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2019-30787 Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 2019-30787 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD TO MODIFY THE OPERATING HOURS OF THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY EAST BASCULE BRIDGE TO PROHIBIT OPENING THE BRIDGE FROM 7:00 AM TO 10:00 AM, AND FROM 4:00 PM TO 7:00 PM, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND TO OPEN THE BRIDGE EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR BETWEEN 10:00 AM AND 4:00 PM ONLY IF A VESSEL SIGNALS TO CROSS, IN ORDER TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION DURING WEEKDAY PEAK PERIODS ALONG THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY. WHEREAS, the Venetian Causeway is one of the principal connections for residents between the City of Miami Beach and the City of Miami; and WHEREAS, the Venetian Causeway is under the jurisdiction of Miami-Dade County; and WHEREAS, the average daily traffic on the Venetian Causeway is approximately 13,000 vehicles during a typical (non-event)weekday and 10,500 vehicles during a typical (non-event) weekend; and WHEREAS, similar to other roads within the City of Miami Beach ("City"), traffic volumes on the Venetian Causeway are sensitive to special events and high-impact periods within the City; and WHEREAS, the Venetian Causeway experiences an increase in volume when lanes are closed on the two adjacent causeway corridors (MacArthur Causeway and Julia Tuttle Causeway); and WHEREAS, one of the contributing factors that causes congestion along the Venetian Causeway and contributes to significant delays during peak hours is the operation of the bascule bridges; and WHEREAS, the Venetian Causeway east bascule bridge (the "Bridge") currently operates on a schedule from 7AM to 7PM Monday through Friday, with bridge openings every half hour on the hour mark and on the half hour mark only when a vessel is waiting; and WHEREAS, during the weekend, bridge openings are on-demand only; and WHEREAS, based on reviews of existing operation, the Bridge's opening and closing operation lasts approximately six to eight minutes; and WHEREAS, frequent bridge activity creates significant delays along the Venetian Causeway corridor, which can contribute to queuing and congestion, particularly during peak periods and major special events; and WHEREAS, based on observations and traffic data collected along the Venetian Causeway, the Administration recommends that the Bridge operations be restricted during peak traffic periods to reduce the impact to vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian flow; and WHEREAS, the following schedule is proposed for the Venetian Causeway east bascule bridge: 1. From 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday, the east bascule bridge would remain closed. 2. From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, the east bascule bridge would open only on the hour mark. Under USCG regulations, the bridge would only open if a vessel signals the need to open on the hour mark. WHEREAS, tug and tow, Police, Fire, and United States Coast Guard (USCG) vessels are exempt from bridge opening restrictions and can request a bridge opening at any time (i.e., on-demand); and WHEREAS, the process for modifying the operations of a bascule bridge begins with a letter and a resolution from the municipality requesting that the USCG consider modifications to a bridge schedule; and WHEREAS, the Administration will work with the City of Miami to adopt a similar resolution to restrict openings of the Venetian Causeway west bascule bridge located within the city limits of the City of Miami during the same weekday morning and afternoon peak traffic periods to reduce congestion along the Venetian Causeway; and WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the process to modify all of the Venetian Causeway bridge schedules will take approximately one (1) year. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby request that the United States Coast Guard modify the operating hours of the Venetian Causeway East Bascule Bridge to prohibit opening the bridge from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and to open the Bridge every hour on the hour between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM only if a vessel signals to cross, in order to reduce traffic congestion during weekday peak periods along the Venetian Causeway. illp PASSED and ADOPTED this 1 I1-,._#\77,‘k o. .4p.►,i`e,_ . � . J ATTEST: . y':...��%' ' '` i •� •.. pgifi G t r, Mayor 411V1 Rafael E. Gran d Cit Clerk y APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE (Sponsored by Commissioner Micky Steinberg) & FOR EX UTION aALA l2, . 