Resolution 2024-33374 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-33374
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, AT ITS OCTOBER
14, 2024 MEETING, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROCEED
WITH CONDUCTING A FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS, SUBJECT TO FUNDING
AVAILABILITY, TO EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF A
TRAFFIC DIVERTER(S) AT THE INTERSECTION OF CONVENTION
CENTER DRIVE/PRAIRIE AVENUE AND DADE BOULEVARD TO
RESTRICT ACCESS, REDUCE CUT-THROUGH TRAFFIC AND IMPROVE
THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CENTRAL BAYSHORE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHEREAS, at the June 26, 2024 City Commission meeting, Vice-Mayor Alex Fernandez,
referred an item (C4 S) to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee ("LUSC" or "Committee")
to discuss the installation of traffic diverters at Convention Center Drive and Dade Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, the Central Bayshore neighborhood has expressed concerns with cut-
through traffic and traffic congestion resulting from events at the Miami Beach Convention Center;
and
WHEREAS, during major special events, such as Art Week ("Art Basel") and the Miami
International Boat Show, the City deploys Maintenance of Traffic ("MOT") devices and Variable
Message Signs ("VMS") at the intersection of Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade
Boulevard as well as other intersections throughout the neighborhood to prevent cut-through
traffic in the Central Bayshore neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the deployment of temporary traffic diverters is also used to help prevent cut-
through traffic in the Palm View neighborhood during major special events; and
WHEREAS, while temporary measures have somewhat reduced cut-through traffic in the
neighborhood during major special events, the installation of a permanent traffic diverter(s) at the
intersection of Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard will be beneficial in
further reducing cut-through traffic year-round; and
WHEREAS, the traffic diverter(s)would restrict northbound and southbound through traffic
at Convention Center Drive; and
WHEREAS, alteration of the traffic pattern would impact residents as well as visitors, and
possibly help to preserve the residential integrity and quality of life of the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the Department is currently considering three (3) potential alternatives to
install a traffic diverter(s) at the intersection of Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade
Boulevard:
• Alternative 1: Installation of a traffic diverter at Convention Center Drive/Dade
Boulevard (south side of the intersection); and
• Alternative 2: Installation of a traffic diverter at Prairie Avenue/Dade Boulevard
(north side of the intersection)
• Alternative 3: Installation of a traffic diverter on Dade Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, at the October 14, 2024 LUSC meeting, the Committee recommended that
the Administration move forward with conducting a feasibility analysis, subject to funding
availability, to evaluate the potential implementation of a traffic diverter(s) at the intersection of
Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard to restrict access, reduce cut-
through traffic and improve the quality of life in the Central Bayshore neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, if the traffic diverter is determined to be feasible, the Administration will
proceed with the design, permit, and construction the proposed improvements, subject to funding
availability; and
WHEREAS, Dade Boulevard is a roadway under the jurisdiction of Miami-Dade County,
therefore, review and approval by the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and
Public Works ("DTPW") is required prior to implementation of a traffic diverter(s)at the intersection
of Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby accept the recommendation of the Land Use and Sustainability Committee
("LUSC"), at its October 14, 2024 meeting, directing the City Administration to proceed with
conducting a feasibility analysis, subject to funding availability, to evaluate the potential
implementation of a traffic diverter(s) at the intersection of Convention Center Drive/Prairie
Avenue and Dade Boulevard to restrict access, reduce cut-through traffic and improve the quality
of life in the Central Bayshore neighborhood.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this o?O day of //Men/he/ 2024.
Steven Meiner, Mayor
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO
NOV 2 2 2024 FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
City Atto ney Date
(Sponsored by Commissioners Alex Fernandez and Tanya K. Bhatt)
�IhCOPP0f,t,iEDi
Resolutions - C7 U
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Eric Carpenter, City Manager
DATE: November 20, 2024
TITLE: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA. ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LAND
USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, AT ITS OCTOBER 14, 2024 MEETING,
DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROCEED WITH CONDUCTING A
FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS, SUBJECT TO FUNDING AVAILABILITY, TO EVALUATE
THE POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF A TRAFFIC DIVERTER(S) AT THE
INTERSECTION OF CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE/PRAIRIE AVENUE AND
DADE BOULEVARD TO RESTRICT ACCESS, REDUCE CUT-THROUGH TRAFFIC
AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CENTRAL BAYSHORE
NEIGHBORHOOD
RECOMMENDATION
The City Administration ("Administration') recommends that the Mayor and City Commission
(`City Commission") adopt the Resolution (Attachment A) pursuant to the recommendation of the
Land Use and Sustainability Committee ("LUSC" or "Committee").
