On May 17, 2023, at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez, a referral (Item C4 I) was made to the Public Safety Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (PSNQLC) for an update on the asphalt art project on Ocean Drive or any other appropriate location.

On July 12, 2023, at the PSNQLC meeting, staff discussed Ocean Drive asphalt art. At the time, the permit application for the temporary Ocean Drive Promenade was under review by the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works. As such, it was not a viable location for an asphalt art activation.

Alternatively, the Committee discussed that additional locations could be considered, including an area within the Collins Park neighborhood. The Office of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) shared that the City was in the design phase for the Liberty Avenue Improvements Project (Liberty Avenue north of 23rd Street). The project includes widening sidewalks, landscape improvements, drainage, lighting, and new asphalt paving. As discussed, the project would also raise the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 23rd Street as a traffic calming measure.

Street Plans, the consulting firm on the “Slow Streets” program in Flamingo Park, was also present at the meeting to provide expert advice on the scope of work for a proposed temporary asphalt art project. Street Plans shared their extensive experience with the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works and recommended initiating the permitting process with the County.

The PSNQLC recommended the initiation of the permitting process for a temporary asphalt art project with the County and also recommended the inclusion of the 200 and 300 blocks of Lincoln Road to discuss with the County as an alternative should the Liberty Avenue location be deemed not feasible. The item was to return to PSNQLC for an update.

Following July 12, 2023, PSNQL Committee meeting, staff met with Street Plans to discuss the next steps of the permitting process. They provided a scope of services (Exhibit A), including designing conceptual site plans and working with City and County staff to identify permitting pathways and an implementation process.

Update on Alternative Locations

A. Collins Park/Liberty Avenue:

The Office of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) currently has two (2) active projects in the neighborhood:
1) Liberty Avenue Improvements Project (Liberty Avenue north of 23rd Street) currently in the design phase. The project includes widening sidewalks, landscape improvements, drainage, lighting, and new asphalt paving. The project will also raise the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 23rd Street as a traffic calming measure. The Administration anticipates construction activities to commence in the Fall of 2024, with a construction duration of approximately six (6) months; and

2) 23rd Street Improvements Project currently in the procurement phase for the selection of a contractor. The project includes construction of buffered two-way bike lanes, reduced travel lane widths, parking modifications, a new traffic signal at Park Avenue and 23rd Street, pedestrian signals, a raised intersection at 22nd Street and Park Avenue as a traffic calming measure and new asphalt pavement. The start of construction is anticipated for Fall 2024 and estimated completion in Fall 2025.

Neither of these two (2) active projects provide a viable location as these projects have advanced substantially and would not allow for inclusion of asphalt art at this time.

B. 200 to 300 Block of Lincoln Road:

To activate this area with asphalt art, the City is required to submit a permit application to Miami-Dade County. With permit approval, the City would enter into an interlocal agreement with Miami-Dade County that would allow the City to install and maintain the improvements. This process is anticipated to take approximately six (6) months and Public Works would facilitate the permitting process for activations within the right-of-way.

Given current discussions about potential future improvements, additional exploration is needed to determine project feasibility at this location.

Potential Location Criteria

 
Street Plans provided high-level criteria for potential asphalt art locations as listed below:

• Locations where permanent curb extensions may be appropriate are great candidates for asphalt art.

• Locations where we can use the art to improve the geometry of an intersection or street for pedestrians without requiring a traffic study at the County level.

• Road closures or 'pedestrianization' of existing streets should only be considered if a traffic study has already been done and approved by Miami-Dade County.

• Other curbside locations without on-street parking/loading or where on-street parking relocation have already been discussed/vetted.

• Locations where a capital improvement project is planned for construction six (6) months to one (1) year after the asphalt art project has been installed. Asphalt art can/should be seen as a temporary way of testing potential infrastructure changes before those changes are made.

• State roads should be avoided.

Street Plans recommends researching viable locations to present to the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works for a temporary asphalt art project permit. Providing several potential locations would streamline the permitting process and increase the likelihood of the County’s approval. Street Plans recommended researching viable locations to present to the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works for a temporary asphalt art project permit.

Depending on the location and site specifications, the fiscal impact could be approximately $150,000 from project inception through implementation.