2009-27000 ResoRESOLUTION NO.
2009-27000
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING A PREFERRED NORTH BEACH LOCAL
ROUTE ALIGNMENT, AND REQUESTING ITS IMPLEMENTATION BY MIAMI-
DADETRANSIT (MDT) AS PART OF THE APRIL 2009 BUS ROUTE SELECTION
PROCESS; AND FURTHER REQUESTING MDT TO MAINTAIN BUS ROUTES
CURRENTLY SERVED BY THE K AND R ROUTES FOR THE ACTIVE REGIONAL
RIDERSHIP OF NORTH BEACH RESIDENTS.
WHEREAS, the Municipal Mobility Plan, Coastal Communities Transportation Master Plan,
and Coastal Communities Transit Study propose a local transit bus circulator in the North Beach
neighborhood of Miami Beach called the North Beach Local (NBL); and
WHEREAS, the City initiated the planning of the NBL route in coordination with MDT and
residents in the North Beach; and
WHEREAS, based on the results of this extensive public involvement process, the final
version of the NBL route was presented at a Miami Beach "Mayor on the Move" meeting on January
13, 2009; and
WHEREAS, the attendees of the "Mayor on the Move" meeting expressed support of the
NBL, since it will improve mobility, economic development, and affordable alternative transportation
in the area; and
WHEREAS, on January 5, 2009, the City received a letter from Miami-Dade County Mayor
Carlos Alvarez stating that, due to a lack of available funding, MDT may not be able to expand or
enhance the existing transit system; and
WHEREAS, on January 22, 2009, MDT informed City staff that, as a result of budgetary
constraints, MDT would not be able to provide funding for the implementation of the NBL; and
WHEREAS, the City Administration would recommend that the Mayor and City Commission
approve the NBL route and its implementation by MDT as part of the April 2009 bus route selection
process.
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 approve a preferred North Beach Local route alignment; and request its implementation by
Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) as part of the April 2009 bus route selection process; and further request
MDT to maintain bus routes currently served by the K and R Routes for the active regional ridership
of North Beach residents.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 28thday of January , 2009.
ATTEST:
~~(~C~ MAYOR
Matti Herrera Bower
APPROVED AS TO
CITY CLERK Robert Parcher FORM & LANGUAGE
ts< FOR EXECUTION
T:\AGENDA\2009Wanuary 28\Consent\NBL RESO.doc
C~~~"'w~7 ` ` 1~23~(~
4
City Attorney Date
COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, approving a preferred
North Beach Local route alignment; and requesting its implementation by Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) as
part of the April 2009 bus route selection process; and further requesting MDT to maintain bus routes
currently served by the K and R Routes for the active regional ridership of the North Beach residents.
Ke Intended Outcome Su orted:
Improve or maintain traffic flow.
Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.):
Residents in the 2007 Community Satisfaction Survey cited traffic congestion as the second most
important factor affecting their quality of life in the City. 24% of residents rated traffic flow excellent or
good, and 37% as poor.
Issue:
Should the City Commission approve the Resolution?
Item Summary/Kecommendation:
The Municipal Mobility Plan, Coastal Communities Transportation Master Plan, and Coastal Communities
Transit Study propose a local transit bus circulator in the North Beach Neighborhood of Miami Beach
called the North Beach Local (NBL). The City initiated the planning of the NBL route in coordination with
MDT and residents in the North Beach Neighborhood. City staff and MDT presented the revised NBL
route at the Transportation and Parking Committee (TPC) subcommittee meeting on December 16, 2008.
Continued planning discussions amongst City staff resulted in a more compact route that would shorten
the headways between buses. This proposed NBL route was presented to representatives of the TPC and
residents of the North Beach Neighborhood. The proposed route was also presented at a Mayor on the
Move meeting on January 13, 2009. The attendees of the Mayor on the Move meeting expressed support
of the proposed NBL route as a starting point. Many residents expressed a desire for the NBL to service
additional neighborhoods in North Beach at some time in the future if additional funding becomes
available. MDT is able to provide the buses, but has not confirmed if they will provide funding to operate
the buses.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
Advisory Board Recommendation:
Financial Information:
Source of Amount Account
Funds: ~
2
3'
OBPI Total
Financial Impact Summary:
Cit Clerk's Office Le islative Trackin
Fernando Vazquez. City Enaineer, x.6399
Sign-Offs:
De artment Director: Asss Mana er ana e
RCM RCM JMG
f:WGENDA\2009Uanuary 28\Consent\NBL Summary.doc
U~
m MIAMIBEACH
I~GEI~IDA ITEM
BATE `LS-O
City of Miami Beath, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez ~
DATE: January 28, 2009 `
suB~ECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAR A1t~U CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING A PREFERRED NORTH BEACH
LOCAL ROUTE ALIGNMENT; AND REQUESTING ITS IMPLEMENTATION
BY MIAMI-DADE TRANSIT (MDT) AS PART OF THE APRIL 2009 BUS
ROUTE SELECTION PROCESS; AND FURTHER REQUESTING MDT TO
MAINTAIN BUS ROUTES CURRENTLY SERVED BY THE K AND R
ROUTES FOR THE ACTIVE REGIONAL RIDERSHIP OF THE NORTH
BEACH RESIDENTS.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution.
