Resolution 2021-31674 RESOLUTION NO. 2021-31674
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA,APPROVING THE CROSS SECTION
PROPOSED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FOR THE FUTURE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT ON STATE ROAD
907/ALTON ROAD, BETWEEN MICHIGAN AVENUE AND 43 STREET,
INCLUDING REDUCED LANE WIDTHS OF 10 FEET INSIDE LANES AND
11 FEET OUTSIDE LANES; AND FURTHER, URGING THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL
PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT CORRIDOR.
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Transportation ("FDOT") is currently in the
design development phase of a roadway reconstruction project on SR907/Alton Road
between Michigan Avenue and 43 Street; and
WHEREAS, the scope of work includes a full reconstruction of the project corridor
including installation of a new drainage system, pavement reconstruction, street lighting,
striping/pavement markings, signage, and the construction of a new sidewalk and
separated 2-way bike path on the east side of Alton Road adjacent to the Miami Beach
Golf Course; and
WHEREAS, the City has been working with FDOT to develop a street design for
Alton Road that will improve safety, reduce speeds, and improve pedestrian and bicycle
safety and connectivity; and
WHEREAS, to promote traffic calming, FDOT is proposing to narrow the existing
inside lanes (adjacent to the median) from 11 feet to 10 feet and the outside lanes from
12 feet to 11 feet; and
WHEREAS, prior to finalizing the design for the Alton Road project, FDOT has
requested that the Mayor and City Commission approve, via Resolution, the proposed
reduced lane withs; and
WHEREAS,the proposed lane width reductions are expected to reduce vehicular
speeds and crashes along this section of Alton Road as well as facilitate the proposed
sidewalk and two-way bike path on the east side of Alton Road adjacent to the Miami
Beach Golf Course; and
WHEREAS, City staff is working with FDOT to include additional pedestrian
crosswalks along the project corridor to improve pedestrian safety and convenience.
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 approve the cross section proposed by the Florida Department of
Transportation for the future reconstruction project on State Road 907/Alton Road
between Michigan Avenue and 43 Street, including reduced lane withs of 10 feet inside
lanes and 11 feet outside lanes; and further, urging the Florida Department of
Transportation to include additional pedestrian crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety
throughout the project corridor. ,,II
PASSED and ADOPTED this;a 9 .day. N/lr112021.
ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
424
Rafael E. Granado, City CI rk
� ,, APPROVED AS TO
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MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J.Aguila, Interim City Manager
DATE: April 29, 2021
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE CROSS SECTION
PROPOSED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FOR THE FUTURE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT ON STATE ROAD
907/ALTON ROAD, BETWEEN MICHIGAN AVENUE AND 43 STREET,
INCLUDING REDUCED LANE WIDTHS OF 10 FEET INSIDE LANES AND
11 FEET OUTSIDE LANES; AND FURTHER, URGING THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL
PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT CORRIDOR.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission adopt the resolution
approving the proposed cross section, including reduced lane widths of 10 feet inside lanes and
11 feet outside lanes, as proposed by the Florida Department of Transportation for the future
reconstruction project on State Road (SR) 907/Alton Road between Michigan Avenue and 43
Street; and urging the Florida Department of Transportation to include additional pedestrian
crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety throughout the project corridor.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
SR 907/Alton Road is an arterial roadway in the State Highway System under the jurisdiction of
the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). In the section between Michigan Avenue
and 43 Street, Alton Road is a four-lane roadway divided by a center landscaped median. The
road has on-street parallel parking on the west side between Michigan Avenue and Chase
Avenue. North of 41 Street, the typical section includes on-street parallel parking on both sides
of the street. Under the existing conditions, Alton Road has a sidewalk on the west side only
and a non-continuous bike lane on the east side for northbound bicycle travel only. The inside
lanes on Alton Road are currently 11 feet wide and the outside lanes are 12 feet wide.
FDOT is currently working on the roadway design for Alton Road between Michigan Avenue and
43 Street. The scope of work includes a full reconstruction of the project corridor including
installation of a new drainage system, pavement reconstruction, street lighting, striping/pavement
markings, signage, and the construction of a new sidewalk and separated 2-way bike path on the
east side of Alton Road adjacent to the Miami Beach Golf Course. The project is currently
Page 278 of 538
approaching 60% design development phase and is scheduled to commence construction in
2025. Prior to finalizing the design for Mon Road. FDOT has requested that the City Commission
approve via Resolution the proposed reduced lane widths.
