LTC 241-2013 SR 907 Alton Road Reconstruction from 5th St. to Michigan Avenue?� MIAMI EACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
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TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 11, 2013
SUBJECT: S R 907 /ALTON ROAD RECONS
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LETTER TO COMM1SSkbN.`
i th City Commission C '
:)N FROM 5 STREET TO MICHIGAN
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide an update on the FDOT State Road (SR)
907 /Alton Road Reconstruction Project from 5 Street to Michigan Avenue and, in particular, a meeting
which transpired on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 with FDOT officials, including Secretary Gus Pego, City
Administration officials, State Representative Richardson, and representatives from Senator Margolis'
office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss FDOT's ongoing evaluation of various modifications to
the Alton Road typical section as requested by the City Commission and the Alton Road Reconstruction
Coalition (ARRC).
Initially, three (3) typical section alternatives were developed by FDOT in an effort to address concerns
with the current design of the FDOT project and respond to requested modifications. The three
alternatives were reviewed and discussed during the meeting. A fourth alternative was developed by
FDOT subsequent to the meeting based on a request for a "hybrid" alternative incorporating both a raised
median and wide sidewalks. All four alternatives developed are based on a posted speed limit of 35
MPH. The alternatives vary in regards to sidewalk widths and median configuration (i.e. raised median
with limited landscaping or two -way left turn lanes). All four alternatives include bulb -outs at the
intersections to improve pedestrian crossing safety, 8 -foot parking lanes, and sharrow lanes (shared
lanes) for bicyclists. The sharrows will be positioned in the center of the outside travel lane in each
direction. The outside travel lanes will be either 11 -foot wide or 12 -foot wide, depending on the
alternative selected, in contrast to the 14 -foot wide outside lane as currently proposed in the FDOT
project. In all four alternatives, the reduction of the outside travel lanes provides an opportunity for
widening of the sidewalks up to 14 feet adjacent to the parking lane and 20.5 feet at the bulb -out
locations.
It is important to note that City's Fire Department had some concerns with the alternatives incorporating a
raised median due to a restricted turning radius for fire trucks and fire /life safety accessibility in general.
In addition, at the meeting, a concern was raised regarding how a raised median could potentially affect
future transit accessibility along Alton Road. Further, if an alternative involving a raised median is
deemed feasible and accepted by FDOT and the City, a public hearing would be required as a median
would affect access to properties along Alton Road.
FDOT will continue to refine each alternative, particularly in terms of additional costs, and has requested
that the City expedite its review of the alternative typical sections developed and provide a response as to
a preferred alternative as timely as possible to minimize the impact to the ongoing construction of the
project. As such, this matter will be discussed at the City Commission meeting on Wednesday, July 17,
2013.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
KGB1014*
F: \WORK \$ALL \(1) EMPLOYEE FOLDERS \Jose R. Gonzalez \LTC \FDOTAlton Road Typical Section Alternatives