Shared-Use Path

The adopted 2016 Miami Beach Transportation Master Plan (TMP) was built on a mode share goal and modal prioritization strategy adopted by Resolution No. 2015-29083 on July 8, 2015, which places pedestrian first; transit, bicycles, and freight second; and private automobiles third. The Chase Avenue and 34^th Street shared-use path is a priority 1 project in the TMP, located on the north side of the Miami Beach Golf Club between Alton Road and Prairie Avenue. Shared-use paths serve both pedestrians and bicycles and are commonly found along parks and golf courses, separated from the adjacent roadway. Ultimately, this project will connect to a series of paths around the Miami Beach Golf Club.

Traffic Calming

Speeding and cut-through traffic in the Central Bayshore neighborhood has been a concern of the community for some time. City staff has been working with a traffic engineering consultant to develop traffic calming improvements throughout the neighborhood to address community safety and traffic concerns. A traffic calming study for this neighborhood was completed by the City and approved by the Bayshore Homeowner’s Association and subsequently by the Mayor and City Commission on February 17, 2017. The traffic calming study was also approved by the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (“DTPW”).

At the October 16, 2018 public meeting for the Chase Avenue and 34^th Street shared-use path project, residents raised concerns with speeding and cut-through traffic. Speed data was subsequently collected and indicated that the 85^th percentile speed along Chase Avenue is approximately 34 miles per hour (mph) which is 4 mph above the posted speed limit. As a result, the City is adding two (2) speed tables along Chase Avenue between Alton Road and 34^th Street as part of the General Obligation (“G.O.”) Bond-funded Central Bayshore Traffic Calming Project which is currently in the design phase.

The design plans for the Chase Avenue and 34^th Street shared-use path project have reached 90% completion and are presently undergoing a comprehensive review by Miami-Dade County Division of Environmental Resources Management (“DERM”), City of Miami Beach Building Department and Urban Forestry Division to obtain the requisite permits. The Florida Department of Transportation (“FDOT”) has provided its approval for the project. Permitting is expected to conclude in June 2023, and construction is slated to commence in December 2023.

The Central Bayshore Neighborhood Traffic Calming Project, which is presently in the design phase, is being concurrently executed with the Chase Avenue and 34^th Street shared-use path project. A map of the proposed traffic calming devices throughout the Bayshore neighborhood is included in Attachment A. To verify the necessity of additional speed tables at mid-block locations on Prairie Avenue between Dade Boulevard and 28^th Street and on Chase Avenue between 34^th Street and 40^th Street, City staff conducted further data collection. Additionally, data was collected at the intersection of Prairie Avenue and 28^th Street to determine if the traffic volume meets the criteria for implementing a traffic circle or an all-way stop sign-controlled intersection. Recently, staff initiated a re-examination of traffic calming measures through additional data collection in these areas to determine any supplemental needs. The collected data is being analyzed, and if additional traffic calming measures are warranted, the consultant will incorporate the traffic calming devices in the project design plans.

The consultant is finalizing the 60% design plans, and once completed City staff will review and provide comments to the consultant, who will incorporate any necessary modifications to the design plans before submitting the plans to DTPW for review. Once the 60% design plans are submitted to DTPW, DTPW will have approximately one (1) month to provide comments that will be incorporated into the revised 90% design plans. The same process will be followed for the 90% design plans. The final signed and sealed design plans are anticipated to be completed in Fall 2023.