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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final August 15, 2023 12.G.1. 23-0581 CR -510 FDOT Widening Concept - Possible Closure of Existing Old Dixie Railway Crossing Recommended Action: Staff is requesting direction from the Board on the possibility of closing the FEC railway crossing on Old Dixie Highway to accommodate the widening project for CR -510 Attachments: Staff Report Old Dixie FEC Railway Crossing Map Old Dixie FEC Railway Crossing Sebastian CR 510 Alternative 3 Public Works Director Richard Szpyrka appeared before the Board to discuss a Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) study the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) was conducting as part of the plan to widen CR -510 to four lanes from 58th Avenue to east of US -1. At issue was the Florida East Coast (FEC) railroad crossing at CR -510 and US -1 and FEC's policy that when lanes are added to a crossing, those lanes must be compensated for by closing another crossing in the general area. The FDOT suggested closing a nearby crossing where the FEC railroad crossed Old Dixie Highway in order to compensate for the CR -510 widening, as shown in presented photographs. Mr. Szpyrka showed that Old Dixie Highway south of the railway crossing was narrow and in disrepair. Staff sought direction from the Board on the possibility of closing this railway crossing. Commissioner Loar was informed by Mr. Szpyrka that the County could give up their rights to FEC and the FEC would close the crossing; similar compensations had been made previously. In response to Commissioner Flescher, Mr. Szpyrka suggested the closure would benefit area development because the County gained an expanded intersection at CR -510 and US -1 in exchange for closing the south segment of Old Dixie Highway, which was unsuitable for heavy traffic. He mentioned unresolved negotiations with the Spirit of Sebastian Development, which wanted full access to that stretch of Old Dixie Highway, and the County which maintained safety concerns. Mr. Szpyrka also noted there were limited crossings available to satisfy the FEC's rule, and closing this low volume road segment would impact the County the least. Commissioner Moss was informed this stretch of Old Dixie Highway was not on the County's CIE list for widening. County Administrator Titkanich discussed the details of road closure procedures with Mr. Szpyrka. Karen Mechling, representing the developers of the Spirit of Sebastian, stated the developer would like to be part of the process in deciding the future of Old Dixie Indian River County Florida Page 26