The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the resolution accepting the recommendation of the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee, at its April 28, 2021 meeting, urging the Florida Department of Transportation to expedite the recommended pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of Chase Avenue and Alton Road.

At the March 17, 2021 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Steven Meiner referred a discussion item to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC) regarding pedestrian safety at the intersection of Alton Road and Chase Avenue.

The intersection of Alton Road and Chase Avenue is a signalized intersection under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).  The intersection currently has crosswalks on the north leg and the west leg.  Given that the southeast corner has no sidewalks, no crosswalks currently exist on the south and east legs of the intersection.

In 2019, the City requested that FDOT implement speed calming and pedestrian improvements at the intersection of Alton Road and Chase Avenue to increase pedestrian safety and comfort. At that time, FDOT agreed to implement the following improvements at the intersection:

• Install two (2) electronic speed feedback signs in the southbound direction of Alton Road to help reduce the speed of vehicles entering Alton Road from the Julia Tuttle Causeway ramp

• Install one (1) “Pedestrian Crosswalk Ahead” sign in each direction of Alton Road in advance of the crosswalk at Chase Avenue

• Install “Pedestrian Crosswalk Signs” in both directions of Alton Road at the crosswalk on Alton Road and Chase Avenue

• Restripe the existing stamped asphalt crosswalk on the north leg of the intersection

• Restripe the pavement markings on the Julia Tuttle off-ramp for southbound Alton Road approaching the crosswalk (completed)

In March 2021, following a request from Commissioner Steven Meiner’s Office, staff requested that FDOT explore the installation of a “Traffic Signal Ahead” sign on Alton Road northbound in advance of the Chase Avenue traffic signal.

Update Since the April 28, 2021 NQLC Meeting

At the April 28, 2021 NQLC meeting, the Transportation and Mobility Department staff advised the Committee that FDOT was in the process of providing a notice to proceed to a contractor for the above safety improvements to the intersection of Alton Road and Chase Avenue. Staff has recently received an update from FDOT and the project is still moving forward; however, FDOT advised that it is identifying additional funding needed for the installation of the two proposed electronic speed feedback signs.

At the meeting, residents expressed concerns with the signal timing at the intersection not being programmed in observance of the Sabbath. Staff has reviewed the signal timing from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown and programmed automatic pedestrian phases (i.e. eliminating the need for a pedestrian to push the button to cross Alton Road) on Fridays from 5:00 PM to midnight and on Saturdays from 6:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Staff has reviewed the modifications in the field and found that the pedestrian programming is operating correctly at this time.

Additionally, FDOT has approved the City’s request for improved signage at and approaching the intersection of Alton Road and Chase Avenue and is currently designing and scheduling the installation of the following additional traffic safety enhancements:

• Replacing two existing “Curve Left” warning signs just south of the Alton Road and Chase Avenue intersection with two new curve warnings signs further south on Alton Road to alert northbound motorists of the roadway curvature sufficiently in advance

• Installing two new “Traffic Signal Ahead” signs facing northbound traffic

• Installing retroreflective signal backplates on all existing signal heads for all approaches at the intersection

In addition to the FDOT improvements, the City is currently in the design phase for the Chase Avenue/34 Street Shared-Use Path, a General Obligation Bond project.  This project proposes improvements to the Alton Road/Chase Avenue intersection including adding crosswalks on the south and east legs to complete all four crosswalks at the intersection.  Project construction is scheduled to be completed in July 2023.

Based on the 2019 Resident Survey, 17% of residents use walking as their primary mode of transportation for trips within Miami Beach; 30% of residents use walking as their secondary mode of transportation for trips within Miami Beach; 73% of residents are concerned or dissatisfied with pedestrian safety (vehicles yielding to pedestrians) when crossing the street at an intersection.

The intersection of Alton Road and Chase Avenue is a signalized intersection under FDOT jurisdiction and currently has a limited number of crosswalks.  Pursuant to the City’s request, FDOT has completed design plans for various improvements intended to calm traffic and enhance pedestrian safety at this intersection.  FDOT is in the process of identifying additional funding to schedule the completion of the proposed intersection safety improvements. 

The Transportation and Mobility Department staff has implemented automatic pedestrian phases at the intersection to eliminate the need for pedestrians to push the button to cross Alton Road during the Sabbath and will continue to work closely with FDOT to expedite the recommended safety enhancements at the intersection.  Additionally, the City is currently in the design phase of the Chase Avenue/34 Street Shared-Use Path project which will add crosswalks on the south and east legs to complete all four crosswalks at this intersection and significantly improve pedestrian safety.