ANALYSIS:
Miami Beach currently has a total of 1,500 intersections (240 signalized and 1260 unsignalized). Per the County's standard, unsignalized intersections are equipped with pole-mounted street name signs in one of the corners of each intersection. Signalized intersections are equipped, for the most part, with four (4) internally illuminated overheard street name signs (one for each leg of the intersection). A few intersections throughout the City, particularly in the older neighborhoods, have span-wire mounted static street name signs.
SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS
The benefit of upgrading internally illuminated street name signs at signalized intersections is limited given that the only change allowed by the County would be the background color of the street name panel (currently green). The cost of replacing each panel is approximately $400, thus the cost of replacing all four (4) street name panels at an intersection would be approximately $1,600 per intersection.
UNSIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS
Based on input received from DTPW and other municipalities in Miami-Dade County, the City would need to fund the following costs associated with fabrication and installation of decorative street name signs at unsignalized intersections. Costs may vary based on the design of the sign and the decorative pole.
- removal of the County's existing street name signs
- fabrication and installation of new poles, pole bases, pole caps, and sign topper (optional)
- fabrication and installation of the new street name signs
UPDATE SINCE JUNE 6 NCAC MEETING
Since the June 6 NCAC meeting, Transportation Department staff has reached out to more cities as well as a sign contractor who has worked with various cities in the County on their respective decorative street name sign programs. Based on feedback from various cities, the following average "all-in" costs per unsignalized intersection were obtained by staff:
- City of South Miami - $1,635
- Town of Miami Lakes - $1,000
- Village of Key Biscayne - $2,110
- City of Weston - $3,030
- Town of Bay Harbor Islands: $1,460
- City of Sunny Isles - $1,195
It is worth nothing that in most cities, the installation of the new decorative street name signs was accomplished as a citywide program phased and implemented over several years (e.g. 2 to 5 years).
Based on Transportation staff's research to date, and taking into consideration the total number of unsignalized intersections in Miami Beach, the cost to the City to replace all existing street name signs with new decorative street name signs at all unsignalized intersections in the City would range from approximately $1.47 million (assuming $1,165 per unsignalized intersection) to $2.9 million (assuming $2,300 per unsignalized intersection). For example, if the citywide installation is funded over 5 years, this would represent a cost ranging between $294,000 and $580,000 per year.
Pursuant to the NCAC’s direction, Transportation Department staff coordinated with the City's Public Works Department and the Office of Capital Improvements to identify upcoming neighborhoods that could be candidates for decorative street name sign deployment. Based on this coordination, the next neighborhood improvement project where installation of decorative street name signs might be possible is the LaGorce Neighborhood. As directed by the NCAC, staff has estimated that the cost of installing decorative street name signs in the LaGorce Neighborhood (which consists of 34 unsignalized intersections) would range between $39,610 and $78,200. However, the neighborhood-by-neighborhood phased installation approach would need to be negotiated with and approved by the County as part of the required Intergovernmental Agreement. Additionally, even if the neighborhood-by-neighborhood phased implementation approach is approved by the County, City staff has concerns that this approach might create gaps in the street signage network given that the boundaries of neighborhood improvement projects are not contiguous and do not always include all unsignalized intersections in the City.
Furthermore, staff estimated the cost of installation of decorative street name signs on intersections in single family neighborhoods. If all single family neighborhood intersections in the City were enhanced with decorative street name signs, the total cost of replacement would range between $423,000 and $833,000, depending on final design of the sign. If these costs were programmed over a 5-year period, the cost per year would range between $85,000 and $167,000, depending on the final design of the sign. Additionally, staff has a concern with potentially creating gaps in the street signage network given that several of our residential neighborhoods consist of a mix of single family and multi-family homes.
Pursuant to NCAC direction, Transportation Department staff communicated with County staff to discuss the possibility of deploying decorative street name signs as a pilot project in a single neighborhood in the City. However, County staff has advised that a pilot program would not be approved given that street name signs should be installed as a citywide program on a permanent basis in order to achieve a uniform branding throughout the City. Further, the County advised that the City would need to obtain County approval of the design and, subsequently, execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City and County would be required for the installation and maintenance of the new decorative street name signs as part of a citywide program.