NEW BUSINESS  16.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

KEY INTENDED OUTCOME:
Ensure Comprehensive Mobility Addressing All Modes Throughout The City

HISTORY:

In 2016, the City of Miami Beach adopted its Transportation Master Plan.  One of the projects recommended in the Adopted Transportation Master Plan Project Bank is an eastbound auxiliary right turn lane from SR112/Julia Tuttle Causeway/Arthur Godfrey/41st Street off-ramp to southbound SR 907/Alton Road.  The project, as proposed in the Transportation Master Plan, is intended to serve as a "queue jumper" for buses traveling eastbound on the Julia Tuttle Causeway to be able to quickly make a right turn and travel southbound onto Alton Road, but would benefit all vehiclular traffic making this movement.  The project scope entails reconstructing the existing eastbound shoulder of the Julia Tuttle Causeway off-ramp and constructing a new lane to provide additional capacity for motorists who wish to turn right (south) onto Alton Road.  

It is worth highlighting that this intersection is under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and, as such, any modifications to the existing intersection configuration must be reviewed and approved by FDOT. 

Currently, FDOT is working on an I-195/Julia Tuttle Causeway Corridor Improvements Planning Study.  The City is a member of the Technical Steering Committee for the planning study.  The study scope includes a review of multimodal mobility along I-195/Julia Tuttle Causeway and will make recommendations for safety and mobility improvements along the corridor, including a feasibility analysis of an off-road shared-use path along the corridor to serve pedestrians and bicyclists and increase safety and connectivity .  The study limits include the intersection of 41st Street/Alton Road.   The proposed off-road shared-use path was also identified as a priority project in the City's Transportation Master Plan. The FDOT Planning study is scheduled to be completed in August 2019; however, once the planning study is completed, FDOT expects to initiate a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study which will likely require a couple years to complete.  Once the PD&E Study is completed, the design phase would be initated.  Based on typical FDOT timelines for these types of major projects on limited access Interstate Highway facilities requiring federal coordination, construction of the recommended improvements, contingent upon funding, would occur sometime between 2025 - 2030.

ANALYSIS:

Given the long-term timeline of the FDOT I-195/Julia Tuttle Causeway Corridor Improvements project, and the fact that the proposed eastbound right turn lane is a recommended improvement in the City's Adopted Transportation Master Plan, the Transportation Department staff has submitted a request to the FDOT District 6 Traffic Operations Office to conduct a feasibility analysis for the proposed reconstruction of the outside shoulder of I-195/Julia Tuttle Causeway off-ramp and construction of a new dedicated right turn lane to facilitate motorists and buses who need to make a right turn and travel south onto Alton Road in advance of reaching the intersection.  The City's request is intended to expedite this improvement, if found feasible, as a stand-alone project that could potentially be implemented in advance of the long-term I-195 Corridor Improvements project.   FDOT typically takes approximately 90 days to evaluate these requests and respond to the City as to findings/recommendations and next steps.  

CONCLUSION:

Transportation Department staff will follow-up with FDOT on the status of the City's request and provide updates via Letter to the Commission as more information becomes available.

This item is presented to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee for discussion and direction.