| | | | | | | | | TO: | Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee Members |
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| FROM:
| Rickelle Williams, Interim City Manager
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| | DATE: | April 17, 2024
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| | SUBJECT: | DISCUSS OPTIONS FOR THE POTENTIAL RELOCATION OF THE BUS STOP CURRENTLY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF INDIAN CREEK DRIVE IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF 41ST STREET, IN ORDER TO URGE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT THE BEST AVAILABLE RELOCATION OPTION AND MITIGATE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION RESULTING FROM FREQUENT STOPS AT THIS LOCATION THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPEDE THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT THE SOUTHBOUND RIGHT TURN LANE OF INDIAN CREEK DRIVE AND 41ST STREET. |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| At the February 22, 2023 City Commission meeting, Mayor Steven Meiner referred a discussion item (Item C4 N, Attachment A) to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee (“PSNQLC”) to discuss options for the potential relocation of the bus stop currently located on the west side of Indian Creek Drive immediately north of 41 Street (the "Bus Stop").
The intersection of Indian Creek Drive and 41 Street regularly experiences significant levels of traffic congestion during afternoon peak hours. Some residents have raised concerns regarding the frequent number of stops by buses and trolleys at the Bus Stop which obstructs the flow of traffic along the single southbound right turn lane on Indian Creek Drive approaching 41 Street (Attachment B).
The Bus Stop currently serves a total of seven (7) public transit routes: five (5) Miami-Dade County bus routes (14, 36, 79, 100, and 150) and two (2) Miami Beach trolley routes (Collins Express and Middle Beach Trolley). As such, the Bus Stop is one of the busiest in the City in terms of ridership and route transfers. The high ridership at the Bus Stop underscores its critical role in connecting residents, visitors, and workforce to key destinations across the City of Miami Beach (“City”). The Bus Stop currently has a bus shelter for added passenger comfort and convenience. Furthermore, it is important to note that this Bus Stop is the only location where transit passengers traveling south along Collins Avenue/Indian Creek Drive can transfer to other routes (bus or trolley) to travel westbound on 41 Street, including accessing Mount Sinai Medical Center, thus making the Bus Stop a crucial transfer point in the City’s and County’s transit network. |
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS
| Currently, three (3) transit routes (79, 100, and Collins Express Trolley) serving the Bus Stop originate further north along Collins Avenue and travel southbound along Indian Creek Drive to continue south of 41 Street, while four (4) transit routes (14, 36, 150, and Middle Beach Trolley Loop) travel northbound on Collins Avenue, make a westbound left turn at 44 Street, travel southbound on Indian Creek Drive to serve the Bus Stop, and then make a right turn at 41 Street to continue westbound along 41 Street (Attachment C).
Due to the current alignment of these routes and the configuration of the street grid in this area, the only suitable location that would allow for transfers to occur among all five (5) Miami-Dade County bus routes and two (2) Miami Beach trolley routes that serve this area is the portion of Indian Creek Drive between 41 Street and 44 Street (i.e. where the Bus Stop is currently located).
If the Bus Stop were removed, certain route transfers would not be possible, or transit passengers would be required to walk approximately one-quarter mile between the two (2)closest existing bus stops (Indian Creek Drive and 40 Street, and westbound 41 Street between Sheridan Avenue and Pine Tree Drive) in order to transfer.
Notwithstanding the impact that the Bus Stop currently has on traffic flow given its placement adjacent to the southbound right turn lane, no alternative suitable location on public right-of-way currently exists within the segment of Indian Creek Drive from 41 Street to 44 Street such that buses would not impede traffic flow to serve the strategically located Bus Stop. However, a relocation of the Bus Stop could potentially be accomplished on City right-of-way if the City acquires private property for this purpose.
An option to ameliorate the current conflict that occurs between vehicular traffic and buses at the Bus Stop would be to create a bus bay on private property adjacent to Indian Creek Drive between 44 Street and 41 Street (i.e. in the swale area between the existing southbound right turn lane and the Indian Creek waterway). A bus bay would create a dedicated space for transit vehicles to pull into and eliminate the need for buses and trolleys to stop on the Indian Creek Drive southbound travel lane, thus not impeding traffic.
It is important to note that the Florida Department of Transportation (“FDOT”) will be commencing a roadway construction project in late 2024 to add a southbound right turn lane at the intersection of Indian Creek Drive and 41 Street (i.e. creating dual southbound right turn lanes). In light of this FDOT project, if a bus bay is implemented in the vicinity of the Bus Stop, buses would be required to navigate three (3) lanes in order to serve the Bus Stop and continue traveling southbound along Indian Creek Drive.
The option of creating a bus bay on private property would need to be further explored from an operational, safety, and cost feasibility perspective. Furthermore, the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (“DTPW”) would need to review and approve any modifications to the location and/or operation of the Bus Stop.
Tangentially, Commissioner Alex Fernandez has placed, and the City Commission approved a referral item to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (C4 F) on the March 13, 2024 City Commission meeting agenda, to discuss the possible acquisition of certain outlots along Indian Creek Drive for the creation of bus bays. |
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
The Bus Stop located on the west side of Indian Creek Drive immediately north of 41 Street currently serves multiple Miami-Dade County bus routes and City trolley routes. Based on the current bus/trolley route alignments and the street grid in this area, the Bus Stop is strategically located to facilitate transfers between routes traveling north-south along Indian Creek Drive/Collins Avenue and east-west along 41 Street. As a result, a suitable alternative location for the Bus Stop on public right-of-way is not viable without causing disruption to the current route alignments/transfers and inconveniencing passengers due to longer walking distances to and from bus stops in the vicinity.
The City Administration (“Administration”) understands the impact that multiple buses and trolleys stopping on the travel lane have on traffic flow along southbound Indian Creek Drive approaching 41 Street. As such, if it is the desire of the PSNQLC and the Mayor and City Commission, City staff can explore the feasibility of constructing a bus bay on private property (in the swale area adjacent to the Indian Creek waterway and in close proximity to the Bus Stop) to avoid the need for buses and trolleys to stop and obstruct a travel lane on southbound Indian Creek Drive. However, given an upcoming FDOT roadway construction project which will create dual southbound right turn lanes at the intersection of Indian Creek Drive and 41 Street, the Administration has some concerns that, if a bus bay were created, buses would be required to navigate a three (3)-lane merge to serve the Bus Stop and continue traveling southbound along Indian Creek Drive. Further exploration of this option from an operational, safety, and cost perspective, as well as coordination with and approval by DTPW, would be required.
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| | | | | | | | Applicable Area
| | Middle Beach |
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| | | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | | No | | No | |
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| | | | | | | | Strategic Connection
| | Mobility - Address traffic congestion. |
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