The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the referral to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee.

BACKGROUND

The adopted 2016 Miami Beach Transportation Master Plan (TMP) was built on a mode share goal and modal prioritization strategy adopted by Resolution 2015-29083 on July 8, 2015, which places pedestrians first; transit, bicycles, and freight second; and private automobiles third.  Projects in the TMP are intended to move Miami Beach towards this mode share vision by increasing pedestrian, bicycle, and transit travel and becoming a less car-centric city.

A Priority 1 project in the TMP is the Chase Avenue/34 Street Shared-Use Path between Alton Road and Prairie Avenue.  The project as envisioned in the TMP is adjacent to the north side of the Miami Beach Golf Club in Middle Beach.  The project will further the goal of developing a safe, complete, and accessible multi-user citywide bicycle and pedestrian network.  Such a facility would also promote non-motorized transportation as a reliable mode of travel within the City.

Specifically, the TMP proposes a network of the following shared use paths surrounding the Miami Beach Golf Club: 

-      Alton Road bicycle facility from N. Michigan Avenue to Chase Avenue: 

-      Dade Boulevard Shared Use Path + Road Diet, from 17 Street to Pine Tree Drive

-      Meridian Meridian Avenue and 28 Street Shared Use Path, Dade Boulevard to Pine Tree Drive

-      Chase Avenue Shared-Use Path, Alton Road to Prairie Avenue via 34 Street

Shared-use paths, as described in the adopted Miami Beach Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan, are two-way facilities that are physically separated from motor vehicular traffic with an open space or barrier.  Shared-use paths should always be designed to include pedestrians even if the pri­mary anticipated users are bicyclists. The result is improved safety for all users.

Shared-use paths are implemented on streets with medium to high vehicle traffic (<20,000 Annual Daily Traffic), and speeds of 35 MPH and above.  They are often implemented along parks and golf courses.  This type of facility has the highest potential to get more people on bikes whether for fun or for work.  By installing physical separation between the bicyclists and other users, the perceived level of safety as well as the actual level of safety increase, making bicycling a viable alternative to a wide range of people.

An interconnected network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities will also reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions, and align with Miami Beach’s resiliency program and the goals of the 100 Resilient Cities partnership.

On August 10, 2018 the Transportation Department issued a Notice to Proceed to Marlin Engineering Inc. A kickoff meeting was held on August 31, 2018 to initiate the study and ensure that City Staff and the consultant team were in agreement regarding project objectives and deliverables.  The meeting was attended by representatives from City of Miami Beach Capital Improvement Programs, Communications, Environment and Sustainability, Greenspace, Parking, Parks and Recreation, Planning, Police, Public Works, Tourism, Culture and Economic Development, and Transportation staff as well as the consultant team.

The consultants obtained and reviewed all relevant plans, documents and guidelines including project proposals directly related to the Chase Avenue/34 Street project.  The team also coordinated with the City's Urban Forester, the Miami Beach Golf Club Director, and Parks and Recreation staff on impacts and concerns with existing landscaping and the golf course.  Transportation Department staff and the consultant team held a meeting with Parks and Recreation on September 19, 2018 and performed a field review of the golf course impact area with the Golf Club Director on September 26, 2018.    The results of the field review by the Urban Forester indicated that most of the trees on the golf course edge are young in age and can be relocated.  There is also an opportunity to group the landscape to better block errant golf balls.

Multi-modal travel data was collected from August 23 to August 25, 2018.  Data collection included two weekdays and a Saturday.  The data showed significant pedestrian and bicycle activity on all days and moderate traffic westbound and low traffic volumes eastbound. 

Utilizing the information from staff coordination, plans research, field reviews and the multi-modal data collection effort, existing typical sections and initial design options were created for review by staff. 

On October 16, 2018, the first public meeting was held to present both the Chase Avenue/34 Street Shared-Use Path and the Alton Road Shared-Use Path (a separate project) to the community.  The meeting was promoted through direct outreach to the Alton Road and Central Bayshore HOA presidents, an email notification to the HOA members, meeting notice door hangers to directly affected households, Miami Beach social media network and Next Door postings,  and a notice in the Miami Herald.  In general, at the meeting, the public was receptive to the idea of adding pedestrian and bicycle facilities along the north side of the Miami Beach Golf Club/southside of Chase Avenue and 34 Street.  Concern was expressed regarding buffering homes and recreational users from stray golf balls.  The community requested that the project minimize the amount of hardscape needed for the proposed paths.   Additional landscaping was supported, with the caution that the golf course view be maintained.  Drainage and traffic calming concerns were also raised by members of the community who attended the meeting.

