The City Administration (“Administration”) recommends that the Mayor and City Commission (“City Commission”) discuss this update and provide direction as to whether to move forward with an ordinance and a contract with a vendor for the installation and operations of speed detection systems (“SDS”) to enforce speed limits in eligible school zones in the City of Miami Beach (“City”).

In the 2023 legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed and adopted House Bill 657 (“HB 657”), which created Florida Statute 316.008(9), pertaining to the use of SDS to enforce speed limits in school zones.

HB 657 authorizes counties and municipalities to place or install, or contract with a vendor to place or install, SDS (which are similar to red light cameras) to enforce school zone speed limits for violations in excess of 10 miles per hour (“MPH”) over the applicable speed limit when children are going to or from school (beginning 30 minutes before the start of a breakfast program or scheduled school session and ending 30 minutes after the end of scheduled school session); and to enforce posted speed limits during the entirety of the school session. HB 657 further authorizes counties and municipalities to enact an ordinance regarding the placement or installation of SDS upon determining that the location of such system(s) warrant additional enforcement action based on traffic data and/or other evidence supporting the need for SDS in such location(s).

Additional requirements of HB 657 include, but are not limited to, signage warning motorists that speed detection systems are in use; a public announcement and public awareness campaign prior to commencing enforcement of school zone speed limits with SDS; annual reporting to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (“DHSMV”) as to the results of all SDS within the City; and the City Commission to hold public meetings regarding contracts and data reported.

HB 657 specifically authorizes SDS to be placed or installed in a school zone on a state road when permitted by the Florida Department of Transportation (“FDOT”) and in accordance with FDOT-developed placement and installation specifications. SDS may also be placed or installed in a school zone on a street or highway under the City’s jurisdiction, in accordance with FDOT-established placement and installation specifications, which specifications FDOT must establish by December 31, 2023.

At the June 28, 2023 City Commission meeting, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2023-32653 (Attachment A) directing the Administration to evaluate whether any school zone(s) in the City warrant the installation of SDS to address any heightened safety risks to school children; and further, directing the Administration to present its findings and recommendations at the October 18, 2023 City Commission meeting. The discussion item (R9 AG) was not reached during the October 18, 2023 City Commission meeting.

The City engaged The Corradino Group, Inc. (“Consultant”), one of the City’s pre-qualified rotational transportation consultants, to evaluate the current vehicular speeds along seventeen (17) different school zones associated with eight (8) schools within the City for the potential installation of SDS to determine if the selected schools warrant additional speed enforcement (Attachment B). The following is the list of schools currently being evaluated:

1. South Pointe Elementary School
2. Miami Beach Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center
3. Miami Beach Senior High School
4.  North Beach Elementary School
5. Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School
6.  Biscayne Beach Elementary School
7. Mater Beach Academy
8. Hebrew Academy

The Consultant completed the traffic volume and speed data collection which was required to be collected while school is in session. Data was collected for three (3) consecutive school days. The Consultant has analyzed the data collected and prepared a draft technical report summarizing the findings, field observations, and recommendations, which is currently being reviewed by City staff. Comments provided by City staff will be incorporated in the Final Report.

Based on the collected traffic volume data and the crash history reviewed, the 85th percentile speeds of six (6) of the school zones evaluated exceed the posted speed limit by more than 10 MPH during one or more school periods, and therefore, are potential candidates for the installation of SDS. The following is a list of the school zones that are potential candidates for the installation of SDS:

1. School Zone 1 – Alton Road from north of 4 Street to 180 feet south of 2 Street (South Pointe Elementary School)
2. School Zone 8 – Dade Boulevard from Prairie Avenue to approximately 23 Street (Miami Beach Senior High School)
3. School Zone 9 – Prairie Avenue from north of Dade Boulevard to approximately 2500 Prairie Avenue (Miami Beach Senior High School)
4. School Zone 10 – 41 Street from east of Alton Road to west of Royal Palm Avenue (North Beach Elementary School)
5. School Zone 14 – Meridian Avenue from 43 Court to north of 41 Street (Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School)
6.  School Zone 17 – Pine Tree Drive from 23 Street to approximately 2500 Pine Tree Drive (Hebrew Academy)

Should the City wish to move forward with the installation of SDS on the aforementioned school zones, an ordinance must be adopted prior to such placement or installation of SDS. It is worth mentioning that Miami-Dade County (“County”) has adopted an ordinance relating to enforcement of school zone speed limits and further authorized the placement and installation of SDS on roadways maintained as school zones. Additionally, the County adopted Resolution No. 231664 directing the County Mayor or County Mayor’s designee to negotiate a contract with Redspeed Georgia, LLC (“Redspeed”) by accessing a competitively solicited contract between the City of Alpharetta, Georgia and Redspeed for the installation and operation of a turnkey automated school zone speed detection and enforcement system.

The Village of Pinecrest (“Village”) is working toward the installation and operations of SDS in school zones within the Village limits and has entered into a revenue sharing agreement with Redspeed. The turnkey contract allows for installation, operation, and maintenance of SDS at no cost to the Village. The Village anticipates bringing an ordinance on first reading to the Village Council at the December 2023 Village Council meeting.

Tangentially, on October 11, 2023, FDOT shared with multiple agencies and jurisdictions the “Draft Placement and Installation Specifications for School Zone SDS” and “Special Provisions to General Use Permit for the Installation of School Zone SDS on the State Highway System” (Attachment C) for review and feedback. City staff has provided comments on the two (2) draft documents. FDOT anticipates finalizing the documents by the end of 2023.

The cost of the ongoing traffic analysis is $127,360 and funding was identified in the Transportation and Mobility Department’s FY 2023 operating budget. 

Pursuant to City Commission direction received at the June 28, 2023 City Commission meeting, City staff engaged a Consultant to conduct a traffic analysis to evaluate whether any school zone(s) in the City warrants the installation of SDS. Based on the traffic data collected, six (6) school zones exceeded the posted speed limit by more than 10 MPH during one or more school periods.
 

Should the City Commission wish to move forward with the installation of SDS in the six (6) eligible school zones within the City, the Administration will work with the City Attorney’s Office to draft an ordinance, as required by Florida Statute 316.008(9), regarding the placement or installation of SDS for consideration (on first reading) at the January 2024 City Commission meeting. Additionally, the Administration will explore the possibility of piggy-backing on the competitively solicited contract between the City of Alpharetta, Georgia and Redspeed. Should the Redspeed contract not be appropriate or suitable, then the Administration would recommend pursuing a competitive solicitation for these goods and services.