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
At the June 26, 2024 City Commission meeting, at the request of Vice-Mayor Alex Fernandez,
the City Commission referred an item (C4 S) to the LUSC to discuss the installation of traffic
diverters at Convention Center Drive and Dade Boulevard.
The Central Bayshore neighborhood has expressed concerns with cut-through traffic and traffic
congestion resulting from events in the Miami Beach Convention Center. As such, during major
special events, such as Art Week (Art Basel) and the Miami International Boat Show, the City
deploys Maintenance of Traffic ("MOT") devices and Variable Message Signs ('`VMS") at the
intersection of Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard as well as other
intersections throughout the neighborhood to prevent cut-through traffic in the Central Bayshore
neighborhood. The deployment of temporary traffic diverters is also used to help prevent cut-
through traffic in the Palm View neighborhood during major special events. Additionally.
Transportation and Mobility Department ("Department") staff coordinates with navigation
platforms, such as Waze and Google Maps, to update their navigation systems with the temporary
closures and redirect traffic to major throughfares.
While these temporary measures have somewhat reduced cut-through traffic in the neighborhood
during major special events, the installation of a permanent traffic diverter(s) at the intersection of
Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard will be beneficial in further reducing
cut-through traffic year-round. The traffic diverter(s) would restrict northbound and southbound
through traffic at Convention Center Drive. Alteration of the traffic pattern would impact residents
as well as visitors, and possibly help to preserve the residential integrity and quality of life of the
neighborhood.
ANALYSIS
Page 458 of 1993
A traffic diverter is a concrete island built to restrict certain through and/or turning vehicular
movements into residential streets. It is worth noting that diverters impact access for all motorists,
including residents who live in the neighborhood. Therefore, diverters should be considered only
when less restrictive measures are not appropriate or are ineffective. A traffic diverter(s) at the
intersection of Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard would prevent the
northbound and southbound through movements across the intersection while permitting certain
turning movements in and out of the neighborhood. However, further analysis would be required
to determine the proper diverter configuration to be implemented at this intersection.
The Department is currently considering three (3) potential alternatives to install a traffic
diverter(s) at the intersection of Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard.
The options are described below:
Alternative 1: Installation of a traffic diverter at Convention Center Drive/Dade Boulevard (south
side of the intersection)
This alternative will only allow eastbound right turns onto southbound Convention Center Drive
and northbound right turns onto eastbound Dade Boulevard at the intersection. Vehicles traveling
northbound on Convention Center Drive will not be able to cross Dade Boulevard to Prairie
Avenue; and vehicles traveling southbound on Prairie Avenue will not be able to cross Dade
Boulevard to Convention Center Drive. Additionally, vehicles traveling northbound will not be able
to make a left turn onto westbound Dade Boulevard; and vehicles traveling westbound on Dade
Boulevard will not be able to make a left turn onto Convention Center Drive. This alternative would
require the elimination of the dedicated westbound left turn lane on Dade Boulevard as well as
the northbound left turn lane on Convention Center Drive. A structural analysis will be required to
ascertain that the bridge on Convention Center Drive can support the additional weight of the
concrete traffic diverters; and a traffic recirculation study will be required to assess the impacts of
the traffic modifications on the surrounding roadway network.
Alternative 2: Installation of a traffic diverter at Prairie Avenue/Dade Boulevard (north side of the
intersection)
This alternative will only allow westbound right turns onto northbound Prairie Avenue and
southbound right turns onto westbound Dade Boulevard at the intersection. Vehicles traveling
northbound on Convention Center Drive will not be able to cross Dade Boulevard to Prairie
Avenue; and vehicles traveling southbound on Prairie Avenue will not be able to cross Dade
Boulevard to Convention Center Drive. Additionally, vehicles traveling westbound on Dade
Boulevard will be able to make a left turn onto Convention Center Drive. Vehicles traveling
northbound on Convention Center Drive will be able to make a left turn onto westbound Dade
Boulevard as well as make a right turn onto eastbound on Dade Boulevard. A traffic study will be
required to determine the feasibility of eliminating or repurposing the northbound through lane on
Convention Center Drive to either a left turn lane or right turn lane. This alternative would prohibit
eastbound left turns from Dade Boulevard onto Prairie Avenue which will affect access to Miami
Beach Senior High School. Furthermore, this alternative would require the elimination of the
dedicated eastbound left turn lane on Dade Boulevard as well as the southbound left turn lane on
Prairie Avenue. It is worth noting that the Department is currently in the design phase of a
dedicated pick-up and drop-off lane along Dade Boulevard in front of Miami Beach Senior High
School. In order to minimize the impact to the current school pick-up and drop-off operations on
Prairie Avenue, this traffic diverter alternative, if feasible, would need to be coordinated with the
implementation of the pick-up and drop-off lane.
