The Administration recommends approving the Resolution.
UPDATE SINCE THE JANUARY 20, 2017 FCWPC MEETING
This item was discussed at the January 20, 2017 Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) meeting. At the meeting, the FCWPC passed a motion endorsing the recommended Priority 1 traffic calming improvements estimated at $500,000 and directed staff to identify a funding source. Attachments A and B include a list and map, respectively, of recommended traffic calming improvements for the Central Bayshore neighborhood (Priority 1 and 2).
Additionally, the FCWPC directed staff to identify a list of projects which can potentially be funded from prior year surplus in the Transportation Fund. Transportation Department staff has comprised a list of the FY 2017/18 unfunded projects that could also be funded by prior year surplus Transportation Funds. However, the balance of this account cannot be confirmed at this time as project close-outs are pending.
At the March 1, 2017 City Commission meeting, during discussion of a Resolution accepting the recommendation of the FCWPC to identify funding for the recommended Priority 1 Central Bayshore traffic calming improvements in the approximate amount of $500,000, the City Commission discussed the potential impact that raising the streets in the Central Bayshore neighborhood could have on the recommended traffic calming improvements. A motion was made to refer the item to the April 21, 2017 Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee meeting to discuss concerns with raising streets in Central Bayshore and the implication that it would have on the proposed traffic calming improvements. Additionally, the City Commission directed the Administration to bring back the item to the April 26, 2017 City Commission meeting, since, ultimately, a direction from the City Commission as to whether or not to move forward with the proposed traffic calming improvements in Central Bayshore would be conditioned upon the timing of the neighborhood improvement project in terms of whether or not streets in the neighborhood will be raised and when that would occur.
BACKGROUND
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
- Speed Hump on Meridian Avenue between Dade Boulevard and 23rd Street
- Speed Table on 28th Street adjacent to the Scott Rakow Youth Center
- Neighborhood Greenway along Royal Palm Avenue
- Speed Hump on Meridian between 23rd Street and 28th Street
- Roundabout at Prairie Avenue and 28th 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.
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, and their comments and suggestions have been incorporated.
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). Above-ground construction (hardscape) for the project is anticipated to begin in late 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 refine the costs of incorporating the recommended traffic calming improvements in the project.
The recommended traffic calming improvements for the Central Bayshore Neighborhood were discussed at the December 9, 2016 Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (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.