LTC 413-2019 FDOT MacARTHUR CAUSEWAY BRIDGE REHABILITATION PROJECT IMPACTMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC 413 -2019
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of th ty Commiss n
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 19, 2019
SUBJECT: FDOT MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY BRIDGE REHABILITATION PROJECT
IMPACT: LIST OF SCHEDULED SPECIAL EVENT RACES FOR 2019 -2020.
The purpose of this Letter to the Commission ( "LTC ") is to inform the Mayor and City
Commission of upcoming 2019/20 special events bicycle and running races that will be
affected by the McArthur Causeway East/West construction.
As the FDOT MacArthur Causeway Bridge Rehabilitation Project continues to impact City
residents, business and overall traffic congestion, the Tourism and Culture Department
( "TCD ") remains in regular communication with race producers as to scheduling and
routes of upcoming events. Accordingly, race producers, in collaboration with City
departments, including Transportation, Public Works and Police, have prepared
Maintenance of Traffic ( "MOT ") plans that will mitigate any substantial negative impact on
anyone entering or exiting Miami Beach during these permitted events. These races, with
similar MOT modifications and alternate routes, were successful in 2018, with minimal
impact to residents and businesses.
Below is a list of upcoming races for 2019 -2020 with potential impact on the MacArthur
Causeway:
1. Escape to Miami Triathlon - Sunday, September 22nd, 2019 - (MacArthur
Causeway - one westbound lane and shoulder) This 14- year -old triathlon utilizes
one westbound lane and shoulder of the MacArthur Causeway with the turn -
around taking place at Bridge Road/ Star Island. The route starts at Margaret Pace
Park (Miami), travels eastbound via one westbound lane and the westbound
shoulder of the MacArthur Causeway. Runners turn at Bridge Road (west of the
closure area) and return via the same MacArthur westbound lanes to Miami. This
is the run portion of the race which takes place between 8 :20 am and 11:20 am
(cycling and swimming portions of the triathlon do not impact the MacArthur
Causeway). This race is connected to each of the Miami Beach causeways via
Biscayne Boulevard. In addition, the race event will also close the outside shoulder
and outside lane in each direction of the Julia Tuttle Causeway for the bike portion
of the event, which is anticipated to occur between 7:20 am and 11:00 am. For the
portion of the race affecting Julia Tuttle traffic portions of Alton Road will be
detoured for the event. The City will assist in minimizing impact on the MacArthur
Causeway, with additional police presence within the closure area and residential
entry for Star and Palm /Hibiscus Islands, to ensure smooth transitions and
minimize community disruptions.
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2. Best Buddies Training Rides - Saturday, September 28th and Friday,
November 22nd, 2019 - (MacArthur Causeway westbound, west of closure). Small
race of 35 cyclers. Route is mitigated by cyclists exiting via the Fisher Island
terminal onto MacArthur Causeway, west of the closure area, Miami bound at
7:OOam. This event will consist of rolling lane closures only and no detours or hard
closures, thus reducing impacts to the motoring public.
3, Miami Marathon, Half Marathon & Tropical 5K — Saturday, Saturday February
8th and Sunday, February 9th, 2020 - (MacArthur Causeway eastbound/Venetian
Causeway westbound). The Miami Marathon is an annual marathon sporting event
including Miami, Miami Beach, as well as the county of Miami -Dade. It is one of
the fastest - growing annual marathons, attracting world -class distance runners. It
is the highlight of the race season.
o The Tropical 5K portion of the Miami Marathon uses two eastbound lanes
of the MacArthur Causeway, turn slightly right onto Alton Road south
bound, then left onto to South Pointe Drive where the 5K ends. The 5K
starts at 7:15 am at Watson Island and ends by 9:15 am at South Point
Drive. Given the expected current and future impacts on the MacArthur
Causeway the City will work with the event producer to re -route any portion
of the race affected by future construction.
The Miami Marathon & Half Marathon uses two eastbound lanes and the
shoulder of the MacArthur Causeway, turns slightly right onto Alton Road,
loops around South of Fifth Street, north to Lummus Park, turn slightly west
to Washington Avenue, continues north to Dade Boulevard, and then exits
Miami Beach via the westbound Venetian Causeway. This race starts in
Downtown Miami by the American Airlines Arena at 6:00 am and exits
Miami Beach by 10:00 am. This race is a high traffic impact event.
4. 305 Half Marathon Sunday, March 1St, 2020 - (Julia Tuttle Causeway
westbound /MacArthur Causeway eastbound - one lane and shoulder on each
causeway). The 305 Half Marathon starts on Lummus Park moves north toward
Alton Road to Julia Tuttle Causeway utilizing one eastbound lane and shoulder.
On the return, the race utilizes one eastbound lane and shoulder of MacArthur
Causeway eastbound into Miami Beach ending at Lummus Park. This race starts
at 6:15 am and ends at 10:00 am. The City will continue to work with the event
producer and explore the possibility of inverting the route and utilize MacArthur
Causeway on the earlier part of the race, to lessen the impact to entry into Miami
Beach. The same organizers will hold a 5K on March 3, 2019.
5. South Beach Triathlon — Sunday, April 19th, 2020 - (MacArthur Causeway /Julia
Tuttle — one lane and shoulder east /west on each causeway). This triathlon uses
one eastbound lane and shoulder and one westbound lane and shoulder of the
Julia Tuttle Causeway. Because the race has two distance qualifiers, they will also
use one eastbound lane and shoulder and one westbound lane and shoulder of
the MacArthur Causeway. This race starts at 7:00 am and ends at 11:00 am.
As part of the special events process, the applicant will be required to provide the
following:
• Variable message boards (VMS) will be deployed by event producer four (4) days
in advance of the race, listing race information and road closures. The (VMS) signs
remain in place until the event is completed;
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• Producer will canvass the affected routes and place door hangers, and send
notifications via certified mail; and obtains sign -offs from affected business;
• Provide the City with a Traffic Advisory that is sent out via City's Communications
Department by email, text and website messaging; and
• Advertise the race in local newspapers, news outlets and social media outlets.
In addition, the City's Traffic Monitoring and Management team will monitor traffic
conditions along the impacted thoroughfares throughout the event and implement signal
timing modifications as needed. The City's Traffic Monitor will also have a direct line of
communication with Police Department and request assistance, as needed, to enforce
blocking of intersections or any other incident affecting traffic flow during the event.
Tourism and Culture, Transportation, Public Works and Police Departments will continue
to work with each event organizer to review all relevant materials and mitigate community
impact, where possible, including monitoring construction progress and advising on
foreseeable challenges.
We will continue to work with City departments and event producers to ensure that our
annual events can proceed successfully, safely, and with minimal impact on the MacArthur
Causeway construction project and our Miami Beach neighborhoods.
Attachment: Course maps
C: Marcia Monserrat, Chief of Staff
Eric Carpenter, Assistant City Manager
Jose Gonzalez, Transportation Director
Josiel Ferrer, Transportation Assistant Director
Matt Kenny, Tourism and Culture Director
Heather Shaw, Tourism and Culture Assistant Director
Linette Nodarse, Special Events Liaison
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