It is recommended that the Bayshore Traffic Calming Study recommendations be referred to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee to discuss the prioritization and funding for the recommended traffic calming improvements.

The recommended traffic calming improvements for the Bayshore Neighborhood were discussed at the December 9, 2016 Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC) meeting. At the meeting, the NCAC referred the item to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) to review the list of prioritized traffic calming recommendations and discuss potential funding sources. 

Pursuant to City Commission direction in May 2016, the Transportation Department engaged a consultant to collect traffic data to determine the need for Traffic Calming in the Bayshore Neighborhood. The data collection effort occurred during the months of May and June 2016 (prior to end of school) and consisted of Speed Data (10 locations), Vehicular Volume Data (10 locations), Turning Movement Counts at Intersections (17 locations), and Origin-Destination Data (14 locations). The data was utilized to determine the amount of cut-through traffic, speeding, and vehicular volumes throughout the Bayshore Neighborhood, as well as to identify any safety concerns at intersections. The goal of the traffic analysis is to identify suitable traffic calming treatments to mitigate the impact of cut-through traffic and speeding in the neighborhood in order to improve the livability of the Bayshore Neighborhood.

Following the data collection by the consultant, the following traffic concerns were identified:

 High Vehicular Volumes

·         Meridian Avenue - Dade Boulevard to 23rd Street

·         Prairie Avenue - 28th Street to 40th Street

·         Sheridan Avenue - 37th Street and 40th Street

 Speeding

·         Meridian Avenue - Dade Boulevard to 28th Street

·         Prairie Avenue - Dade Boulevard to 37th Street

·         Sheridan Avenue - North of 37th Street

·         28th Street - Prairie Avenue to Sheridan Avenue

Based on the Origin-Destination Data collected, it was determined that no significant cut-through traffic exists on a regular basis. Observations from staff have corroborated that cut-through traffic through the Bayshore Neighborhood occurs primarily when congestion levels increase along Alton Road northbound and along 41st Street westbound.

Following the methodology established in the City of Miami Beach Traffic Calming Manual and applying the street design standards identified in the City of Miami Beach Street Design Guidelines, staff identified the following traffic calming recommendations to help mitigate the documented speeding and high vehicular volumes in the area.

Recommended Traffic Calming Improvements

·         Mini-Traffic Circle at Sheridan Avenue and 30th Street

·         Mini-Traffic Circle at Sheridan Avenue and 37th Street

·         Speed Table between 28th Street and 29th Street

·         Mini-Traffic Circle at Prairie Avenue and 31st Street

·         Mini-Traffic Circle at Prairie Avenue and 37th Street

·         Speed Table on Prairie Avenue between Dade Boulevard and 23rd Street

·         Chicane on Meridian Avenue between Dade Boulevard and 23rd Street

·         Chicane on 28th Street adjacent to the Scott Rakow Youth Center

·         Neighborhood Greenway along Royal Palm Avenue

·         Speed Table on Meridian between 23^rd Street and 28^th Street

·         Roundabout at Prairie Avenue and 28^th Street

The adopted City of Miami Beach Transportation Master Plan identified the implementation of a Neighborhood Greenway along Royal Palm Avenue as a Priority 1 project (Fiscal Year 2017-2021). A Neighborhood Greenway is defined as a street where bicyclists share the road with low volume, low speed vehicular traffic. Neighborhood greenways typically consist of substantial traffic calming measures and enhanced signage to raise driver awareness of bicyclists. The proposed Neighborhood Greenway along Royal Palm Avenue would include mini-traffic circles at 30th Street and 34th Street. In addition, staff recommends lowering the speed limit along Royal Palm Avenue to 20 MPH and installing sharrow (shared-use) lane markings and signage to improve livability along that street.

The adopted City of Miami Beach Street Design Guidelines identified various traffic calming strategies, including chicanes, roundabouts, lowering speed limits, greenways, and speed tables, to be implemented as appropriate along City roadways in order to create complete streets that are safe and convenient for all users and modes of transportation.

The recommended traffic calming improvements for the Central Bayshore Neighborhood comply with both the adopted Transportation Master Plan and the adopted Street Design Guidelines. 

The Office of Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) is currently developing final design plans for the Central Bayshore South Neighborhood Improvement Project (south of 34th Street). Construction of that project is anticipated to begin in early 2017. The Transportation Department is working closely with CIP and the Design-Build Firm currently engaged in the design of the neighborhood improvement project in order to ascertain the costs of incorporating the recommended traffic calming improvements in the project.

Transportation Department staff met with the Bayshore Homeowners Association (HOA) on November 17, 2016 to discuss the analysis and recommendations in the Traffic Calming Study. The study was well-received by the attending members of the HOA; however, some comments were provided that are being reviewed for feasibility by staff.

The Bayshore Traffic Calming Study was also discussed at the December 9, 2016 NCAC meeting. At the meeting, the Committee expressed concerns with disturbing the neighborhood twice and requested that staff prioritize improvements that could be implemented as part of the active CIP Neighborhood Improvement Project. Pursuant to the NCAC's recommendation, staff has prioritized the improvements based on the need for the traffic calming device, location, and HOA input:

Priority 1

Sheridan Avenue and 30^th Street – Mini-Circle

Prairie Avenue and 31^st Street – Mini-Circle

Royal Palm Avenue and 31^st Street – Mini-Circle

Sheridan Avenue between 28^th Street and 29^th Street – Speed Table

Prairie Avenue between Dade Boulevard and 23^rd Street – Speed Table

Meridian Avenue between 23^rd Street and 28^th Street – Speed Table

Priority 2

Sheridan and 37^th Street – Mini-Circle

Prairie Avenue and 37^th Street – Mini-Circle

Royal Palm Avenue and 37^th Street- Mini-Circle

Meridian Avenue between Dade Boulevard and 23rd Street – Chicane

28th Street between Fairgreen Drive and Royal Palm Avenue – Chicane

Prairie Avenue and 28^th Street – Roundabout

Based on the estimated planning level costs calculated for the project, the total implementation cost for the proposed Priority 1 traffic calming improvements is estimated at $400,000 and Priority 2 is estimated at $500,000. The project is currently unfunded; however, staff is working to identify potential funding sources for the Priority 1 projects at a minimum.  Further information in this regard will be provided at the January 20, 2017 FCWPC meeting.