In the 2023 legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed and adopted House Bill 657 (“HB 657”), which creates Florida Statute 316.008(9), pertaining to the use of speed detection systems (“SDS”) to enforce speed limits in school zones.

HB 657 authorizes counties and municipalities to place or install, or contract with a vendor to place or install, SDS (which are similar to red light cameras) to enforce school zone speed limits for violations in excess of 10 miles per hour over the applicable speed limit when children are going to or from school (beginning 30 minutes before the start of a breakfast program or scheduled school session and ending 30 minutes after the end of scheduled school session); and to enforce posted speed limits during the entirety of the school session. HB 657 further authorizes counties and municipalities to enact an ordinance regarding the placement or installation of SDS upon determining that the location of such system(s) warrant additional enforcement action based on traffic data and/or other evidence supporting the need for SDS in such location(s).

Additional requirements of HB 657 include, but are not limited to, signage warning motorists that speed detection systems are in use; a public announcement and public awareness campaign prior to commencing enforcement of school zone speed limits with SDS; annual reporting to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (“DHSMV”) as to the results of all SDS within the City; and the City Commission to hold public meetings regarding contracts and data reported.

HB 657 specifically authorizes SDS to be placed or installed in a school zone on a state road when permitted by the Florida Department of Transportation (“FDOT”) and in accordance with FDOT-developed placement and installation specifications. SDS may also be placed or installed in a school zone on a street or highway under the City’s jurisdiction, in accordance with FDOT-established placement and installation specifications, which specifications FDOT must establish by December 31, 2023.

The City engaged The Corradino Group. Inc. (“Consultant”), one of the City’s prequalified rotational transportation consultants, to evaluate the current vehicular speeds along seventeen (17) different school zones associated with seven (7) schools within the City for the potential installation of SDS to determine if the selected schools warrant additional speed enforcement. Following is the list of schools currently being evaluated:

1. South Pointe Elementary School
2. Feinberg Fisher K-8 Center
3. Miami Beach Senior High School
4. North Beach Elementary School
5. Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School
6. Biscayne Beach Elementary School
7. Mater Beach Academy

At this time, the Consultant has completed the traffic volume and speed data collection which is required to be collected while school is in session. Data was collected for three (3) consecutive school days. The Consultant is in the process of analyzing the data collected and preparing a technical report summarizing the findings, field observations, and recommendations. The Consultant is expected to provide a Draft Report to City staff for review prior to submitting the Final Report. Based on the time constraint due to data collection requirements and the scope of the evaluation, the Administration is respectfully requesting additional time to finalize the report and provide a comprehensive update at the December 2023 City Commission meeting.

Tangentially, on October 11, 2023, FDOT shared with multiple agencies and jurisdictions the “Draft Placement and Installation Specifications for School Zone SDS” and “Special Provisions to General Use Permit for the Installation of School Zone SDS on the State Highway System” (Attachment B) for review and feedback. FDOT is expecting comments on the two (2) draft documents, which City staff is in the process of reviewing, by October 25, 2023.

The cost of the ongoing traffic analysis is $127,360 and funding was identified in the Transportation and Mobility Department’s FY 2023 operating budget. 

Pursuant to City Commission direction received at the June 28, 2023 City Commission meeting, City staff is currently conducting a traffic analysis to evaluate whether any school zone(s) in the City warrant the installation of SDS. The Administration will provide a comprehensive update on the findings and recommendations of the traffic analysis at the December 2023 City Commission meeting.