On December 14, 2022, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2022-32449 directing the City Administration to provide quarterly reports to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee (“PSNQLC” or “Committee”) on the status of implementing the Central Bayshore Neighborhood Traffic Calming project, to be developed in parallel with the Chase Avenue and 34th Street Shared-Use Path project.

In May 2023, the owner of the single-family residence located at 3186 Prairie Avenue expressed concern with the proximity of the shared-use path to his residence. During the May 23, 2023 PSNQLC meeting, the Committee requested that the Administration explore alternatives to the layout of the shared-use path, as currently proposed, in front of the private residence at 3186 Prairie Avenue due to some safety concerns with the proximity of the shared-use path. In addition, the Committee requested that the Administration confirm with FDOT as to how any changes in the design of the shared-use path could potentially affect its approval and the FDOT grant funding.

During the July 12, 2023 PSNQLC meeting, CIP staff explained that the Committee’s request to alter the proposed design of the shared-use path would require that the design be revised to remove bicyclists from the shared-use path in front of the private residence. CIP staff also explained that FDOT will require that revised plans detailing the changes in the design be submitted for review. Upon review of the revised permit documents, FDOT would determine if/how the design changes would potentially affect the grant funds (which expire on June 30, 2024) and the project schedule. The Committee discussed options for the layout of the path including some that were suggested to Committee members by the community. The Committee requested that the City Administration bring an item to the September 13, 2023 City Commission meeting after evaluating options for the layout of the path in front of the private residence at 3186 Prairie Avenue, and provide a final recommendation to the City Commission regarding the preferred option for the design of the shared-use path.

CIP and the Transportation and Mobility Department staff met with Miller Legg and requested that Miller Legg review the current design and the options presented during the July PSNQLC meeting, relevant to the safety concerns presented due to its proximity to the single-family residence at 3186 Prairie Avenue. The cost associated with Miller Legg’s review is estimated at $10,500. All options were reviewed and coordinated with the improvements proposed in the Bayshore Neighborhood Traffic Calming project. Miller Legg provided a summary of its review of the various design options as follows:

Option 1: CURRENT DESIGN
The current design includes a continuous 10’-0” wide shared-use path along 34th street from Chase Avenue to the existing bicycle lanes on Prairie Avenue (Exhibit A). This option provides safe separation between bicycles, pedestrians and motorized vehicles; minimizes impact to canopy trees; complies with FDOT and Green Book Design rules; allows for safe bi-directional movement of bicycles; and minimizes the impact on the Project schedule. This option requires that bicyclists dismount on the shared-use path prior to arriving to the sidewalk on Prairie Avenue.

Option 2: DEDICATED GREEN BIKE LANES
This option terminates the 10’-0” wide shared-use path near the intersection of 34th Street and Chase Avenue, directing bicyclists onto short dedicated green bike lanes and sharrows (i.e. on-roadway shared vehicle/bicycle lanes) while pedestrian traffic would continue along the existing sidewalks to connect to Prairie Avenue (Exhibit B). This layout shifts bicyclists away from the single-family residence at 3186 Prairie Avenue and onto dedicated bike lanes along the roadway on 34th Street. As a result, the roadway would need to be widened by at least 10’-0” to accommodate the bicycle lanes and sharrows on both sides of the street. Existing shade trees on Chase Avenue may be impacted with the increased pavement width and reduced swales, and a revision of the construction documents with associated fees and additional permitting would be required. The revised layout would impact the Project schedule with a possible delay of approximately six (6) months or more, requires FDOT approval of the design changes, and could potentially affect grant funding subject to FDOT’s review and approval. This option is not recommended as the the green bike lane segments are not sufficiently long to be effective. In addition, sharrows are not considered a desirable facility for bicyclists as compared to dedicated bike lanes or a separated shared-use path.

Option 3: REDUCE THE WIDTH OF SHARED-USE PATH AT CORNER RESIDENCE
This option would maintain the shared-use path in front of the single-family residence at 3186 Prairie Avenue, however, it would reduce the width of the path from 10’-0” to 8’-0” as approved in City Commission Resolution No. 2019-31036, and subsequently approved by the DRB. The design consultant will evaluate appropriate measures to safely transition the path from 10’ to 8’, including signage and other measures. In addition, and subject to FDOT approval, this option may include physical devices on the path surface to slow down bicyclists and compel bicyclists to dismount as they approach the private residence. The intent is for bicyclists to dismount prior to reaching the Prairie Avenue sidewalk (Exhibit C). The reduced width of the shared-use path may slow bicyclists, however, it may also create conflicts between bicyclists and pedestrians as the transition forces both modes onto a more narrow path. In addition, a revision of the construction documents with associated fees and additional permitting would be required. A reduction in the width of the share-use path would require a design variance to the requirements of the Green Book, subject to review and approval by FDOT, after the preparation, submission and review of revised construction documents. The revised layout would impact the Project schedule with a possible delay of approximately six (6) months or more.

The City Administration has received confirmation from FDOT that it is amenable to reviewing a formal request for a design variance from the requirement in the applicable code, upon approval by the City Commission (via Resolution) of said design variation request. The effects on grant funding, if any, would be evaluated by FDOT staff once the actual delay to the Project schedule is determined.


