This item is sponsored by Commissioner Ricky Arriola and was referred from the January 13, 2021 City Commission meeting.

Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan Update

In April 2016, the City Commission adopted the Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP) and Street Design Guide as part of the adoption of the Transportation Master Plan.  The BPMP is based on a 20-year implementation horizon and categorized projects into three priority levels.  Since 2016, the Transportation & Mobility Department has focused on advancing 38 Priority 1 BPMP projects intended to close gaps in the current bicycle network and improve safety and comfort of existing facilities within five years of plan adoption (2016 – 2021).

In the last update transmitted via LTC # 219-2020 dated June 22, 2020, the status of BPMP Priority 1 projects was as follows:

• In planning – 5.58 miles

• In design – 3.9 miles

• In construction – 1.06 miles

• Completed – 12.35 miles

• Quick-build/pilot projects – 0

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mobility needs of the community have shifted and the demand for bicycle facilities has increased as more residents are biking and walking on a daily basis.  During the pandemic, staff has concentrated on the implementation of various pilot projects and quick-build projects to improve bicycle facilities and promote green mobility while enhancing the economic resilience of the City.  These quick-build projects have resulted in increases not only in bicycle and pedestrian volumes but also in economic activity.  As of February 2021, the status of Priority 1 BPMP projects is as follows:

• In planning (8) – 8.8 miles

• In design (18) – 8.25 miles

• In construction (4) – 2.1 miles

• Completed (4) – 13.55 miles

• Quick-build/pilot projects (4) – 7.55 miles

• Not yet started (2) – 0.86 miles

• Found not feasible following analysis - 3

• % of BPMP Priority 1 projects underway (in various phases of development) or completed – 88%

Below are key bicycle facility projects that have progressed since the June 22, 2020 update:

• West Avenue Protected Bike Lanes – the City has striped a temporary bike lane between 16 Street and Lincoln Road.  This is an important link connecting the mainland and the Art Deco Cultural District via the Venetian Causeway, West Avenue, and 16 Street.

• Venetian Causeway Protected Bike Lanes – staff completed design drawings for a protected bike lane within Miami Beach city limits and worked with the County for approval. The County has prepared a design for protected bike lanes along the entire Venetian Causeway and expects to implement the project later this year.

• Meridian Avenue Protected Bike Lanes from 16 Street to Dade Boulevard – City completed the striping work associated with the lane elimination and bike lane and installed temporary protection via plastic delineators.  The installation of green paint and Zicla bike lane protection devices is expected to occur this month.

• Meridian Avenue/28 Street Shared-Use Path from Dade Boulevard to Prairie Avenue – this project is part of the Bayshore neighborhood improvement project which has been paused; however, the City will move forward with the shared-use path component as a stand-alone project.  Design has been completed and construction is expected to begin this year subject to funding appropriation.

• 63 Street Protected Bike Lanes –City has finalized a concept for protected bike lanes through a lane elimination which FDOT has approved for inclusion in the future Alton Road project.  This is the first lane repurposing project that FDOT approves in Miami-Dade County.

• Euclid Avenue Buffered Bike Lanes – Miami-Dade County has approved the design plans and the City expects to commence construction in March 2021.

• Indian Creek Drive from 26 Street to 41 Street Bike Lanes – City worked with FDOT to obtain approval for installation of bike lane protection. FDOT is evaluating the use of Zicla bike lane protection devices.  If approved, this will be the first installation of its kind on a state road.

• 23 Street/22 Street Protected Bike Lanes – City is at 30% design development.  Design and permitting is anticipated to take an additional 10 months.

While not a master plan project, the City is finalizing construction of the first green bicycle box in Miami-Dade County at the intersection of West Avenue and 17 Street.  This project is expected to be completed in February 2021.  In addition, the City expects to complete construction of 1.5 miles of protected green bike lanes on Euclid Avenue, 72 Street, and 73 Street in spring 2021.

The City has also implemented quick-build/pilot projects to enhance the bicycle network.  It is worth highlighting that the two projects below are “firsts” in our County:

• Washington Avenue Parking-Protected Bike Lanes, Road Diet and Parklets (0.95 miles)– as of December 2020, this project had resulted in an increase of over 538 additional bicyclists per day along the corridor and an increase of 35% in business revenue as of January 2021 (based on data provided by the Washington Avenue Business Improvement District).

