First Street Corridor Improvements

In 2020, Q. Grady Minor & Associates, P.A (Grady Minor) was hired to provide professional services for future street lighting and pedestrian safety improvements along South First Street (from Main Street to School Road/Seminole Crossing Trail). 

This work included feasibility studies and conceptual plans for the purpose of relocating existing decorative light poles, considering the future street lighting and pedestrian safety improvements. Additionally, it included reviewing and providing recommendations for the location of new pedestrian crosswalks, and the location of new landscape and hardscape elements. Estimated construction costs and long-term maintenance costs were included with the feasibility studies.

 In 2021, Grady Minor provided the final Conceptual Plan Report that recommends the installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at the three crosswalks and 11 additional Collier County Traffic Operations light poles. ICRA Staff had coordinated with Collier County Traffic Operations and Public Transit during the development of the conceptual plan and their input was reflected in the final conceptual plans. 

Additional sidewalk connection on the east side of South First Street from the bus stop located south of Carver Street to Eustis Avenue will be evaluated during the design phase of this project. The estimated cost for the design is $250,000 and Staff applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in February 2022 and the grant was conditionally awarded in April 2022.

On June 28, 2022, Community and Human Services (CHS) processed the grant agreement between the Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Collier County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for CDBG funds.  The agreement was approved by the Collier County BCC on June 28, 2022.    The grant agreement for design was approved by the CRA (BCC) board on September 13, 2022, for the CDBG $250,000 grant.  Funding to be available in October 2022.  Staff is processing a modified Request for Proposal (RFP) reflecting edits by Procurement Services for the design of the construction plans for this project.  Grant period ends on April 30, 2024. 

Staff initiated the Engineer Selection Process for a Proposal for the preparation of design plans.   Having 100% design plans for will allow this project to be considered shovel ready will better position the CRA to leverage funds with other funding opportunities for construction.