On December 18, 2018, a second public meeting was held to further discuss both the Chase Avenue/34 Street Shared-Use Path and the Alton Road Shared-Use Path (a separate project) with the community.  The meeting was promoted in the same manner as the first meeting.  At the end of the meeting, it was clear that additional time was needed to reach community consensus on the preferred design of the Chase Avenue/ 34 Street Shared-Use Path.  Additional time would also enable additional traffic data to be collected and traffic calming strategies to be developed for incorporation into the project design.  There was consensus and support, however, for the Alton Road Shared-Use Path concept presented at the meeting.

A third public meeting was held on February 19, 2019.  The meeting was promoted in the same manner as the two previous meetings.  Concepts for the shared-use path were presented together with traffic calming measures.  The community agreed that the 10’ wide shared use path on the south side of Chase Avenue and 34 Street, combined with traffic calming measures, was their preferred alternative.  This was conditioned on the shared-use path narrowing to 8’ adjacent to 3186 Prairie Avenue, the only single family residence adjacent to the proposed shared-use path.  The public meeting again resulted in support for the recommended Alton Road Shared-Use Path alternative to be moved forward to the design phase and to include continued coordination with neighbors and the HOAs.  The community specifically supported the continuation of bicycle facilities north along Old Alton Road to the intersection of 43 Street and Alton Road.  The need for stormwater improvements was also emphasized by the community.

The proposed Chase Avenue/34 Street Shared-Use Path is located in the central section of the City and the project limits are from Alton Road to Prairie Avenue. (Attachment 1 depicts a Project Map.) 

The TMP recommended a phased approach for the shared-use path network along Alton Road, Chase Avenue, and 34 Street as various constructability concerns were discovered during the master planning exercise.  The concerns included: a number of utilities along the south side of Chase Avenue including fire hydrants, concrete light poles with overhead electrical cables, drainage inlets, traffic control boxes; landscape impacts to the golf course, and potential right-of-way impacts to the Golf Club.  This feasibility study represents the first phase of implementation where challenges were addressed and a recommended concept was prepared and presented to the community.  If approved by the City Commission, the next phase of the project will advance the project to design development and final design plans. 

Various shared-use path concepts were analyzed that would not impact utilities, right-of-way, or landscaping on Chase Avenue or 34 Street.  However, these concepts required removing a travel lane on Chase Avenue and installing a physical separator between traffic and non-motorized uses.  Because of impacts to deliveries and emergency services, those concepts were not well-received by the public and are not being recommended for further design development.   

The concept preferred by the community and vetted from a technical perspective consists of a 10’ wide shared-use path on the south side of Chase Avenue and 34 Street between Alton Road and Prairie Avenue (Attachment 2).  The recommended concept features a two-foot (2’) wide striped buffer on the north and south side of both streets to reduce the effective width of the travel lane from a driver's perspective and help reduce vehicular speeds.  The path will meander around utility poles and can safely be located over existing drainage inlets with minor adjustments to the inlets.  Landscaping will be enhanced to block golf balls.  Adjacent to 3186 Prairie Avenue, the only single family residence directly adjacent to the proposed shared-use path, the path can safely be narrowed to a width of eight feet (8') in order to minimize the impact to the private property.   

Specific community issues and design considerations associated with the recommended concept are described and addressed below:

Utilities: There are six (6) actively used concrete power poles along the Chase Avenue section of the corridor and there appears to be two (2) smaller poles, one concrete and one wood, that are inactive approximately 120 feet east of Alton Road.  Lighting in the area consists of standard street lights attached to the concrete poles along the south side of Chase Avenue, and wooden power poles on the north side of 34 Street.  There are three (3) fire hydrants located on the south side of Chase Avenue and there are no fire hydrants on the south side of 34 Street. There are five (5) drainage inlets along the path of the corridor, three (3) on Chase Avenue and two (2) on 34 Street. 

The recommended design concept calls for the shared-use path to meander around the existing poles and other utilities and then move back to three feet (3') from back of curb to limit impacts onto the golf course.

Errant golf balls: In order to reduce the risk of errant golf balls, the recommended proposal includes decorative barriers strategically located to protect the pathway users. The proposal would require the reconstruction of approximately 300 feet of the golf cart path.  This was discussed with the Golf Club Director and it was confirmed that this would not impact the golfer experience or field of play.

Drainage: The recommended design concept avoids impacts to existing drainage inlets by proposing to build the path over the inlets using material.  Bioswales are also proposed between the roadway and the shared-use path, furthering the City’s resilience goals.  Porous pavement along the shared-use path is also recommended.

Landscaping: The preferred alternative would require 127 of 215 existing trees to be relocated along Chase Avenue and 17 existing trees to be relocated along 34 Street.  The City's Urban Forester has indicated that many of the trees are young in age and can be successfully relocated.  This provides an opportunity to enhance the corridor by adding new landscaping that will improve aesthetics and block errant golf balls.

