The City’s 2040 goal is to become less car-centric.  To this end, the adopted 2016 Miami Beach Transportation Master Plan was built on a mode share goal and modal prioritization strategy which places pedestrians first; transit, bicycles and freight second; and private vehicles third. Projects in the Transportation Master Plan are intended to move Miami Beach towards this mode share vision by increasing pedestrian, bicycle, and transit travel.

To enhance the pedestrian and bicycle experience between the Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road commercial and entertainment corridors, a connectivity plan is currently being developed by the City through its consultant, Calvin, Giordano & Associates, Inc. (CGA). In July 2021, the City issued a notice to proceed to CGA to perform a  feasibility study with the goal of exploring options for public right-of-way improvements, both short and long-term in nature, to develop a signature pedestrian connection between Lincoln Road, Española Way, and Ocean Drive. This South Beach Promenade Connectivity Feasibility Study will identify and assess existing transportation conditions and recommend multi-modal transportation improvements to create livability by providing walkable sidewalks, improved and connected bike facilities, character landscaping, streetscapes, wayfinding, and transit amenities. The study is also developing a tactical urbanism plan for the South Beach Promenade including a potential pilot plaza or traffic flow modification on Española Way between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue and a potential road diet and one-way conversion along the Drexel Avenue corridor. The initial portion of the Feasibility Study is intended to provide the City with conceptual plans for a safe, comfortable, visually appealing, and seamless connection between Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road. 

The initial South Beach Promenade discussions date back to an initial walking tour conducted in 2019  with  Commissioner Ricky Arriola, Miami Beach stakeholders and residents, as well as City staff from the Planning, Transportation and Mobility, Public Works, and Police department to identify the various needs and components of the project that stakeholders and the City were seeking to address. Based on the initial comments from the various City departments and stakeholders, several short-term potential alternatives were developed for each individual segment along the proposed Promenade.

The South Beach Promenade Feasibility Study includes the following areas (Attachment A):

• Drexel Avenue, from Lincoln Road on the north end, to Española Way on the south
• Española Way between Drexel Avenue and Collins Avenue
• Collins Avenue between Española Way and 14th Place
• 14^th Place between Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive

The objective of the feasibility study includes performing the services needed, through Urban Design and Landscape Urbanism investigations and Traffic Engineering/Transportation Planning tasks necessary to increase pedestrian connectivity along the established routes through small, incremental interventions that can be achieved through an additive, budget-conscious approach. Cumulatively, these strategies will provide a collective enhancement of the pedestrians’ experience, increase the awareness and wayfinding of the collective path, and serve as an attraction itself to connect destination nodes along the path to guide individuals between the termini. This project will also serve as a pilot project to demonstrate the ideas associated with what is known as “Tactical Urbanism”.

The goal of this study is to utilize strategies and lessons learned from art-in-public-places and tactical urbanism strategies to build memorable, high-impact connections between Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road traversing through Española Way. These proposals consist of sidewalk and pavement treatments, branding strategies, artistic components, lighting, landscape plantings, hardscape improvements, modifications to existing parking, modifications to pavement marking striping, and the use of site furnishings and elements. All of these may be further packaged as individual projects for individual bidding, or they can be packaged as a single, unified project package.

The first phase of the study will serve as a pilot project to implement temporary “test” improvements along the corridor. Phase two will then follow by offering more permanent infrastructure improvements that may be more involved from a procedural, budgetary, or construction standpoint. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Recommendations for substantial traffic flow pattern modifications
• Recommendations for land-use and zoning modifications
• Recommendations for streetscape improvements that may impact existing roadway and drainage configurations

There are several benefits to this approach.  First, there is the benefit of testing temporary “proof of concept” ideas employing Tactical Urbanism. Another benefit is the alignment of this study and the current Zyscovich Art Deco Cultural District (ADCD) Vision Plan and the ability of timing this project with the medium and long-term proposals included in that plan. Finally, this project will support the growing desire to convert the eastern segment of Española Way to either a one-way facility or a pedestrian-only area.

The Transportation and Mobility Department staff and CGA have held various meetings with internal stakeholder departments including Planning, Parking, Police, Fire, Capital Improvements, Tourism, Economic Development, and Public Works. Furthermore, the project team has met with the Zyscovich team conducting the ADCD Visioning Study to discuss project approach and ensure a cohesive vision for the area.

Design Considerations

There are several design considerations that need particular focus:

• Parking – A determination needs to be made on whether all or part of the existing on-street parking along Drexel Avenue and Española Way will be removed to allow for increased pedestrian and/or bike paths, or for seating areas.
• Fire – Current fire safety standards require a minimum of 20 feet of unobstructed roadway space in front of buildings along the corridor. This will limit the areas allowed for alternative uses.
• Traffic – As stated previously, several sections of the study corridor that are currently two-way vehicular facilities could be reduced to single lane/one-way or pedestrian-only facilities.
• Interface with Lincoln Road Project and ADCD Vision Plan – The South Beach Promenade project will need to be coordinated with the designs proposed as part of the Lincoln Road project and the ADCD Vision Plan.
• Cost – The current budget for this project is limited to the development and implementation of short-term/tactical urbanism improvements.  Additional funding will be needed for several improvements in the short-term and to secure funding for the overall implementation of a long-term project.

Drexel Avenue

The Drexel Avenue segment of the corridor presents the greatest opportunity for improvements. Today, Drexel Avenue, between Española Way and Lincoln Road, is a two-way, two-lane facility with on-street parallel parking on both sides of the street. Due to the low level of traffic volumes, initial designs include a conversion of Drexel Avenue to a one-way vehicular facility with a single bike lane and pedestrian-use area. Other alternatives to this design would keep all existing parking or limit on-street parking to one side of the street.

