Council awards $748,246 alternative-corridor study for Norfolk Parkway western extension

City Council on May 27 approved an Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) study for the proposed Norfolk Parkway western extension, authorized execution of a supplemental agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation and reduced the project appropriation to match the negotiated contract amount. The council also awarded a professional engineering contract to Scalar Consulting Group (West Palm Beach) for $748,246.75.

“The purpose of the alternative corridor evaluation … is to identify the purpose and need of a new roadway alignment that will extend from the current terminus of the Norfolk Parkway to a location along the St. John’s Heritage Parkway,” Tammy Gillen told the council during her presentation. The ACE is a high-level study intended to provide a preferred alternative and documentation necessary to pursue future Project Development & Environmental (PD&E) funding, right-of-way and design phases.

Why it matters: City staff said the ACE will document environmental constraints, allow public outreach and coordination with agencies and stakeholders, and prepare the project to compete for FDOT and federal funding. The ACE itself is funded in part by the city’s previously appropriated funds; staff sought a smaller appropriation this year to reflect the negotiated contract price.

Study length and scope: Gillen told council an ACE typically takes about 12 to 18 months. Council members discussed the project’s potential benefits to traffic capacity as the area west of New Haven Avenue experiences growth, and asked about timeline and environmental coordination. Gillen said the study will document constraints and identify a preferred alignment usable for the future PD&E phase, which remains unfunded.

Contract details and votes: On council direction approved motions to (1) execute a local agency program supplemental agreement with FDOT (Resolution 43-53), (2) implement a budget adjustment to match the negotiated contract value (Resolution 43-54), and (3) award the professional engineering contract to Scalar Consulting Group for $748,246.75. Councilmember Hanley moved the resolutions and contract award; Councilmember Bassett seconded each motion. All motions passed by unanimous vote.

Implementation and follow-up: Staff said the ACE will include environmental constraints, stakeholder coordination and public outreach; if the city wishes to advance the project to PD&E and design phases in the future, additional funding would be required. Gillen emphasized that the ACE would put the city in a stronger position to pursue state and federal grants for the PD&E phase if council decides to move forward.

Ending: Council funded and contracted the ACE study to help the city evaluate a future western extension of Norfolk Parkway, authorizing staff to proceed with the FDOT supplemental agreement and the consultant contract. The study timeline was estimated at 12–18 months; staff will return with study milestones and outreach plans.