NEW BUSINESS  6.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

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

HISTORY:

ANALYSIS:

According to the 2019 City of Miami Beach Resident Survey, 74% of respondents expressed that they are most concerned/dissatisfied with pedestrian safety (vehicles not yielding to pedestrians) when crossing an intersection.  Implementation of the above pedestrian safety strategies along Alton Road will help address resident concerns with safety when crossing intersections.

Staff has reviewed historical accident data on Alton Road from 10^th Street to 16^th Street from May 2016 to May 2019 to identify crash patterns and safety deficiencies.  The following findings were obtained from a review of the accident data over the three-year period evaluated and shared with FDOT:

·         24 total pedestrian/bicycle accidents

·         16 injury accidents

·         Two fatalities

·         17 accidents occurred at crosswalks

·         Seven accidents occurred due to turning vehicles failing to yield to pedestrians (most common crash type)

·         Six accidents occurred at Alton Road/15 Street (location with most crashes)

·         14 accidents occurred at night

In addition, staff reviewed upcoming private development projects which are anticipated to increase pedestrian activity along this section of Alton Road.

Based on the crash data and proposed land uses, Transportation Department staff evaluated various strategies intended to improve pedestrian safety along Alton Road.  Additionally, staff communicated with FDOT regarding the need to conduct a comprehensive pedestrian safety improvement study for the corridor.  The below strategies are being proffered by the City for review as part of a comprehensive pedestrian safety study that FDOT has agreed to conduct and is scheduled to be completed in October 2019.

·         Exclusive Pedestrian Phases - An exclusive pedestrian phase is the safest type of pedestrian protection that can be implemented at a signalized intersection as it allows pedestrians to cross any of the legs of the intersection while all vehicular movements are stopped on red (Attachment 1).  While exclusive pedestrian phases can increase delays for motorists, this strategy has been proven to significantly reduce conflicts and accidents between vehicles and pedestrians/bicycles at crosswalks.  There are a handful of intersections that currently have exclusive pedestrian phases in the City (e.g. Collins Avenue/Lincoln Road, Washington Avenue/Lincoln Road, and Alton Road/Lincoln Road).  Both FDOT and Miami-Dade County require that a traffic study be conducted to evaluate the need and impacts of exclusive pedestrian phases.

·         Lead Pedestrian Intervals - In lieu of exclusive pedestrian phases lead pedestrian intervals at the beginning of the walk phase will give pedestrians wishing to cross Alton Road the opportunity to enter a crosswalk three to seven seconds before right or left turning vehicles from the side streets are allowed to enter the intersection (Attachment 2). Although not as safe as exclusive pedestrian phases, lead pedestrian intervals allow pedestrians to better establish their presence in the crosswalk before vehicles enter the intersection by reprogramming the pedestrian walk phase.  According to USDOT Federal Highway Administration studies, this strategy can reduce pedestrian-vehicle crashes at intersections by an average of 60%. Given that the most common type of crash along this section of Alton Road was vehicles failing to yield to pedestrians, this measure will increase pedestrian safety and reduce accidents.

·         “Turning Vehicles Yield To Pedestrians” signs at intersections

Other Ongoing FDOT Efforts

·         Street Lighting - As shown in the results of the crash analysis, 14 of the 24 total crashes during the three-year evaluation period occurred at night. While not specified in the accident reports, street lighting could have been a factor in some of these crashes.  As a result of increased pedestrian crashes throughout the state, in 2017, FDOT approved a new intersection lighting standard. The new standard increases the foot candle requirements at intersections and specifically targets increased visibility of bicyclists and pedestrians in crosswalks. FDOT is currently in the design phase for an intersection lighting improvement project along Alton Road from 6^th Street to 20^th Street. Construction is currently scheduled to commence in fiscal year 2019/2020.

·         Educational Campaign - FDOT is coordinating outreach and educational efforts as part of its “Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow” campaign. The campaign targets motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists and promotes safe choices and improvement to certain behaviors such as drivers not yielding to pedestrians while making left or right turning movements and pedestrian jaywalking.  These campaigns will be coordinated through the City’s Communications and Transportation Departments which can assist with messaging in the City for greater outreach and effectiveness.

CONCLUSION:

Given the results of the crash analysis and the City Commission’s directive to prioritize pedestrians, there is a need to improve pedestrian safety along Alton Road in South Beach. As such, the Administration recommends that staff continue to work with FDOT to complete the pedestrian safety improvement study for Alton Road from 10th Street to 16th Street. Once the analysis is completed, City staff will present the findings and recommendations of the FDOT pedestrian safety study to the NCAC at its October meeting. At that time, should the City Commission wish to pursue the implementation of exclusive pedestrian phases along Alton Road, a resolution will need to be adopted and transmitted to FDOT prior to implementation.  The exclusive pedestrian phases will likely be implemented through a FDOT push-button contract; however, a timeline for implementation has not been developed as yet.