City Commission Meeting, the City Commission approved the second reading of the Ordinance approving the Agreement for Purchase and Sale between the City and Baptist Health South Florida, Inc. (Baptist) for the City’s property located on the northwest corner of Oakland Park Boulevard and the Sawgrass Expressway. Baptist has agreed to construct a community hospital on the property, which will be Baptist’s first hospital in Broward County.
Pursuant to the Agreement for Purchase and Sale, Baptist has purchased the property for construction the of a community hospital. Baptist is finalizing the construction plans and working towards obtaining the necessary construction permits.
As part of the site plan development, Baptist identified certain offsite roadway improvements at West Oakland Park Boulevard and the Sawgrass Expressway. The improvements primarily include, but are not limited to, revising roadway geometry, adding a new signalized intersection, adding a new emergency access only driveway connection, updates to the primary and secondary drainage systems, additional ground mounted and overhead signing, roadway lighting, and utility relocation. The City, FDOT, Broward County, and Baptist collaborated to develop a conceptual design of the offsite roadway improvements. Since the development of the conceptual design of the offsite roadway improvements, agreements were executed allowing FDOT to prepare full design plans that would incorporate Baptist’s offsite roadway improvements into the Sawgrass Expressway project.
Based upon the projected timelines for the construction of the hospital and FDOT’s Sawgrass Expressway widening and improvement project, on behalf of Baptist the City has requested FDOT to include the construction work required to advance the offsite roadway improvements within FDOT’s construction project. FDOT is willing to complete the construction work, provided that the City enters into an agreement to provide the local share of the construction work funding. Based upon negotiations with FDOT, the attached Locally Funded Agreement (LFA) has been developed whereby the City will pay One Million Seven Hundred Thirty-Six Thousand Three Hundred Forty-Five and 34/100 Dollars ($1,736,345.34) for FDOT to complete the construction of the offsite roadway improvements. Upon execution of the agreement, the City shall, no later than fourteen calendar days before the scheduled date of the bid advertisement notice by the Department for bids on the construction contract for the Project, provide payment to FDOT.
Separately, a Roadway Improvements Cost Agreement for construction has been prepared between the City and Baptist. As part of the agreement, Baptist has agreed to pay the City of Sunrise all of the amount that the City becomes obligated to pay FDOT for the construction of the offsite roadway improvements, along with any increases as a result of modifications to the work that are requested on behalf of Baptist. This Roadway Improvements Cost Agreement is included as a separate agenda item within tonight’s City Commission Meeting Agenda.
Staff recommends approval of the attached Locally Funded Agreement.