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City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
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| | | | | | | | | | Item 7.
COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM | | | |
| | | | | | | | TO: Land Use and Sustainability Committee
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| FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
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| DATE: November 18, 2022
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| | | | | | | | | TITLE: | DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL PEDESTRIANIZATION OF THE 200 TO 300 BLOCKS OF LINCOLN ROAD AND LIMITED VEHICULAR ACCESS ON THE 100 BLOCK |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| HISTORY
On September 14, 2022, at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the City Commission referred the subject discussion item (C4 AB) to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC), the Public Safety Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (PSNQLC) and the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC). As noted in the attached referral memo, the item sponsor would like the Administration and the City Attorney’s Office to provide guidance as to the process for the pedestrianization of the 200 – 300 blocks of Lincoln Road and potential costs. Additionally, the sponsor has requested that the Administration be ready to provide a professional recommendation as to whether the removal of vehicular traffic in these two blocks could help address the current less than ideal conditions which contrast significantly to the rest of the Lincoln Road.
BACKGROUND
The owner of the Dilido-Ritz property on the north side of Lincoln Road, between Collins Avenue and the Ocean, has put together a vision plan for significant vehicular enhancements to the 100 block of Lincoln Road, as well as the proposed conversion of the 200-300 blocks of Lincoln Road from vehicular to pedestrian. As noted in the attached proposals prepared by the owner of the Dilido-Ritz (Community Renewal Plan and Delivery Options) a vision is proposed that would substantially transform the way Lincoln Road is experienced in the 200 – 300 blocks, as well as the connection to the beach walk in the 100 block. |
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS:
| ANALYSIS
Urban Design and Appropriateness
The proposal herein contains a very exciting vision that could transform the 200-300 blocks of Lincoln Road into a robust pedestrian plaza/ This could result in a public space transformation similar to that of the 1100 block of Lincoln Road in 2010. Additionally, the proposed enhancements at the eastern terminus of the 100 block of Lincoln Road would allow for a more appropriate connection to the beach walk.
Since the entire area (100 – 300 blocks) falls within a local historic district, approval from the Historic Preservation board will be required. While the proposed vision is noteworthy, a number of other issues pertaining to capital costs and traffic circulation must still be addressed.
Transportation and Circulation
The concept proposed aligns with the City’s adopted modal prioritization of “pedestrians first” and aligns with the City’s 2040 goal of becoming less car-centric, provided transit is adequately accommodated. From a transportation perspective, at this very early stage in the process, the following items will need further study and analysis:
1. Impacts to the existing key bus stops on the south and north sides of Lincoln Road between Collins and Washington and the need to develop a proper transit mitigation plan that, ideally, would integrate a transit facility as part of the street reconfiguration or in close proximity.
2. The Miami-Dade County process, which must be followed for street closures, requires conducting a traffic engineering study.
3. Both FDOT and County review and approval will be required, including a public hearing due to access management modifications.
At this stage the City Administration cannot speculate regarding any study findings, conclusions, or mitigation. The proposer has prepared a preliminary traffic impact study (attached), which was not coordinated with the City’s Transportation Department. The City’s planning process requires that the developer and their traffic engineer coordinate with the Transportation Department to discuss and agree on a scope and methodology for a study prior to conducting an analysis. To date, this has not occurred.
The Administration would suggest that a modified approach may be better suited for this proposal, whereby the City would engage our own traffic consultant from our rotational contracts to conduct an independent traffic impact study in order to have more control over the process, but at the developer’s cost.
Capital Cost and Budget
As noted in the attached cost estimates provided by the proposer, the approximate hard costs for this endeavor is $23.5 million dollars. This component of the discussion will be discussed at length when it is reviewed by the FERC. Also, the City CIP Department will evaluate the cost estimates provided by the proposer.
SUMMARY
In summary, while the proposal is highly attractive in concept, much more detail and analysis regarding traffic, circulation and transportation impacts are still needed, as more specifically noted herein. Additionally, the overall cost of the proposal has not been contemplated as part of the City’s capital infrastructure priorities in the near to mid-term. As such the City Commission will need to consider any funding of the proposal carefully, and weigh the impacts associated with re-prioritizing funds for capital projects.
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
| | The Administration recommends that the Land Use and Sustainability Committee discuss the item and provide any applicable recommendations to the City Commission. |
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| | | | | | | | Applicable Area
| | South Beach |
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| | | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | | Yes | | No | |
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