The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the resolution accepting the Recommendation of the City Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC), at its February 19, 2021 meeting, directing the Administration to conduct a Commission workshop on bicycle and pedestrian safety, which is scheduled to occur on May 24, 2021.

At the February 19, 2021 FERC meeting, at the request of Commissioner Ricky Arriola, the Administration provided an update on the Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan projects and a preliminary review of the Cambridge, Massachusetts Cycling Safety Ordinance. At the meeting, the Committee recommended that the Administration research leading international cities on the forefront of cycling, including Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Stockholm, as case studies to identify best practices and opportunities to model policy and implementation strategies.  Furthermore, the Committee recommended that the Administration conduct a Commission workshop on bicycle and pedestrian safety wherein both the Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan and the Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance could be discussed in greater detail, including identifying challenges and opportunities related to potentially adopting a similar ordinance in Miami Beach.  

Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan Projects 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 completed or in design or construction  – 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 “zebra” bike lane protection devices is due to be completed in April 2021.
• 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 project will be 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 April/May 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 has approved the use of Zicla “zebra” bike lane protection devices which 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 10 months.

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 April 2021.  In addition, the City expects to construct 1.5 miles of protected green bike lanes on Euclid Avenue, 72 Street, and 73 Street in spring/summer 2021.  The City has also implemented two quick-build/pilot projects to enhance the bicycle network.  It is worth highlighting that both projects below are “firsts” in Miami-Dade 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 Pilot Program (5.6 miles) – as part of the second phase of this pilot, the City has installed 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.

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 (See 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 (See Attachment B) which introduced additional types of bicycle facilities, and set specific deadlines for  the implementation of certain bicycle facilities on certain corridors.  The 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.

The Transportation and Mobility Department staff recently met with members of Transit Alliance Miami (who initially presented the Cambridge Ordinance to the City for consideration) to review the Ordinance and Amendment and discuss the goal, benefits, and potential challenges associated with adopting a similar ordinance in Miami Beach. Staff has identified preliminary challenges which require further review and discussion, should there be an interest in pursuing a similar ordinance in Miami Beach.  The below challenges can be topics of discussion during the upcoming Commission Workshop on May 24, 2021.

• In Miami Beach, stormwater drainage and other underground utility infrastructure needs are the primary driving factors in the programming of neighborhood improvement projects, which also 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 above-ground improvements and minimize impacts to communities due to multiple roadway construction projects.  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 timelines for implementation of bicycle projects prospectively as part of a bicycle ordinance similar to Cambridge’s.

• All City 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 important that any ordinance establishing deadlines for implementation of bicycle projects in Miami Beach be sensitive to these jurisdictional and regulatory issues affecting project timelines.

Based on the 2019 Resident Survey, 73% of residents are concerned or dissatisfied with pedestrian safety (vehicle yielding to pedestrians) when crossing the street at an intersection. Based on the same survey, while 64% of residents feel somewhat safe when riding their bicycle in the City, 37% of residents feel unsafe.  47% of residents responded that at least one person in their household regularly rides a bike. 33% of residents consider bicycling the most viable alternative to using cars for trips within Miami Beach.

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 completed or in design or construction.

Additionally, City staff has reviewed the City of Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance and Amendment which sets policy requiring that all sidewalk and street reconstruction projects in Cambridge, Massachusetts include improvements identified in its bicycle master plan.  Challenges and opportunities related to adopting a similar ordinance in Miami Beach, as well as a synopsis of case studies and best practices in leading national and international cities on the forefront of cycling, will be discussed as part of the Commission Workshop on Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety which is scheduled to occur on May 24, 2021.