In 2010, the City of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County executed an interlocal agreement delegating the implementation of traffic calming on City of Miami Beach streets to the City. To implement traffic calming measures, the City applies the methodology outlined in the City of Miami Beach Traffic Calming Manual. Per the manual, the following steps must be followed to implement traffic calming on a City street:
1. Signatures of 50% of the homeowners in the neighborhood requesting traffic calming requesting City staff perform a traffic calming study
a. This step can be bypassed if a City Commission resolution is executed directing staff to perform the study
2. City staff hires a consultant to collect the data and the analysis is performed in-house
3. If traffic calming is warranted, the traffic calming plan is presented to the neighborhood in a public hearing
4. Ballots are mailed to all homeowners in the neighborhood to obtain their approval. Two-thirds (2/3) of the balloted homeowners must approve the project.
a. This step can be bypassed if a City Commission resolution approving the project is adopted following a public hearing.
5. Ballots are sent to the homeowners directly affected by the proposed traffic calming device. For example, in the case of a speed table, the homeowners adjacent to the speed table will need to approve the location. In the case of a traffic circle at an intersection, the homeowners abutting all corners of the intersection would need to approve the circle.
6. If the locations are approved, staff will identify funding for the design and construction of the project.
In 2017, at the request of City Commission, the Transportation and Mobility Department engaged a consultant to collect speed data on Sunset Islands 1 and 2. The data results on an 85th percentile speed ranged between 20 and 29 miles per hour (attachment). Based on the results of the data, the speed limit was lowered from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. At that point, based on the low volumes and speeds collected, traffic calming was found to not be warranted.
Given repeated concerns from the Sunset Islands Homeowners Association, an item was referred at the January 15, 2020 City Commission to discuss concerns with speeding and the feasibility of implementing traffic calming. The item was discussed at the February 3, 2020 NQLC. At the meeting and following discussion with staff and Homeowner Association members, the committee passed a motion to direct staff to perform a traffic calming study. NQLC members requested that the analysis be expedited.