2019-30788 Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 2019-30788
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (NCAC)AT ITS MEETING ON MARCH 19, 2019;
AND, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO A) PROCEED
WITH A TRAFFIC STUDY TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A
PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN SCRAMBLE OPERATION AT THE
INTERSECTION OF COLLINS AVENUE AND LINCOLN ROAD AND B)
RETURN TO THE NCAC IN 90 DAYS WITH THE DRAFT STUDY
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AS WELL AS THE OUTCOME
OF DISCUSSIONS WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGARDING THE TRAFFIC
STUDY.
WHEREAS, in 2015, Miami Beach became the first City in the State of Florida, and
one of the first cities in the country, to formally adopt a modal hierarchy specifically
prioritizing pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, since the adoption of the modal hierarchy, City staff has been working
on the prioritization and implementation of projects to improve pedestrian safety and
connectivity; and
WHEREAS, Exclusive Pedestrian Phases and Pedestrian Scramble Operations
are crosswalk treatments utilized at intersections with high pedestrian usage; and
WHEREAS, when Exclusive Pedestrian Phases or Pedestrian Scramble
Operations are in place at an intersection, all vehicles traveling on all approaches of the
intersection are stopped on red and pedestrians are allowed to cross in all directions; and
WHEREAS, in the case of Pedestrian Scramble Operations, pedestrians are also
allowed to cross diagonally; and
WHEREAS, exclusive pedestrian timing has been shown to reduce pedestrian
crashes by 50 percent in locations with heavy pedestrian volumes and low vehicle speeds
and volumes; and
WHEREAS, although there are no Pedestrian Scramble Operations currently in
operation in Miami-Dade County, there are various intersections in Miami Beach where
Exclusive Pedestrian Phases are in operation; and
WHEREAS, while this feature is intended to enhance pedestrian safety, it is worth
noting that Pedestrian Scramble Operations will adversely impact vehicular traffic flow
more than Exclusive Pedestrian Phase operations given that the crossing distance is
diagonal and longer and, hence, the pedestrian crossing time needs to be longer (i.e.,
more red time for vehicles); and
WHEREAS, while the County's recently adopted Complete Streets Handbook
provides for Pedestrian Scramble Operations to enhance pedestrian safety at
intersections, no specific warrant analysis currently exists to evaluate the need for
Exclusive Pedestrian Phases or Pedestrian Scramble Operations, thus, candidate
intersections need to be studied and presented to the Miami-Dade County Department of
Transportation and Public Works and the Florida Department of Transportation, as
applicable, for review and approval; and
WHEREAS, this item was discussed at the March 19, 2019 NCAC meeting. At the
meeting, City staff presented four (4) intersections in the City that could be evaluated for
potential Pedestrian Scramble Operations, given that these intersections are currently
equipped with Exclusive Pedestrian Phases; and
WHEREAS, at the NCAC meeting, City staff recommended that an in-house traffic
study be conducted for the intersection of Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue to determine
the feasibility of a Pedestrian Scramble Operation at that intersection, and for further
discussion with FDOT and Miami-Dade County. The NCAC thereafter recommended that
the City Administration proceed with a traffic study to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed
Pedestrian Scramble Operation at the intersection of Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road
and to return to the NCAC in 90 days with the draft study findings and recommendations,
as well as the outcome of discussions with Miami-Dade County and FDOT regarding the
traffic study.
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 accept the recommendation of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs
Committee and direct the City Administration to a) proceed with a traffic study to evaluate
the feasibility of a proposed Pedestrian Scramble Operation at the intersection of Collins
Avenue and Lincoln Road and to b) return to the NCAC in 90 days with the draft study
findings and recommendations, as well as the outcome of discussions with Miami-Dade
County and FDOT regarding the traffic study.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 10th day of April, 2019
„AO.
ATTEST:
b.41'an Gelber, Mayor
Rafael E. Granado, ity Clerk E ! �""� ' • APPROVED AS TO
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MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jirnrny L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 10, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (NCAC),
DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROCEED WITH AN INTERNAL
TRAFFIC STUDY TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A PROPOSED
PEDESTRIAN SCRAMBLE CROSSWALK AT THE INTERSECTION OF
COLLINS AVENUE AND LINCOLN ROAD AND TO RETURN TO NCAC IN 90
DAYS WITH THE DRAFT STUDY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AS
WELL AS THE OUTCOME OF DISCUSSIONS WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT)
REGARDING THE STUDY
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission accept the
recommendation of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC) directing the
Administration to proceed with an internal traffic study for feasibility of a proposed pedestrian
scramble crosswalk at Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road.
