NEW BUSINESS  12.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

KEY INTENDED OUTCOME:
Ensure Comprehensive Mobility Addressing All Modes Throughout The City

HISTORY:

Feinberg Fisher K-8 Center is a public school bounded by Pennsylvania Avenue to the west, Drexel Avenue and Washington Avenue to the east, 14 Street to the south, and Espanola Way to the north. The school is located within the Flamingo Park neighborhood and currently serves approximately 900 students. Many of these students currently walk or bike to school. 

Espanola Way from Drexel Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue is a one (1)-lane/one (1)-way street in the westbound direction with sidewalks and on-street parallel parking on both sides.  The sidewalk on the north side is five (5) feet wide.  The sidewalk on the south side has planters and an effective walking width of approximately six (6) feet.  Drexel Avenue is a two (2)-lane/two (2)-way street with on-street parallel parking and approximately 9' wide sidewalks on both sides.  The sidewalks on Drexel Avenue are flush with the street.    

In November 2018, the City completed construction of various sidewalk, striping, and signage improvements for Feinberg Fisher K-8 Center. The project also included the installation of a new school zone beacon on Drexel Avenue between 13 Street and 14 Street. This project was funded by a Safe Routes To School (SRTS) federal grant awarded to the City in 2014. Various observations and site visits were conducted during the SRTS application and design processes. Based on the observations conducted at that time, students were entering the school from Pennsylvania Avenue and 14 Street. As such, many of the SRTS improvements were planned, designed, and implemented on these two (2) corridors. Other improvements were constructed along the east/west roads between Feinberg Fisher K-8 Center and Flamingo Park to enhance the safety of the students walking to the park after school. The improvements along Drexel Avenue between 15 Street and the school included a new crosswalk at Drexel Avenue and 15 Street, school crossing signs, and school zone pavement markings on Drexel Avenue. The SRTS project also included the striping of new crosswalks and the implementation of school crossing signs at the intersection of Espanola Way and Pennsylvania Avenue.

In light of various safety and security concerns by the Feinberg Fisher school administration, the student entrance was recently relocated to Drexel Avenue south of Espanola Way where there is an existing cul-de-sac. This change has increased the traffic along Drexel Avenue and Espanola Way during the school drop-off and pick-up hours.

Drexel Avenue and Espanola Way are corridors with mixed-use commercial/residential uses and high pedestrian activity.  Espanola Way between Washington Avenue and Drexel Avenue in particular is a pedestrian-only mall with significant commercial activation.  During the school drop-off and pick-up hours, these two corridors are also used by trucks delivering goods to the restaurants in the area. The mix of school traffic and delivery vehicles has been observed to create some friction and safety concerns in the area.

ANALYSIS:

In response to concerns from Feinberg Fisher K-8 Center administration related to traffic and speeding, Transportation, Parking, and Police staff have conducted various observations during the morning drop-off hours to understand the concerns related to the new school drop-off operation at Drexel Avenue and Espanola Way.  Staff observed various deliveries being conducted at the same time as student drop-off which exacerbated the congestion in the area. Additionally, parents were observed to be parking in the cul-de-sac which blocked traffic flow and created congestion in the southbound direction which resulted in vehicles blocking the intersection at Drexel Avenue/Espanola Way and creating gridlock.  The congestion and gridlock is causing some aggressive driving behaviors which can result in accidents and near-misses between pedestrians and vehicles.

Data was collected on Espanola way between Drexel Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue. Based on the data collected, the 85th Percentile speed was found to be 13 miles per hour.  Although the current operating speeds are low, the amount of friction between pedestrians and vehicles, including delivery vehicles, during school pick-up and drop-off has increased since Feinberg Fisher relocated its student entrance to Espanola Way and Pennsylvania Avenue.  

In light of these observations,  the City will be implementing various modifications to the operations of the area to reduce friction and improve safety. The following initiatives are planned in the coming weeks to improve current conditions:

• Installation of signage prohibiting deliveries during morning school zone hours
  Posting a police officer on a temporary basis at the intersection of Drexel Avenue and
• Espanola Way to enforce non- compliance with the school zone and assist with pedestrian crossings
• Temporary blitz in parking enforcement to clear the road prior to school drop-off and pick-up hours

Further, the City has submitted a request to the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works Schools Division for the installation of school zone signs along Drexel Avenue. 

CONCLUSION:

The Administration is recommending to move forward with the above proposed strategy to improve the school's student pick-up and drop-off operation.  City staff will continue to monitor and make adjustments as necessary in coordination the school administration.