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

The vision of a “South Beach Promenade” connecting Lincoln Road, Española Way, and Ocean Drive dates back to an initial walking tour conducted in 2019 with Commissioner Ricky Arriola, key stakeholders and residents, as well as City staff from the Planning, Transportation and Mobility, Public Works, and Police departments to identify the various needs and components of the project. Based on the initial comments from the various City departments and stakeholders, the Transportation and Mobility Department developed a scope of services to create a signature pedestrian promenade and bring this vision to fruition.

In July 2021, the City engaged Calvin Giordano and Associates (CGA) to prepare a feasibility study with the goal of exploring options for public rights-of-way improvements, both short and long-term, to develop a signature pedestrian connection between Lincoln Road, Española Way, and Ocean Drive. The South Beach Promenade Connectivity Feasibility Study is assessing existing transportation conditions and making recommendations for multimodal transportation improvements to create livability by providing walkable sidewalks, improved and connected bike facilities, pavement treatments, artistic components, lighting, character landscaping, streetscape/hardscape improvements, branded wayfinding signage, and the use of street furnishings. The study is also developing a short-term tactical urbanism plan for the South Beach Promenade including a potential “pop-up” plaza on Española Way between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue (i.e. Española Way East) and a potential long-term road diet and one-way conversion of Drexel Avenue.

The South Beach Promenade Feasibility Study includes the following corridors:
• Drexel Avenue from Lincoln Road on the north to Española Way on the south;
• Española Way between Drexel Avenue and Collins Avenue;
• Collins Avenue between Española Way and 14 Place (alleyway); and
• 14 Place between Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive.

The Transportation and Mobility Department staff and CGA have held various coordination 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 while conducting the Art Deco Cultural District (ADCD) Visioning Study to discuss project approach and ensure a cohesive vision for the area.

The South Beach Promenade preliminary concepts were presented to the Finance and Economic Resilience Committee (FERC) at its February 25, 2022 meeting. At the meeting, the Committee directed staff to prioritize the conceptual design of the Española Way East segment and present draft concepts for that segment. Additionally, the Committee directed staff to arrange one-on-one briefings with the FERC members to discuss other project elements, impacts to on-street parking, and key decisions.

In March 2022, staff met with each FERC member to present the draft concepts for Española Way East. While all Committee members provided positive feedback, the members recommended that the City share the concepts with key area stakeholders for input and return to FERC prior to hosting a public meeting.

At the September 30, 2022 FERC meeting, the Administration provided an update on the recommended South Beach Promenade tactical urbanism improvements, including the additional requests from area stakeholders which, if implemented, would exceed the current project budget of $200,000. During the meeting, the Committee recommended that the Administration 1) proceed with the design and construction of the recommended short-term tactical urbanism improvements for Española Way East, Española Way West, and 14 Place alleyway using the currently available budget of $200,000; 2) defer the Drexel Avenue improvements due to budgetary constraints; and 3) return to FERC in January 2023 with an update.

On December 9, 2022, City staff met with representatives from Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works to discuss the proposed tactical urbanism improvements on Española Way East, West, and 14 Place. During the meeting, the County provided technical comments on the proposal. City staff is currently working on incorporating the County’s comments in the final design plans.

Attached is an updated presentation that depicts the recommended short-term tactical urbanism concepts, current status, and next steps.

Española Way East Short-Term Tactical Urbanism (Currently in Design)
The preferred alternative for this one-block segment from Washington Avenue to Collins Avenue consists of a woonerf (i.e. a shared but predominantly pedestrianized street). Española Way would be closed to vehicular traffic (except emergency vehicles) at Washington Avenue while allowing general vehicular traffic to exit the Collins Court alleyway and travel eastbound only to access 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 of these improvements is approximately $120,000. Please note that these costs do not include lighting/electrical or parking relocation and are subject to change as the project is further refined.

