For several years, the Administration has been working with FDOT to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety throughout the Collins Avenue corridor in Mid-Beach. On September 12, 2018, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2018-30510 urging FDOT to initiate a multimodal mobility planning study with the goal of improving pedestrian and bicycle safety along the corridor. The City transmitted Resolution No. 2018-30510 to the FDOT District Six Secretary on October 26, 2018 (Attachment A).
Pursuant to the City’s request, FDOT initiated the Collins Avenue Multimodal Corridor Planning Study and is nearing completion of the study. The purpose of the study is to identify, develop, and evaluate multimodal improvements addressing existing and future mobility for all modes of travel including pedestrians, bicycles, motorists, and transit. The study evaluated various design concepts to address the possibilities to repurpose the service road, improve walkability, increase the overall comfort for all users, and connect users within and beyond the study area.
The FDOT study recommends the implementation of long-term transformative mobility improvements along Collins Avenue in Mid-Beach, including installation of additional crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety and a bi-directional bicycle path on the west side of the street adjacent to Indian Creek waterway to improve bicycle mobility and connectivity along this critical north-south arterial in our City. FDOT presented the findings and recommendations of its planning study, and next steps, at the April 18, 2023 PSNQLC meeting (Attachment B). PSNQLC passed a motion endorsing the study’s recommended Alternative 3B.
On April 28, 2023, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2023-32579 (Attachment C) accepting the recommendation of PSNQLC, supporting Alternative 3B as the City’s preferred alternative.
Once FDOT completes the planning study, it would need to commence the preliminary design phase of the project. At this time, the future phases of this project are not yet funded in the FDOT Five-Year Work Program; however, FDOT has expressed a strong commitment to identifying funds as part of its upcoming Work Program cycle.
Given the current configuration of Collins Avenue, which requires pedestrians to cross at least six (6) lanes of bi-directional vehicular traffic, providing short-term pedestrian crossing solutions such as the installation of LED pedestrian flashing beacons, are not considered safe measures for a major thoroughfare of this type. Only fully signalized pedestrian crossings, either at intersections or mid-block locations with overhead traffic signals that stop all vehicles on red, would be considered safe pedestrian facilities for a wide and highly traveled roadway such as Collins Avenue in the Mid-Beach area.
Considering the pedestrian safety needs along the Collins Avenue corridor coupled with the limited opportunities for short-term pedestrian improvements, it is essential that FDOT fund and advance its proposed long-term multimodal project on Collins Avenue as expeditiously as possible.
In the near term, FDOT is proposing to construct mobility improvements on Collins Avenue from 44 Street to the 4700 Block and on Indian Creek Drive from 41 Street to 44 Street. The Transportation and Mobility Department has reviewed the 90% design plans for the project and has confirmed that the project will add a total of six (6) pedestrian crosswalks at various existing signalized intersections, and all existing crosswalks will be upgraded with high-emphasis (i.e. zebra) striping. In addition, the project will add a northbound bike lane on the east side of Collins Avenue from the 4441 Entrance to north of the 4700 Block. FDOT anticipates commencing construction in summer 2024.
During the May 23, 2023 PSNQLC meeting, the PSNQLC discussed the need for additional safe crosswalks on Collins Avenue in Mid-Beach and requested that City staff explore the possibility of installing a pedestrian crosswalk at the following locations: 1) on the 5800 Block of Collins Avenue, at the entrance of the beach walk; 2) on the south side of the Indian Creek Drive and 29 Street intersection; 3) along Pine Tree Drive between 26 Street and 41 Street; and 4) return to the June PSNQLC meeting with a status update.
Currently, of the above locations requested by PSNQLC, only one (1) new crosswalk with LED pedestrian flashing beacons at the intersection of Pine Tree Drive and 28 Street has been approved for implementation by the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (“DTPW”). Pursuant to a recent communication, DTPW advised that it is in the process of identifying funds for the implementation of the approved crosswalk and will advise the City once funding has been identified.
Transportation and Mobility Department staff has communicated with DTPW and FDOT to prioritize the evaluation of additional crosswalks at the locations requested by PSNQLC. It is worth noting that pursuant to FDOT and County procedures, a crosswalk warrant analysis must be conducted to identify the need for and feasibility of adding a new crosswalk.
FISCAL IMPACT
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