Following various pedestrian accidents and fatalities on Alton Road between 10^th Street and 16^th Street since 2017, the City’s Transportation and Mobility Department staff explored various strategies to improve pedestrian safety along Alton Road.  On June 5, 2019, staff submitted a request to FDOT to conduct a comprehensive study with a specific focus on determining the feasibility of implementing exclusive pedestrian phases at all signalized intersections along this section of the corridor.  

Pedestrian safety on Alton Road between 10^th Street and 16^th Street was discussed at the June 19, 2019 Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee meeting.  At the meeting, City staff stated that it would continue to work with FDOT to enhance pedestrian safety on Alton Road and that an update to the committee will be provided upon completion of the FDOT study.

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.

FDOT Study Analysis

In July 2019, pursuant to the City’s request, FDOT engaged a traffic consultant to complete a comprehensive pedestrian safety analysis of Alton Road from 10^th Street to 16^th Street.  The study scope included conducting an inventory of the study area, collecting traffic data, performing a crash analysis, performing an operational analysis for each alternative, developing recommendations, and performing a benefit/cost analysis for the recommended improvements.  The analysis consisted of evaluating the feasibility of the following strategies at signalized intersections within the corridor segment:

• Leading pedestrian interval (i.e. a 3 to 7 second interval during which pedestrians are provided a head start via an early walk signal to begin crossing Alton Road before left turning/right turning vehicles from the side streets are allowed to enter the intersection).  This strategy increases motorists’ visibility of pedestrians using the crosswalk (attachment 1).  

• Turning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrian signs for vehicles making left turns and right turns from side streets onto Alton Road and vice versa.  This strategy raises motorists’ awareness of pedestrians using the crosswalk (attachment 2).

• Exclusive pedestrian phase (i.e. without having to push a button to cross, pedestrians automatically receive the walk signal in all directions and can cross Alton Road and side streets concurrently while all vehicular movements have a red-light).  This provides the safest pedestrian crossing condition as it minimizes conflicts between turning vehicles and pedestrians, particularly when right turns on red are prohibited (attachment 3).   

• No Right Turn on Red signs prohibiting vehicles from making right turns on red from Alton Road to side streets and vice-versa.

FDOT Study Recommendations

In October 2019, FDOT completed its safety analysis.  Given the high volume of pedestrians observed crossing Alton Road at the study intersections and the fact that the side street left-turn movements are not protected (i.e. no green arrow), the consultant determined that leading pedestrian intervals would not be an effective strategy to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and motorists and should only be considered as a short-term measure.

Recommended improvements include:

• Implementation of exclusive pedestrian phases on Alton Road at 10^th Street, 11^th Street, 12^th Street, 15^th Street, and 16^th Street from 7AM to 12AM on weekdays and from 7AM to 2AM on weekends.

• Installation of electronic blank-out signs at the above intersections displaying a “No Turn On Red” message (attachment 2).  The electronic signs will activate automatically during the exclusive pedestrian phase to minimize vehicle/pedestrian conflicts.  Given the size and weight of the signs, this recommendation is subject to a structural analysis of the traffic signal mast arms to ascertain available structural capacity.

• Replacing the existing pedestrian LED flashing beacons at the intersection of  Alton Road and 13^th Street with a new mid-block traffic signal (such as the existing signal at 1421 Alton Road).  While the pedestrian flashing beacon requires drivers to yield to pedestrians when the lights are flashing, the proposed mid-block traffic signal provides for a safer pedestrian crossing because it requires vehicles to stop at a red light when pedestrians have the walk signal.

Benefit-Cost Analysis

Based on FDOT’s report, the implementation of the exclusive pedestrian phases and the installation of the “No Turn on Red” blank-out signs, is expected to result in a reduction of approximately two pedestrian crashes per year.  The potential reduction in crashes can be translated into a positive benefit/cost ratio of 8.6.  This ratio indicates that the implementation of the recommended improvements is economically viable.

Potential Impacts to Vehicular Traffic

The FDOT study found that:

• Vehicular travel time along this section of the corridor will increase by 98 seconds and average speed is expected to decrease from 14 MPH to 9 MPH during the afternoon peak hour

• Vehicular queueing on Alton Road is expected to increase at all study intersections

However, the FDOT safety study concluded that none of the study intersections would fall below Level of Service D which is the minimum standard for the City of Miami Beach and most major urban cities.  Once implemented, the City’s Transportation and Mobility Department staff will work with the County to optimize signal timing and minimize the anticipated impacts to vehicular traffic on Alton Road.

FDOT Educational Campaign

In August 2019, FDOT conducted a multi-agency educational/enforcement event on Alton Road as part of its Alert Today - Alive Tomorrow safety campaign (attachment 2).  The event consisted of distribution of educational material and on-street training for motorists and pedestrians.  Over 400 units of educational information were distributed to motorists, pedestrians and cyclists by law enforcement and FDOT personnel.  The event also included an enforcement piece resulting in 124 citations, no arrests, no written warnings, and 34 oral warnings issued.  The event was covered by local media. The FDOT public information team visited the corridor again in November and December 2019 to distribute educational material and perform on-street training for motorists and pedestrians.

Upcoming FDOT Street Lighting Project

Pursuant to the results of the crash analysis performed by the City, 14 of the 24 crashes during the three-year analysis period occurred at night.  While not specified in the reports, street lighting could have been a contributing factor in some of these crashes.  As a result of increased pedestrian crashes throughout the state, in 2017, FDOT approved a new intersection street lighting standard.  In the October 2019 Alton Road safety improvements report, the FDOT consultant identified deficiencies in existing street lighting at intersections.  FDOT has awarded an intersection lighting improvement project on Alton Road from 6^th Street to 20^th Street.  The project is scheduled to begin in April 2020.

Next Steps

Prior to the implementation of the recommended exclusive pedestrian phases at signalized intersections on Alton Road from 10^th Street to 16^th Street, FDOT has requested that the City Commission adopt a resolution supporting the proposed improvements.  If approved by the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee, a resolution will be presented to the City Commission at its February 12, 2020 meeting.