At the March 13, 2024 City Commission meeting, at the request of Commissioner Joseph Magazine, the Mayor and City Commission (“City Commission”) referred an item (R9 AJ) to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee (“PSNQLC” or “Committee”) to discuss speed mitigation measures and traffic calming options on West Avenue and Alton Road in the South of Fifth Neighborhood.

Residents in the West Avenue and South of Fifth neighborhoods have expressed concerns regarding pedestrian safety, vehicular speeds, and overall traffic flow. Note that the City is planning to implement major roadway infrastructure improvements along the West Avenue corridor from 8 Street to Lincoln Road over the next few years to address some of these quality-of-life issues through a long-term redesign of the street, including narrowing travel lanes, widening sidewalks, enhancing various crosswalks with Light Emitting Diode (“LED”) pedestrian flashing beacons, landscape enhancements, and green bicycle lanes.  However, in the interim, the City Administration (“Administration”) is working on various short-term initiatives in these two (2) neighborhoods with the goal of enhancing pedestrian safety and reducing speeding in advance of future/long-term capital improvement projects.

West Avenue

The Transportation and Mobility Department worked with the Public Works Department to restripe several existing crosswalks with high emphasis pavement markings, restripe lane lines and stop bars at various locations, and add pedestrian signage at all intersections along West Avenue between 8 Street and 13 Street. This work was completed in early May 2024.

Additionally, to enhance pedestrian safety and access to/from Canopy Park, the Transportation and Mobility Department is currently exploring the feasibility of installing a raised crosswalk to replace the existing at-grade mid-block crossing on West Avenue between 6 Street and 8 Street. If the crosswalk is determined to be feasible and recommended by the PSNQLC, the Administration will bring the Committee’s recommendation to the City Commission for approval via a resolution. If approved by the City Commission, the Transportation and Mobility Department is prepared to engage one of the City’s pre-qualified rotational transportation consultants/contractors to design, permit, and construct the raised crosswalk. Funding for this improvement is available in Capital Project No. 62424 – Citywide Raised Crosswalks and Intersections. It is important to note that approval by the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (“DTPW”) is required prior to implementation of the raised crosswalk.  

Lower Alton Road/South of Fifth Neighborhood

To enhance pedestrian safety in the South of Fifth neighborhood, the Transportation and Mobility Department engaged one of the City’s pre-qualified rotational contractors to restripe the existing crosswalk at the intersection of Alton Road and South Pointe Drive with high emphasis pavement markings and install additional pedestrian crossing signs in advance of the intersection. This work was completed in early May 2024.

Additionally, pursuant to Resolution No. 2022-32233 adopted by the City Commission on July 20, 2022, the Transportation and Mobility Department finalized the design plans for short-term/temporary traffic calming improvements in the South of Fifth neighborhood. The concept was endorsed by the South of Fifth Neighborhood Association (“SOFNA”) at a public meeting held on June 28, 2022, and the design plans have been approved by DTPW. The short-term/temporary traffic calming improvements include the implementation of rubberized speed cushions at 11 locations throughout the neighborhood (Attachment A). The Administration will be conducting community outreach in the coming weeks to present the final plan prior to commencing construction in summer 2024.

Tangentially, a traffic study for the long-term (i.e. permanent) traffic calming improvements in the South of Fifth neighborhood has been approved by DTPW. The proposed long-term/permanent traffic calming improvements include raised intersections, raised crosswalks, and replacing the 11 rubberized speed cushions with asphalt speed tables, contingent upon a post-evaluation of the short-term improvements (Attachment B). The Transportation and Mobility Department is currently negotiating the scope and fee for the design phase of the long-term improvements with one of the City’s pre-qualified rotational transportation consultants. Design is anticipated to begin in late 2024. Funding for this improvement is available in Capital Project No. 23223 – South of Fifth Neighborhood Traffic Calming.

Furthermore, the Transportation and Mobility Department is finalizing the scope and fee for the design phase of the South Beach Pedestrian Priority Zone (“PPZ”) project, which includes the South of Fifth neighborhood, among others. The PPZ proposes raised crosswalks, enhanced crosswalks with high emphasis pavement markings, clear sidewalk paths, signage, and curb ramp improvements to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) standards. Project design is anticipated to begin in summer 2024 and construction is anticipated to begin in 2025, pending DTPW approval.