Alternative 3: Installation of a traffic diverter on Dade Boulevard
This alternative consists of constructing an east-west oriented median island at the center of the
intersection of Dade Boulevard/Prairie Avenue/Convention Center Drive to prohibit northbound
and southbound vehicular traffic movements through the intersection. Eastbound and westbound
left turns from Dade Boulevard onto Prairie Avenue and Convention Center Drive, respectively,
would not be affected. This configuration would allow the most turning movements to and from
Prairie Avenue and Convention Center Drive, and, as such, would be the least intrusive of all
three (3) alternatives.
Page 459 of 1993
At the October 14, 2024 LUSC meeting, the Committee recommended that the Administration
move forward with conducting a feasibility analysis, subject to funding availability, to evaluate the
potential implementation of a traffic diverter(s) at the intersection of Convention Center
Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard to restrict access, reduce cut-through traffic and
improve the quality of life in the Central Bayshore neighborhood.
In order to enhance the quality of life and reduce cut-through traffic in the Central Bayshore
neighborhood year-round, the Department is prepared to engage one of the City's pre-qualified
rotational transportation consultants to conduct a feasibility analysis and prepare final design
drawings for the installation of a traffic diverter(s) at the intersection of Convention Center
Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard. If the traffic diverter is determined to be feasible, the
Administration will proceed with the design, permit, and construction the proposed improvements,
subject to funding availability. It is important to note that Dade Boulevard is a roadway under the
jurisdiction of Miami-Dade County, therefore, review and approval by the Miami-Dade County
Department of Transportation and Public Works ("DTPW") is required prior to implementation of
a traffic diverter(s) at the intersection of Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade
Boulevard.
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
The estimated cost to conduct a feasibility analysis and prepare final design drawings for a traffic
diverter(s) at the intersection of Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard is
approximately $335,000. Funding has not been identified, budgeted, or appropriated at this time.
Should the City Commission adopt a resolution accepting the recommendation of the LUSC, the
Administration will prioritize the feasibility analysis and final design drawings, subject to funding
appropriation through a Fiscal Year 2024/2025 budget amendment.
Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate?
(FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)
If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on:
See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-halllcity-clerk/meeting-notices/
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
TBD
CONCLUSION
Should the City Commission adopt a resolution accepting the recommendation of the LUSC, the
Administration is prepared to engage one of the City's pre-qualified rotational transportation
consultants, subject to City Commission approval of a Fiscal Year 2024/2025 budget amendment,
to conduct a feasibility analysis and prepare final design drawings for the implementation of a
traffic diverter(s) at the intersection of Convention Center Drive/Prairie Avenue and Dade
Boulevard to restrict access, reduce cut-through traffic, and improve the quality of life in the
Central Bayshore neighborhood. If the traffic diverter is determined to be feasible and the design
is approved by the Miami-Dade County DTPW, the Administration will identify funding for the
construction of the proposed improvements through a future capital budget process.
Page 460 of 1993
In the meanwhile, the Administration will continue to implement temporary traffic diversions and
neighborhood protection strategies during major special events to restrict access and reduce cut-
through traffic in the Central Bayshore neighborhood.
Applicable Area
South Beach
Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, Is this item related to a G.O. Bond
pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Project?
No No
Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481,
includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No
If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): N/A
Department
Transportation and Mobility
Sponsor(s)
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Co-sponsor(s)
Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt
Condensed Title
Accept Recommendation, (LUSC) to Install Traffic Diverters at CC Drive & Dade Blvd.
(Fernandez/Bhatt) TR
Page 461 of 1993
Committee Referrals - C4 S
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Commissioner Alex Fernandez
DATE: June 26, 2024
TITLE: REFERRAL TO LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS
INSTALLING TRAFFIC DIVERTERS AT CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE AND
DADE BOULEVARD.
RECOMMENDATION
Please place on the June 26, 2024 agenda a referral to the Land Use and
Sustainability Committee ("LUSO") to discuss the installation of traffic diverters at Convention
Center Drive and Dade Boulevard.
Currently there are temporary diverters that the City uses to prevent traffic from entering the Palm
View neighborhood by Convention Center attendees during high impact events. I would like for
the Administration to evaluate and be ready to present several options best fit to address traffic
diversion at Convention Center Drive and Dade Boulevard.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
NA
Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate?
(FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)
The Business Impact Estimate (BIE)was published on . See BIE at:
https:/lwww.miamibeachfl.govicity-hall/city-clerk/meeting-noticesi
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONCLUSION
Page 462 of 1993
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, Is this item related to a G.O. Bond
pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Project?
Yes No
Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481,
includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No
if so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):
Department
Office of Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Sponsor(s)
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Co-sponsor(s)
Page 463 of 1993