44 - ( 9 City Attorney ) Date Resolutions-C7 AA MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager DATE: April 10, 2019 SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD MODIFY THE OPERATING HOURS OF THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY EAST BASCULE BRIDGE TO PROHIBIT OPENING THE BRIDGE FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M. AND FROM 4:00 P.M. TO 7:00 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY; AND TO OPEN EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR FROM 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION DURING WEEKDAY PEAK PERIODS ALONG THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY. RECOMMENDATION The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the resolution. BACKGROUND The Venetian Causeway is one of the principal connections for residents between the City of Miami Beach and the City of Miami. This corridor also serves as the primary route for bicyclists and pedestrians between the City of Miami Beach and the City of Miami. The Venetian Causeway is a tolled facility currently serving six (6) islands between the City of Miami Beach and City of Miami. These islands are connected by 12 bridges which make up the causeway. Two (2) of these bridges are bascule bridges - the west bridge is located within the City of Miami and the east bridge is located within the City of Miami Beach. The Venetian Causeway is under the jurisdiction of Miami-Dade County. The Venetian Causeway consists of two (2) 11-foot (11') wide travel lanes (one lane in each direction), four-foot (4') wide green bike lanes in each direction, six-foot (6') wide sidewalks within the islands, and four-foot(4')wide sidewalks on the bridges. The average daily traffic (on non-event days) is approximately 13,000 vehicles during a typical (non-event) weekday and 10,500 vehicles during a typical (non-event)weekend. Similar to other roads within the City of Miami Beach, traffic volumes on the Venetian Causeway are sensitive to special events and high-impact periods within Miami Beach. The causeway experiences an increase in volume when lanes are closed on the two adjacent causeway corridors (MacArthur Causeway and Julia Tuttle Causeway). During Spring Break 2019, for Page 638 of 1091 example, the Venetian Causeway experienced a significant increase in traffic volumes which resulted in saturated conditions along the causeway. One of the contributing factors that cause congestion along this corridor and contributes to significant delays during peak hours is the operation of the Venetian Causeway bascule bridges. Both Venetian Causeway bascule bridges currently operate on a schedule from 7AM to 7PM Monday through Friday. During these times, the bridge opens every half hour on the hour and half hour mark when a vessel is waiting. The City's Transportation Department requests quarterly reports for the bridge openings to monitor that the established schedule for bridge activity is being followed. It is worth highlighting that tug and tow, Police, Fire, and Coast Guard vessels are exempt from these restrictions and can request a bridge opening at any time (i.e. on-demand). During the weekend, bridge openings are on-demand. Based on reviews of the existing operation, the bridge's opening and closing operation lasts approximately six(6)to eight (8) minutes. The frequent bridge activity creates significant delays along this corridor which can contribute to queuing and congestion, particularly during peak periods and major special events. ANALYSIS In 2016, pursuant to a resolution from the City Commission, the Administration worked with the United States Coast Guard (USCG)to restrict the bridge operations on the 63 Street Bascule Bridge. Based on the observations and data collected along the Venetian Causeway, the Administration recommends that the schedule for the east bascule bridge (located within Miami Beach city limits)be similarly restricted to reduce the impact to vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian flow. Based on an analysis of traffic volume data over the past two (2) years (2016 and 2017), the following bridge schedule is proposed: 1. From 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday, the east bascule bridge would remain closed. 2. From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, the east bascule bridge would open only on the hour mark. Under U.S Coast Guard regulations, the bridge would only open if a vessel signals the need to open. Outside of the above hours during weekdays, and also on weekends, the east bascule bridge would operate on-demand. The process for modifying the operations of a bascule bridge typically takes approximately one (1) year. It begins with a letter and a resolution from the municipality requesting the USCG consider modifications to the bridge schedule. Following the request, the USCG needs to evaluate the request and impacts to maritime operations. Following the evaluation, and if approved, the USCG will publish a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the Federal Register for an initial public comment period of 30 days. Following the 30-day comment period, the USCG must respond to comments received on the proposed bridge schedule modifications; however, this process has no definitive timeframe and could take several months. Once all comments have been responded to, the USCG will publish the final ruling in the Federal Register for 30 days for final public