BACKGROUND
In 2015, Miami Beach became the first City in the State of Florida and one of the first cities in
the Country to formally adopt a modal hierarchy specifically prioritizing pedestrians. Since the
adoption of the modal hierarchy, City staff has been working on the prioritization and
implementation of projects to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity. Ongoing pedestrian
priority projects in the City include Pedestrian Priority Zones, enhanced pedestrian crosswalks,
exclusive pedestrian phases at signalized intersections, and LED-illuminated crosswalks at mid-
block locations.
Exclusive Pedestrian Phases and Pedestrian Scramble Operations are treatments utilized at
intersections with high pedestrian usage. When either one of these two treatments are in place
at an intersection, all vehicles traveling on all legs of the intersection are stopped on red and
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pedestrians are allowed to cross in all directions. In the case of Pedestrian Scramble
Operations, pedestrians are also allowed to cross diagonally. Exclusive pedestrian timing has
been shown to reduce pedestrian crashes by 50 percent in locations with heavy pedestrian
volumes and low vehicle speeds and volumes.
Although there are no pedestrian scramble intersections currently in operation in Miami-Dade
County, there are various intersections in Miami Beach where exclusive pedestrian phases are
in operation. In addition, most intersections adjacent to a school in the City are equipped with
exclusive pedestrian phases during school drop-off and pick-up times. To balance both
pedestrian and vehicular demands, some signalized intersections in the City operate as dual
mode, providing exclusive pedestrian phases only during certain hours of the day (when most
needed)and normal pedestrian phasing at all other times.
Unlike exclusive pedestrian phases, pedestrian scramble operations have to be in effect 24
hours a day, regardless of whether there are pedestrians crossing the intersection or not.
Federal standards in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) specify that
crosswalks at signalized intersections must be equipped with pedestrian signals. Given that a
pedestrian scramble intersection allows for pedestrians to cross diagonally, the scramble
feature must be in effect at all times. While this feature is intended to enhance pedestrian safety,
it is worth noting that pedestrian scramble operations will adversely impact vehicular traffic flow
more than exclusive pedestrian phase operation given that the crossing distance is diagonal and
longer, and, hence, the pedestrian crossing time needs to be longer (i.e. more red time for
vehicles).
While the County's recently adopted Complete Streets Handbook provides for pedestrian
scramble operations to enhance pedestrian safety at intersections, no specific warrant analysis
currently exists to evaluate the need for exclusive pedestrian phases or pedestrian scramble
operations, thus, candidate intersections need to be studied and presented to the Miami-Dade
County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW)and the Florida Department of
Transportation (F DOT), as applicable, for review and approval.
Scramble crosswalks were discussed at the November 14, 2018 City Commission Meeting.At
the meeting, staff proposed the implementation of scramble crosswalks at the intersection of
Meridian Avenue and 17th Street. This location was identified in a pedestrian and bicycle safety
feasibility study for Meridian Avenue from Dade Boulevard to 16 Street. At the meeting,the City
Commission directed staff to identify other intersections in the City with higher levels of
pedestrian activity that would be more suitable for pedestrian scramble crosswalks and referred
the item to NCAC for further discussion.
ANALYSIS
This item was discussed at the March 19, 2019 NCAC meeting. At the meeting, staff
presented four (4) intersections in the City that could be evaluated for potential scramble
crosswalk operation given that these intersections are currently equipped with exclusive
pedestrian phases. The 4 intersections are as follows: 1) Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue, 2)
Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue, 3) Lincoln Road and Alton Road, and 4) 5th Street and
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Collins Avenue.
At the meeting, staff recommended that an in-house traffic study be conducted for the
intersection of Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue to determine feasibility of a pedestrian
scramble crosswalk at that intersection and for further discussion with FDOT and Miami-Dade
County. The NCAC passed a motion by acclamation endorsing staff's recommendation and
requested that staff return to NCAC in 90 days with an update on the study's draft findings and
recommendations.
The recommended feasibility/traffic study for a potential pedestrian scramble crosswalk at the
intersection of Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road will require data collection by one of the
Transportation Department's traffic engineering consultants currently under contract. The
anticipated cost of the data collection at this intersection is estimated to be $7,000. Funds for
the data collection will be provided by the Transportation Department's FY 2018/19 operating
budget.. The data will be analyzed and modeled by City staff and the results will be presented
to the County and FDOT for discussion. The traffic analysis and interagency discussions are
anticipated to take 90 days. Subsequently, both the County and FDOT would need to conduct
formal technical reviews of the traffic study. This process is anticipated to take from 2 to 4
months.
If the scramble crosswalk at Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road is found to be feasible and
subsequently approved by FDOT and the County, staff will begin coordinating the
implementation. Any funding required for implementation of a pedestrian scramble crosswalk at
this intersection will be requested as part of the Fiscal Year 2020/21 capital budget process.
KEY INTENDED OUTCOMES SUPPORTED
Ensure Comprehensive Mobility Addressing All Modes Throughout The City
Legislative Tracking
Transportation
Sponsor
Commissioner Michael Gongora
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