Traffic Calming: In February 2017, the City completed a Traffic Calming Study for the Central Bayshore Neighborhood. The results of the study were approved by the Bayshore Homeowner’s Association and subsequently by City Commission on February 17, 2017.  As part of the 2017/18 capital budget process, the City Commission approved funding in the amount of $378,075 for traffic calming improvements in Central Bayshore South.  As part of the 2019 G.O. Bond Program, the City Commission approved funding for the implementation of traffic calming in the area north of 34 Street and including Chase Avenue.

In response to the residents’ concerns with speeding and cut-through traffic on Chase Avenue expressed during the Chase Avenue Share-Use Path community meetings, the City collected new data throughout the neighborhood.  Speed data indicated that the 85th percentile speed along Chase Avenue is approximately 34 MPH.  This is four (4) MPH above the posted speed limit.  Based on the results of the data collection and several site visits, concept drawings were developed proposing traffic calming along Chase Avenue from 34 Street to Alton Road and a reconfiguration of the intersection of 34 Street and Chase Avenue.  The concept consists of two (2) mid-block speed tables between Chase Avenue and 34 Street and a traffic circle at the intersection of Chase Avenue and 34 Street.  While it is anticipated that the proposed speed tables will result in the reduction of cut-through traffic and speed, the proposed traffic circle will address various safety concerns at the intersection of Chase Avenue and 34 Street.  

As mentioned above, a two foot (2') painted buffer on the north and south sides of Chase Avenue and 34 Street will visually reduce the effective width of the roadway from a driver's perspective.  In addition, the City has completed a Citywide Speed Reduction Study for residential neighborhoods in order to lower speed limits on residential streets in the City from 30 MPH to 25 MPH.  The speed data collected as part of the study process supports the lowering of speed limits.  The draft study is currently under County review.   Once the study is approved by the County,  the City will move forward with replacing the existing 30 MPH speed limit signs in residential neighborhoods with 25 MPH signs and will work with Police to enforce the lower speed limits. 

While the Chase Avenue/34 Street Shared-Use Path and Bayshore Neighborhood Traffic Calming are two separate projects, given the proximity and impact on one another, the two projects are following a parallel track such that the City anticipates implementing both projects concurrently given that both projects are funded in G.O. Bond Tranche 1.

Right-of-Way: There is sufficient right-of-way to construct the proposed shared-use path with minimal need for the use of the City's golf course property.  Along Chase Avenue, the proposed shared-use path would require as little as eight feet (8') of golf course property.   Along 34 Street, there would be one foot (1') to no encroachment onto the golf course property.  Where the path needs to meander around the existing light poles, the proposed design concept would extend 18' onto the golf course property; however, conceptual plan sheets were prepared that show these short segments would not impact the golf course fairway or golfer experience.

Lane Widths: Note that the Chase Avenue typical section includes two (2) 12 foot (12') wide travel lanes.  Per the City's adopted Street Design Guide, the recommendation for Chase Avenue includes two foot (2') painted buffers on each side of the road to visually narrow the width of the travel lanes to ten feet (10').  This will help calm vehicular traffic and lower speeds.  Additionally, speed tables are proposed to further deter speeding and cut-through traffic from using Chase Avenue.  34 Street already has ten foot (10') travel lanes and low vehicular speeds and volumes, thus, no traffic calming measures are recommended.

The preliminary cost estimate for design and construction of the proposed shared-use path is $590,000,  This cost is funded in the 2018 G.O. Bond Program (Project # 43 - Protected Bicycle Lanes and Shared Bike/Pedestrian Paths). 

The cost estimate for design and construction of the proposed traffic calming improvements (which will be funded and implemented on a separate but parallel track with the shared-use path) is $400,000. This cost is funded in the 2018 G.O. Bond Program (Project # 42 - Pedestrian Neighborhood Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Friendly Streets). 

The proposed Chase Avenue/34 Street Shared-Use Path is important to the community because it is a critical east-west connection between Alton Road and Prairie Avenue for pedestrians and bicyclists. The plans will further enhance the community by creating a 10' shared-use path (except at the intersection of 34 Street and Prairie Avenue where it will be 8' wide to minimize the impact to the only single family residence along the project limits), reducing lane widths through striping, installing traffic calming devices, enhancing landscaping, and creating opportunities to promote social interaction and build community bonds.

The proposed shared-use path would connect to the existing green bike lanes on Prairie Avenue as well as to another shared-use path being proposed by the City along Alton Road from Chase Avenue to Michigan Avenue adjacent to the Miami Beach Golf Club.  Potentially, the proposed Chase Avenue/34 Street Shared-Use Path could also be extended north along Old Alton Road and around the periphery of Mount Sinai Medical Campus.      

Moving this project forward will also further the implementation of the Transportation Master Plan, increase pedestrian and bicycle safety, encourage healthy lifestyles, reduce congestion, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and help the City reach its future mode share goals. 

Should the City Commission endorse the recommended design concept for the Chase Avenue/34 Street Shared-Use Path, the Administration will advance the project to the final design phase using existing G.O. Bond funds programmed for this project.