comment. Subsequently, the USCG will address all final comments, the USCG Admiral will approve the modifications, and the USCG will submit the modified operating schedule to the operating agency with jurisdiction over the bridge (Miami-Dade Page 639 of 1091 County)to enact the modifications. Given that the Venetian Causeway west bascule bridge is located within the City of Miami limits, the City Commission of the City of Miami would need to adopt a similar resolution requesting that the USCG restrict the operating schedule of the west bascule bridge during weekday peak periods. The Administration is working with the City of Miami officials to effectuate such a resolution for USCG consideration on a concurrent path with a Miami Beach resolution. • CONCLUSION KEY INTENDED OUTCOMES SUPPORTED Ensure Comprehensive Mobility Addressing All Modes Throughout The City Legislative Tracking Transportation Sponsor Commissioner Micky Steinberg • Page 640 of 1091 BEACH MIAM City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.eov Dan Gelber, Mayor Tel: 305-673-7035 April 17, 2019 Michael Lieberum Chief, Bridge Operations United States Coast Guard District 7 Bridge Branch 909 SE 1St Avenue, Suite 432 Miami, FL 33131 RE: Venetian Causeway East Bascule Bridge Dear Mr. Lieberum, On April 10, 2019, the City of Miami Beach City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2019- 30787(attached) requesting that the United States Coast Guard (USCG)modify the operating hours of the Venetian Causeway east bascule bridge during weekday peak traffic periods. The roadway network characteristics of the City of Miami Beach make the Venetian Causeway • an important corridor to commute between the City of Miami Beach and the City of Miami. The average daily traffic on the Venetian Causeway is approximately 13,000 vehicles during a non-event weekday and 10,500 vehicles during a non-event weekend. The Venetian Causeway experiences significant increases in traffic volume during road closures on either the MacArthur Causeway or the Julia Tuttle Causeway and during major special events. Over the next four(4)years,the MacArthur Causeway, Julia Tuttle Causeway, and 1-95 will experience lane/ramp closures and detours due to construction. In particular, the Florida Department of Transportation's I-395/SR 836/1-95 "Signature Bridge" Project will adversely affect mobility between Miami Beach and the mainland for Miami Beach residents, visitors, and workforce until 2023. The construction activities on both causeways will result in additional volumes and congestion on the Venetian Causeway. One of the contributing factors that exacerbates congestion on the Venetian Causeway is the frequent operation of the bascule bridges during peak traffic hours. The west bascule bridge is located within Miami city limits and the east bascule bridge is located within Miami Beach city limits. Currently, the east bascule bridge on the Venetian Causeway operates on a fixed schedule from 7AM to 7PM, Monday through Friday, with bridge openings every half hour on the hour mark and on the half hour mark when a vessel signals to cross. Based on a review conducted by staff of historical bridge activity logs and site visits/observations, it was determined that bridge opening and closing operations last between six (6) and eight (8) minutes depending on the amount of vessels wishing to cross. There are approximately five (5) openings during weekday afternoon peak periods which result in an additional delay of Letter to Michael Lieberum April 17, 2019 Page 2 of 2 approximately 30 minutes for vehicular traffic traversing the causeway. This delay causes significant congestion and gridlock during the peak hours from which the corridor cannot recover until several hours later. Based on the traffic data as well as similar existing restrictions on other bridges within our municipality, the City of Miami Beach is respectfully requesting that the USCG restrict bridge activity on the Venetian Causeway east bascule bridge during peak hours. Pursuant to City Commission Resolution No. 2019-30787, the following bridge activity schedule is proposed: • From 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday, the east bascule bridge would remain closed. • From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, the east bascule bridge would open only on the hour mark. Under USCG regulations, the bridge would only open if a vessel signals the need to open on the hour mark. Thank you in advance for your assistance and consideration of this request of importance to our residents, visitors, and workforce. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information on this request. Sincere) • • Dan Gelber Mayor Attachment: Miami Beach City Commission Resolution No. 2019-30787 c: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager Kathie G. Brooks, Assistant City Manager Susanne Torriente, Assistant City Manager José R. Gonzalez, P.E., Transportation Director • • We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work, and ploy in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.