Option 4: ROUTE THE SHARED-USE PATH THROUGH MIAMI BEACH GOLF COURSE
This option routes the 10’-0” wide shared-use path from the intersection of Chase Avenue and 34th Street through the east side of Miami Beach Golf Course to connect with the existing dedicated green bike lanes at Prairie Avenue and 31st Street. This option would allow pedestrians to utilize the existing sidewalk on 34th Street to connect to Prairie Avenue (Exhibit D). While the path would no longer run adjacent to the single-family property at 3186 Prairie Avenue under this option, the shared-use path would be adjacent to and impact the rear of ten (10) single-family residences along Prairie Avenue. Furthermore, this option would impact the golf course by requiring a reconfiguration of the golf cart path, expand the area of the Project requiring soil remediation, increase the exposure of path users to errant golf balls, and require alterations to driveways and landscaping at residences on W. 31st Street, (including possible removal of encroachments). This option is anticipated to impact the Project schedule by approximately 12-15 months to address extensive redesign and permitting and would increase the Project budget significantly as it would increase the length of the shared-use path. This option is not recommended as relocating the shared-use path behind residences would create a greater impact to property owners and introduce quality-of-life concerns such as light and noise from bicyclists and pedestrians.

Option 5: SHARROWS ON W. 34TH STREET
This option truncates the 10’-0” wide shared-use path along W. 34th Street to a point west of the property line of the single-family residence at 3186 Prairie Avenue, where bicyclists would be directed onto sharrows on W. 34th Street prior to reaching the intersection at Prairie Avenue. Pedestrians would remain on the existing sidewalk to connect to Prairie Avenue (Exhibit E). This option would require a revision of the construction documents with associated fees, additional permitting, and FDOT review and approval of the design changes. The revised layout would impact the Project schedule with a possible delay of approximately six (6) months or more and may potentially jeopardize grant funding, subject to FDOT’s review and approval. This option is not recommended as sharrows are not considered a desirable facility for bicyclists as compared to dedicated bicycle lanes or a separated shared-use path. In addition, there is a safety concern with westbound bicyclists making a left turn from a sharrow lane to enter the shared-use path and proceed west.

At the September 13, 2023 City Commission meeting the Administration discussed the various design options, as well as the possibility of a modification to Option 3. The City Commission requested to continue the item to the October 18, 2023 City Commission meeting. The Administration has further considered a modification to Option 3 (Option 3A), which removes the shared-use path from the front of 3186 Prairie Avenue as requested by the property owner, while continuing the bicycle path to Prairie Avenue via a sharrow on W. 34th Street. Option 3A is further described below:

Option 3A: REDUCE THE WIDTH OF THE PATH IN FRONT OF THE CORNER RESIDENCE TO 8’-0” AND DIVERT BICYCLISTS TO A SHARROW ON W. 34TH STREET
Similar to Option 3, in this option the width of the path would be reduced from 10’-0” to 8’-0” in front of the corner residence at 3186 Prairie Avenue as approved in City Commission Resolution No. 2019-31036, and subsequently approved by the DRB, such that the path in front of the residence would be intended for pedestrian use. This option diverts bicyclists from the shared-use path to a sharrow on W. 34th Street prior to reaching the western property line of the corner residence at 3186 Prairie Avenue (Exhibit C-1). This transition allows cyclists to merge into the roadway ahead of navigating the proposed traffic calming circle at the intersection of 34th Street and Prairie Avenue.  A revision of the construction documents with associated fees and additional permitting would be required. Transitioning the shared-use path to a sharrow in the right-of-way on W. 34th Street is subject to review and approval by FDOT, after the preparation, submission and review of revised construction documents. The revised layout would impact the Project schedule with a possible delay of approximately six (6) months or more.

CITY STAFF/CONSULTANT TECHNICAL REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION

The Transportation and Mobility Department engaged one of its transportation planning consultants (Alta Planning and Design) with expertise in the planning and design of bicycle/pedestrian facilities to conduct an independent review of the above options and provide a recommendation. The CIP and Transportation and Mobility departments, in conjunction with their respective consultants, have corroborated and provided input and direction on this matter.

Based on a review of the above options by both CIP and the Transportation and Mobility Department, and taking into consideration the recommendations by Miller Legg (Exhibit F) and Alta Planning and Design, the City Administration supports the current design (Option 1) as the preferred option as it provides the safest path for pedestrians and bicyclists by providing a 10’-0” wide shared-use path, separated from vehicular traffic. The current design has already been approved by FDOT which requested that a 10’-0” width be maintained to allow sufficient width for the different users. In addition, the design has received favorable input from DTPW. The construction documents are nearly 100% complete, and the City is prepared to commence the procurement phase. In the alternative, the Administration also supports Option 3 as a second choice for implementation, as it also provides a safe path for pedestrians and bicyclists separated from vehicular traffic, and Option 3A as a third choice to separate the bicyclists from pedestrians in front of 3186 Prairie Avenue.