Española Way Between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue

Along Española Way, the segment between Drexel Avenue and Washington Avenue would remain pedestrianized as it is today. The eastern segment between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue was initially proposed to be closed to vehicular traffic and pedestrianized, similar to the western segment, however, CGA has reviewed additional options including a conversion to one-way eastbound with an enhanced pedestrian area, a partial closure between Washington Avenue and Collins Court, or a woonerf. A woonerf is best described as a “living street”, usually all at one grade, which through shared spaces, traffic calming, and low speed limits, allows the roadway to be shared by all users.

On-Street Parking Considerations

The proposed alternatives include considerations for relocation and/or removal of on-street parking. Given the high demand for on-street parking in this area, the potential removal or relocation of existing parking implies that current demand would need to be satisfied through alternative parking options. A preliminary parking utilization survey was recently conducted along Drexel Avenue, which demonstrated that the existing on-street spaces were frequently occupied by Zone 2 residents. City staff has reached out to the private parking garage located at 1601 Drexel Avenue to identify both the availability and cost of providing alternative parking options for residents if the relocation option was selected. The cost to park at this garage would be approximately $150 per month. Cost estimates for the relocation of 30 on-street parking spaces was included in the proposed costs for implementing the recommended short-term alternatives.

Update Provided at the February 25, 2022 FERC Meeting

CGA has developed several short-term options in draft form and is prepared to present the concepts to the public and obtain feedback prior to finalizing the short-term plan. Some of the short-term concepts were presented at the February 25, 2022 FERC meeting to obtain input and direction on various critical project decisions related to approach and funding. At the meeting, staff was directed to prioritize the conceptual design of the Española Way East segment and present concepts at the March 30, 2022 FERC Meeting. Additionally, the Committee requested that staff have one-on-one meetings with the members of FERC to discuss key design elements and issues such as impacts to traffic flow, impacts to on-street parking on Drexel Avenue and the potential relocation of parking to the private garage at 1601 Drexel Avenue, as well as the partial or complete closure of Española Way from Washington Avenue to Collins Avenue.

Pursuant to the direction from FERC, the City’s consultant has advanced the proposed concepts for Española Way East (Attachment B). As currently proposed, the draft concepts for Española Way East keep the street open to emergency vehicles and allow vehicles to exit Collins Court alleyway and travel eastbound only on Española Way to exit onto Collins Avenue. The concept also proposes a meandering route to enhance the pedestrian experience. From an aesthetic perspective, the proposed concept utilizes pavement art and some street furniture to protect and enhance the experience for pedestrians and potential business patrons. The estimated cost for the Española Way East short-term/tactical urbanism improvements is detailed below.

Please note that these costs do not include furnishings, lighting or electrical, or parking relocation, and are subject to change as the project is further defined.

Next Steps

Following the March 30, 2020 FERC meeting, the project team will meet with the area stakeholders and residents to obtain input on the draft plan, including the proposal for Española Way East. The final draft recommendations for short-term improvements will be brought to FERC after the public meeting. Recommendations for the long-term improvements, including estimated design and construction costs, will be developed as the project progresses.

Below is the estimated study timeline:

• April 2022 – Community meeting to share draft short-term/tactical urbanism concepts
• May 2022 – Final draft short-term/tactical urbanism recommendations presented to FERC
• June 2022 – Final draft short-term/tactical urbanism recommendations presented to City Commission for approval
• June 2022 – Design and deployment of short-term/tactical urbanism improvements
• July 2022 – Draft long-term concepts presented to FERC
• September 2022 – Draft long-term concepts presented to the community and area stakeholders
• October 2022 – Final draft long-term concepts presented to FERC
• November 2022 – Final draft long-term concepts presented to City Commission for approval
•  

As the City continues to plan and develop its pedestrian and bicycle network consistent with its goal of becoming less car-centric and Transportation Master Plan priorities, it is important to enhance the pedestrian and bicycle experience between principal commercial corridors. Three of the principal commercial corridors in South Beach are Lincoln Road, Española Way, and Ocean Drive. To explore the creation of a transformative pedestrian priority promenade connecting these three corridors, the City engaged Calvin Giordano and Associates in July 2021 to conduct a feasibility study and develop short-term/tactical urbanism concepts for quick-build implementation as well as long-term concepts for the South Beach Promenade, in coordination with the ADCD Vision Plan and the Lincoln Road Master Plan.

Pursuant to the recommendation from FERC at its February 25, 2022 meeting, CGA has advanced the proposed concepts for Española Way East. The concepts incorporate input received from FERC members regarding keeping the street open to some traffic, including emergency vehicles and alleyway traffic, while prioritizing pedestrian safety and comfort along Española Way East. As currently proposed, the draft concepts for Española Way East allow vehicles to exit Collins Court alleyway and travel eastbound only on Española Way to exit onto Collins Avenue. The concept also proposes a meandering route to enhance the pedestrian experience.

Following the March 30, 2022 FERC meeting, the project team will meet with the area stakeholders and residents to obtain input on the draft plan, including the proposal for Española Way East. The final draft recommendations for short-term/tactical urbanism improvements will be brought to FERC after the public meeting. Recommendations and cost estimates for the long-term South Beach Promenade project will be developed as the project progresses. Some of the short-term concepts were presented at the February 25, 2022 FERC meeting to obtain input and direction on various critical project decisions related to approach and funding.  At the meeting, staff was directed to prioritize the conceptual design of the Espanola Way East segment and present it at the March 2022, FERC Meeting. Additionally, the members of FERC directed staff to arrange one-on-one meetings with the FERC Committee to discuss other project elements, impacts to parking, and other key decisions.