• Flamingo Park Neighborhood Slow Streets Program (5.6 miles) – City is installing aesthetic and contextual signs and flexible planters.  The pilot has shown positive trends in the increase of bicycle and pedestrian volumes while decreasing cut-through traffic in the neighborhood (LTC # 012-2021).

Cambridge, MA Bicycle Safety Ordinance

A key component in the successful deployment of any master plan is the adoption of policy driving the implementation.  In 2019, the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts adopted a Cycling Safety Ordinance (Attachment A).  In essence, the ordinance mandates that the Cambridge Sidewalk and Street Reconstruction Plan include improvements to comply with the Cambridge Bicycle Plan. The ordinance provides that compliance with the plan is not required if the City Manager can demonstrate that the project is impractical or unfeasible due to physical features or financial constraints.

In October 2020, the City of Cambridge adopted an amendment to its Cycling Safety Ordinance (Attachment B) which introduces additional types of bicycle facilities and sets specific deadlines for the implementation of certain bicycle facilities on certain corridors.  The ordinance amendment also directs the City Manager to implement quick-build separated bike lanes and temporary traffic control separated bike lanes at locations where permanent projects are not possible and to complete those quick-build/temporary bike lane projects within the stipulated deadlines.  Project implementation deadlines can only be extended by the City Manager by one year following submission of a report detailing why the extension is necessary and subject to approval by the Cambridge City Council.

In preparation for this discussion item, the Transportation and Mobility Department staff met with members of Transit Alliance Miami (who initially presented the Cambridge ordinance to the City) to review the ordinance and amendment and discuss the goal, benefits, and potential challenges associated with adopting a similar ordinance in Miami Beach.  While the Cambridge ordinance is well-intended, staff has identified various preliminary concerns below which require further review and discussion should there be an interest in pursuing a similar ordinance in Miami Beach.  

• In Miami Beach, stormwater drainage and other underground utility infrastructure needs are the driving factors in the programming of neighborhood improvement projects which include above-ground improvements, such as bike lanes.  This fiscally-prudent approach ensures that above-ground improvements are sequenced strategically in the context of larger infrastructure projects to maximize the service life of the improvements and minimize impacts to communities due to roadway construction.  As such, it is essential that the timing of permanent bike lane improvements in Miami Beach be based upon an adopted neighborhood improvements program with established timeframes for implementation of specific projects.  The City has completed an Integrated Water Management Plan (Jacobs Plan) which identified a high-level prioritization for strategic implementation of neighborhood improvement projects throughout the City; however, the Jacobs Plan does not identify specific timeframes for implementation of infrastructure projects.  Thus, it does not serve the purpose of establishing deadlines for implementation of bicycle projects for inclusion in a bicycle safety ordinance such as Cambridge’s.  

   

• By home rule charter, all transportation projects, including bike lanes on local roads, are subject to review and approval by Miami-Dade County at various phases of project development.  The time associated with the County permitting process is outside of the City’s control and can significantly impact the implementation schedule of a project.  A similar situation exists for bike lane projects on state roads under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Transportation.  It is critical that any ordinance establishing deadlines for implementation of bicycle projects in Miami Bech be sensitive to this reality.

   

• The Cambridge ordinance does not take into consideration potential funding and schedule impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other shocks/stressors that may adversely affect resources needed for timely implementation of bicycle projects.

The City continues to advance the implementation of BPMP projects and deploy quick-build/interim projects to improve bicycle safety and comfort in short order.  Staff expects to have an additional 1.5 miles of protected bike lanes completed by end of spring 2021.  As of February 2021, 88% of BPMP Priority 1 projects (2016 – 2021) are underway in various phases of development or completed.    

Additionally, City staff has reviewed the 2019 City of Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance and 2020 amendment which sets policy requiring that all sidewalk and street reconstruction projects include improvements identified in the Cambridge Bicycle Plan.  While the intent of the Cambridge ordinance is to support the implementation of bicycle master plan projects within established timelines, City staff has identified concerns with some of the requirements in the ordinance.  

Should the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee wish to pursue a similar ordinance in Miami Beach, staff recommends a thorough interdepartmental review of the Cambridge ordinance and the challenges preliminarily identified by staff as well as a review of other applicable legislation in order to craft language that would be suitable for Miami Beach.