Española Way West and 14 Place Alleyway Short-Term Tactical Urbanism (Currently in Design)
The Transportation and Mobility Department team has met with key area stakeholders, including Española Way property owners, the Ocean Drive Association, the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District, and the Washington Avenue Business Improvement District, to obtain input on the proposed concepts focusing on the Española Way East portion. Stakeholder feedback has been positive, and in addition to supporting the Española Way East segment, stakeholders expressed an interest in enhancing the pedestrian experience along 14 Place alleyway and at Plaza de España located at the intersection of Española Way and Drexel Avenue. Stakeholders fully support the short-term concepts and the project team’s approach to continue to evaluate long-term options and ways to minimize the impacts to on-street parking along Drexel Avenue.

Based on stakeholder input, overhead entrance features, wayfinding signage, and asphalt pavement art are being proposed to anchor the promenade at the west end of Española Way at Drexel Avenue (Plaza de España). In addition, tactical urbanism improvements are being proposed along the 14 Place alleyway to provide safe and comfortable pedestrian continuity to Ocean Drive and Lummus Park. The western portion of the alleyway is currently pedestrianized from Collins Avenue to Ocean Court alleyway. However, the eastern portion of the alleyway (from Ocean Court to Ocean Drive) currently serves as a vehicular detour for the pedestrian plaza on Ocean Drive which presents a unique challenge. The estimated cost of these improvements is $70,000.

Drexel Avenue Short-Term Tactical Urbanism (Currently in Feasibility Phase)
The Drexel Avenue segment of the project corridor presents the greatest opportunity for improvements. Currently, 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 bike lane and pedestrian area on the east side of the street. Other alternatives to this design would keep all existing on-street parking or limit parking to one side of the street.

The proposed alternatives include considerations for relocation and/or removal of approximately 32 on-street parking spaces along the east side of Drexel Avenue. 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 management located at 1601 Drexel Avenue to identify both the availability and cost of providing alternative parking options for residents if the parking relocation option was selected. Based on preliminary discussions with the garage management staff, the cost to park at this garage would be approximately $150 per space per month, equivalent to a City subsidy of approximately $58,000 annually provided 32 parking spaces would be available in the garage. Further discussions with the ownership of the private parking garage is required to solidify any parking mitigation plan.

Key Short and Long-Term Design Considerations
• On-Street Parking – A determination needs to be made on whether all or part of the existing on-street parking along Drexel Avenue will be removed to allow for increased pedestrian and/or bike paths, or for seating areas.
• Fire Standards – Current national fire safety standards require a minimum of 20 feet of unobstructed roadway space along the corridor. This will limit the areas allowed for alternative uses.
• Traffic Flow – 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. This traffic modification would require approval from Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works.
• 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 both plans.
• Cost – The current budget allocation of $200,000 for this project is limited to the development and implementation of short-term tactical urbanism improvements previously approved by FERC. Funding has not been identified for additional short-term improvements as well as for the design and construction of a long-term capital improvement project (estimated at approximately $30 million).

Current Status and Next Steps
The City’s consultant is finalizing the design plans for the recommended tactical urbanism improvements along Española Way West, Española Way East, and 14 Place alleyway. Design plans are expected to be completed by end of February 2023 and submitted to the County for review and approval. It is important to note that County review and approval of the design of the proposed tactical urbanism improvements is required and may take two to three months to obtain. Once the County approves the design, the City expects to commence construction via an expedited procurement method. In the meanwhile, the City will schedule a public meeting to inform the community on the tactical urbanism plan and subsequently present the final plan to the City Commission for approval.

The recommended long-term improvements will be included as part of a future capital improvement project. The estimated design and construction costs for the long-term project will be refined as part of the ongoing feasibility study and brought to FERC for review and approval.

Pursuant to the recommendation from FERC at its September 30, 2022 meeting, the Transportation and Mobility Department is currently finalizing the design plans for the proposed short-term tactical urbanism concepts for Española Way East, Española Way West, and 14 Place alleyway. The design incorporates input received from FERC members as well as key area stakeholders and proposes a shared street that is open to alleyway traffic and emergency vehicles as well as pedestrians, while prioritizing pedestrian safety and comfort.

Over the next couple of months, the Administration will continue to focus on completing the design plans, engaging the community, and securing County approval of the proposed short-term tactical urbanism improvements in order to complete construction in 2023. On a parallel path, the Administration will continue to develop the long-term recommendations and costs for a future (currently unfunded) capital improvement project.