REFERRAL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - DISCUSS  PROPOSED CONCEPTS FOR THE NORTH BAY ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAY.

Approve the referral.

BACKGROUND

The adopted 2016 Miami Beach Transportation Master Plan (TMP) was built on a mode share goal and modal prioritization strategy adopted by Resolution 2015-29083 on July 8, 2015, which places pedestrians first; transit, bicycles, and freight second; and private automobiles third.  Projects in the Transportation Master Plan are intended to move Miami Beach towards this mode share vision by increasing pedestrian, bicycle, and transit travel.

The TMP recommended Neighborhood Greenways as a way to help reach this mode share vision.  Neighborhood Greenways, as defined in the TMP, are streets where cars are not excluded, but allow for bicycle and pedestrian travel to be comfortable for all ages and skill levels. Greenways can be accomplished through lower vehicular traffic speeds, landscaping to enhance the bicycle and pedestrian experience, and/or context-sensitive road design. The results of which improve the safety for all users of the roadway.

In summary, the goal is for Neighborhood Greenways to be so appealing that they encourage bicycle use for recreational riders and trips within Miami Beach.  Neighborhood Greenways will also reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions, and align with Miami Beach’s resiliency program and the goals of the 100 Resilient Cities partnership.

The project area for the North Bay Road Neighborhood Greenway Plan runs along North Bay Road from its intersection with 63^rd Street south to 20^th Street.  In the vicinity of Mount Sinai Medical Center, two (2) concepts are identified for further study which connect upper North Bay Road with lower North Bay Road.

HISTORY

On May 12, 2017, the Transportation Department issued a Notice to Proceed to Zyscovich Architects for a Feasibility Study evaluating implementation of Neighborhood Greenways in North Beach.  A kickoff meeting initiated the studies and ensured that City Staff and the consultant team agreed on project deliverables and schedule.

The consultants then conducted field reviews and reviewed existing plans and studies to better understand the context and current conditions of the study area. From that review, initial design options were created for review by staff.  The approach was to work toward a comprehensive network of bicycle facilities on North Bay Road.

On August 7, 2017, the first public meeting was held to present the study to the public and invite community feedback.  The overall response from the community was positive.

The North Bay Road Neighborhood Greenway concepts were then refined and reviewed extensively with Transportation staff and internal Miami Beach stakeholders.  The Transportation, Parking and Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee reviewed the North Beach Neighborhood Greenways concepts on April 9, 2018 and June 11, 2018.  A small group of neighborhood representatives reviewed and supported the concepts during a meeting on June 26, 2018.

Two concept review meetings were held with internal stakeholders March 19, 2018 and August 22, 2018.  Attendees included representatives from the Office of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), and Emergency Management, Facilities Management, Parking, Planning, Public Works, Sustainability, and Tourism, Culture, and Economic Development (TCED) Departments.  

The North Bay Road Neighborhood Greenway concepts were also reviewed with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on February 23, 2018 and Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) on April 11, 2018.  Input was received from DTPW on initial decorative crosswalk concepts that were incorporated into the design.  Alternative design concepts with enhanced landscaping instead of decorative crosswalks were incorporated into the final draft concepts.  DTPW suggested that crosswalks would not meet the warrant analysis required for mid-block installation in such a quiet residential neighborhood.  Speed tables were also contemplated in the initial design, but were not supported by DTPW, and alternative concepts were identified.  Final draft concepts will be sent to both FDOT and DTPW for final review and approval.

A second public meeting will be held on December 11, 2018 at 6PM at the Miami Beach Golf Club to review the final concept plans with the community.

The North Bay Road Neighborhood Greenway is important because it provides a safe and comfortable roadway for cars, bicycles, and pedestrians when travelling along North Bay Road between Middle Beach and South Beach.

The North Bay Road Neighborhood Greenway proposes to incorporate chicanes, sharrows, and additional trees to calm traffic, provide for bicycles, and increase shade on the road for pedestrians. This treatment is proposed along North Bay Road from 63^rd Street on the north to its intersection with Alton Road just north of Mount Sinai Medical Center.  Additionally, roundabouts are proposed to be located at 63rd Street and 56th Street along this segment of North Bay Road.  Chicanes, sharrows and additional trees are also proposed for North Bay Road between Chase Avenue and south to 20^th Street.  Roundabouts are proposed to be located at 29th Street and 23rd Street along this segment of North Bay Road. 

Dimensionally, North Bay Road in all locations is recommended to remain at 22’, with tapered 4’ chicanes placed intermittently along the roadway in an alternating configuration.  Chicanes are a treatment recommended in the 2016 Miami Beach Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP) for Neighborhood Greenways.  Chicanes are defined in the BPMP as, “…a change in a street’s path from straight to serpentine through the use of bump outs. A chicane is constructed to slow traffic and force yield conditions.” 

Bioswales are proposed on the east/west cross streets accessing North Bay Road.  Bioswales are proposed to be placed either mid-block or where appropriate on the east/west cross streets to increase shade and aesthetic appeal.  The roadway pavement is proposed to be reduced by 4’ to an 18’ width to create additional space for the bioswales.  Many driveways in this area are located mid-block, as such, bioswales would need to placed as allowed by driveways.  A “football island" concept was considered for the east/west cross streets, similar to what exists along Pine Tree Drive; however, given Fire Department had significant concerns, this concept was not pursued.

From 48^th Street to North Bay Road/Lakeview Drive, where North Bay Road is segmented by Surprise Waterway, the proposed Neighborhood Greenway would be extended on Alton Road for a short distance along the bridge over Surprise Waterway.  By narrowing the inside Alton Road travel lanes along the bridge by 2 feet and narrowing the sidewalk and gutter, a 5’ bicycle lane can be created to connect the North Bay Road Neighborhood Greenway to the entrance to North Bay Road at 48th Street.

Two concepts are suggested to continue the North Bay Road Neighborhood Greenway around Mount Sinai Medical Center.  One concept which needs further study is a shared use path around Mount Sinai Medical Center, which would continue underneath the Julia Tuttle Causeway bridge, and then head east along the existing Julia Tuttle Causeway shared use path to the entrance of North Bay Road at Chase Avenue.  A second concept around Mount Sinai Medical Center proposes a buffered bi-directional bicycle lane along the east side of Old Alton Road between the intersection of Sullivan Drive and Chase Avenue.  Extensive coordination with FDOT is needed to determine the feasibility of  either of these concepts. 

Between the intersection of Alton Road and 43rd Street along Old Alton Road to 41st Street, removal of 14 residential parking spaces and 4 metered on-street parking spaces along the east side of the roadway are needed to accommodate the buffered bi-directional bicycle lane.  Along Old Alton Road between 41st Street to the intersection of Alton Road and Chase Avenue, relocation of 4 on-street parking spaces is needed to accommodate the bi-directional buffered bicycle lane.  Based on discussions with the Parking Department, replacement parking can potentially be accommodated either in the city-owned lot at the northeast corner of Old Alton Road and 41^st Street and utilizing 4 new parking spaces identified within the neighborhood.  No other on-street parking is anticipated to be displaced along the North Bay Road Neighborhood Greenway. 

The North Bay Road Neighborhood Greenway improvements will be important to the community because they will improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity by adding sharrows (i.e. shared-use lanes), calm vehicular traffic, increase canopy/shade, and improve the pedestrian experience. 

Referral of this item to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee is recommended for the Committee's input and direction.