A common concern from the community in this section of Alton Road is vehicular speeding in
both directions. Given that physical traffic calming devices typically used on local roads, such
as speed tables, speed humps, and traffic circles, are not permitted on arterial roadways, one of
the most effective approaches to reducing vehicular speeds is through context-sensitive street
design, including narrowing travel lanes, adding bike lanes, and incorporating safe pedestrian
crossings
ANALYSIS
The City's Transportation and Mobility Department staff has been working closely with FDOT in
developing a new street design for Alton Road. In particular, the City has been exploring ways
to make the street safer for all users and more livable and contextual to the surrounding land use
by incorporating bicycle facilities and pedestrian amenities (sidewalks and crosswalks) in the
design plans as well as by incorporating traffic calming measures to reduce speeds through
safe street design. Attached is the draft typical section as proposed by FDOT for the Alton
Road reconstruction project.
As part of a separate effort, the Transportation and Mobility Department completed the Alton
Road Shared-Use Path Feasibility Study in 2019 which recommended a new sidewalk and a
separated two-way bike path on the east side of Alton Road from Michigan Avenue to 43 Street
and along the east side of Old Alton Road between 43 Street and Chase Avenue, including new
lighting, hardscape, and landscaping. The concept was approved by the City Commission and
provided to FDOT for inclusion in the design and construction of the Alton Road reconstruction
project.
In June 2019, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2019-30852 supporting the FDOT
Alton Road reconstruction project and prioritizing the inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian
facilities to improve safety and connectivity as part of the future Alton Road project. Pursuant to
the City Commission resolution, FDOT is working on incorporating the new sidewalk and
separated two-way bike path on the east side of Alton Road as proposed by the City in the
future Alton Road reconstruction project with some of the path enhancements to be funded by
the City.
An essential element in making a street more livable and reducing vehicular speeds is narrowing
travel lanes. As a result of the City's request, FDOT is proposing to narrow the width of the
existing travel lanes on Alton Road. Specifically, FDOT is proposing narrowing the inside lanes
(adjacent to the median)from 11 feet to 10 feet and the outside lanes from 12 feet to 11 feet.
This is expected to reduce speeds and crashes along this section of the corridor and facilitate
the proposed sidewalk and separated two-way bike path on the east side of Alton Road
adjacent to the Miami Beach Golf Course. According to the Federal Highway Administration,
narrowing travel lanes is effective in reducing speeds along a corridor by 10 to 15%. It is
important to note that due to high truck volumes on Alton Road, FDOT does not support
narrowing the outside lanes to less than 11 feet in width given most trucks travel on the outside
lanes and need a safe buffer on each side to minimize the potential of sideswipe collisions with
vehicles on the adjacent lane.
Page 279 of 538
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
Based on the 2019 Resident Survey, 47% of residents responded that at least one person in
their household regularly rides a bike and 33% of residents consider bicycling the most viable
alternative to using cars for trips within Miami Beach. Based on the same survey, while 64% of
residents feel somewhat safe when riding their bicycle in the City, 37% of residents feel unsafe.
CONCLUSION
FDOT is currently in the design development phase of a roadway reconstruction project on
SR907/Alton Road between Michigan Avenue and 43 Street. The City has been working with
FDOT to develop a street design for Alton Road that will improve safety, reduce speeds, and
improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and connectivity. To promote traffic calming, FDOT is
proposing to narrow the existing travel lanes. The proposed lane width reductions are expected
to reduce vehicular speeds and crashes along this section of Alton Road as well as facilitate the
proposed sidewalk and two-way bike path on the east side of Alton Road adjacent to the Miami
Beach Golf Course. Additionally, City staff is working with FDOT to include additional
pedestrian crosswalks along the project corridor to improve pedestrian safety and convenience.
Prior to finalizing the design of the future Alton Road project between Michigan Avenue and 43
Street, FDOT has requested that the City Commission approve the proposed cross section, in
particular the reduced lane widths. The Administration recommends that the City Commission
adopt a resolution approving the cross section as proposed by F DOT.
Applicable Area
Middle Beach
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item.pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
No No
Strategic Connection
Mobility- Increase multi-modal mobility citywide and connectivity regionally.
Legislative Tracking
Transportation and Mobility
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Attachment- Draft Typical Section
❑ Resolution
Page 280 of 538
Attachment
ALTON ROAD DRAFT TYPICAL SECTION
Michigan Avenue to Chase Avenue
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Page 281 of 538