1.0 Executive Summary |
|||
Since 2004 the Town of Palm Beach has been considering the possibility of burying their overhead utility infrastructure , consisting of electrical , telephone , and cable communications . This conversion process will improve the safety , reliability , and aesthetics of the Town ’ s electric and communications infrastructure . In October 2014 , the Town began to evaluate this possibility after Florida Power and Light presented their plan to harden the utility poles for the major backbone lines in the Town . |
• yDesign Criteria and Conceptual Design Description
• yPhasing and Sequencing Plan
• yTraffic Management Plan
• yRisk Assessment
• yOpinion of Schedule
• yOpinion of Probable Cost
• yProject Delivery Methods
• yPublic Outreach Program
|
The master plan considers the various aspects that make the Town unique , such as zoning and land use designations , general topography and soils , types of underground infrastructure that exist , and plans for other future infrastructure improvements . Future infrastructure improvements include projects planned by the Town of Palm Beach , projects planned by the Florida Department of Transportation , the City of West Palm Beach , and Florida Public Utilities . Each of these considerations play a role in how the overall program will be executed . |
Utility stakeholders participated in workshops to review design requirements for the proposed underground infrastructure , define significant equipment needs to implement the program , and determine their approximate locations . FPL , AT & T , and Comcast developed maps of the locations of their significant electrical and communications infrastructure elements to guide the design of future phases of the program . However , these maps are not included in this master plan document due to confidentially issues . |
|
On March 15 , 2016 , Town voters approved a bond referendum to fund a Town-wide undergrounding program to relocate overhead utilities to an underground location . The initial task was the development of an overall Master Plan to provide a guide for the design and implementation of the undergrounding program .
This master plan provides guidance on how to balance and manage priorities , such as cost , project duration , traffic impacts , and other capital improvement needs for this ambitious project . This master plan summarizes the following activities and recommendations :
• yData Collection
|
Data Collection
The Town of Palm Beach is predominantly served with electric and communications services through a network of overhead wires mounted to wood or concrete poles . There are approximately 37 pole-miles of overhead infrastructure within the Town limits . The overhead utility infrastructure is often located in the right-of-way of the major Town roadways , in rear yard easements , and / or rear alleys between street blocks . Florida Power & Light ( FPL ), AT & T , and Comcast provided details of their existing infrastructure to plan for their underground conversion .
|
Design Criteria and Conceptual Design Description Development
Through a series of meetings with the Town , FPL , AT & T , Comcast , and other stakeholder utilities , Kimley-Horn assembled general guidelines for design criteria for the undergrounding program . These criteria are intended as guidance for the design of the physical location and placement of conduit and equipment so that consistency in design and construction can be realized over the life of the program . They do not govern the detailed electrical or communications network design that will be performed by FPL , AT & T , and Comcast .
|
The undergrounding project will impact a significant number of street lights within the Town that are currently mounted to FPL-owned utility poles that will ultimately be removed . Street lighting on the main arterial roadways can be replaced with new light poles and fixtures provided under FPL ’ s street lighting program .
Phasing and Sequencing Plan Development
The master plan provides a phasing and sequencing plan for the implementation of the undergrounding program . This plan provides overall guidance of timing and sequence , but adjustments will be needed to account for changes in
|
TOWN-WIDE UNDERGROUNDING OF UTILITIES PROGRAM MASTER PLAN DOCUMENT |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | 1 |