BACKGROUND
The Municipal Mobility Plan (MMP), adopted by the City Commission in 1998, and the Coastal
Communities Transportation Master Plan (CCTMP) and Coastal Communities Transit Study
(CCTS), both developed in 2006, propose a local transit bus circulator in the North Beach
neighborhood of Miami Beach called the North Beach Local (NBL). These plans established the
City's vision for transportation and transit and identified projects that provide strategies for
addressing mobility issues. They also reflect a comprehensive approach towards the issue of
transportation by addressing the needs for all types of mobility, including automobiles, transit,
pedestrians, bicycles, and other non-motorized vehicles.
The MMP, CCTMP, and CCTS envisioned the NBL as a complementary service to circulators in
Middle and South Beach to provide local access throughout the City while contributing to
congestion relief. The proposed NBL would provide new transit service to connect commercial
and recreational activity centers with the high density residential neighborhoods in North Beach.
The NBL would provide the advantages of small buses with short headways and low-cost fares
to attract riders who would otherwise contribute to traffic congestion and parking shortages by
driving. It would also provide affordable transit service to low income population that may not
own vehicles. The local circulator is expected to support existing businesses and provide an
incentive to new development in the Town Center.
ANALYSIS
In recent discussions with the City, Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) relayed a verbal commitment to
the implementation of the NBL pursuant to the recommendations of the CCTS. MDT suggested
the NBL implementation would be effective for the County April 2009 bus route selection
process. However, during the past couple of weeks, MDT has relayed to the City that, as a
result of budgetary constraints, the County may be required to reduce the current transit miles
by 2,000,000 miles of transit service this fiscal year. MDT suggested that as a result of this
reduction the NBL may not be a viable option at this time. Moreover, on January 5, 2009 the
City received a letter from Mayor Carlos Alvarez stating that due to a lack of available funding,
MDT may not be able to expand and enhance the existing transit system (please see
Attachment 1, Letter from Mayor Alvarez). On January 22, 2009, MDT informed City staff that
the County would not be able to provide funding for the implementation of the NBL in April. The
City may need the support of the Mayor and City Commission to negotiate the funding of the
NBL route with MDT.
In the interest of remaining proactive, the City continued with the planning of the NBL route with
residents in the North Beach Neighborhood. The City, together with residents from the
community, has looked at ways of maintaining minimum headways in order to avoid incurring
additional operating costs.
PUBLIC PROCESS
On July 14, 2008, the City Commission held a special workshop on Transportation and Growth
Management. At this workshop, the members of the City Commission agreed that the proposed
local bus circulator in North Beach should be a priority project for the City. On October 20,
2008, City staff met with MDT to discuss issues related to the NBL. At the meeting MDT
indicated that they had received a copy of the CCTS and would be looking for opportunities to
integrate the NBL with the transit services that the agency is currently evaluating in Miami
Beach. On November 18, 2008, City staff met with MDT as a follow up from the October
meeting. At this meeting, MDT stated that the implementation of the NBL may result in route
consolidation of existing services of the Route K and Route R. The NBL would not create added
capital costs, and operational costs are expected to be reduced from the route consolidation.
MDT presented a draft route for the NBL which included stops extending into Middle Beach. The
CCTS recommended implementing a separate bus circulator in Middle Beach.
On November 24, 2008 the Public Works Department presented the Middle and North Beach
route to the Neighborhoods and Community Affairs Committee. The committee made a motion
in support of three (3) separate circulators in Miami Beach: the existing South Beach Local, a
new Middle Beach Local, and a new North Beach Local. The Neighborhoods Committee
included in their motion a requirement of a minimum of 12 minute headways and a preferred
fare of 25 cents. A higher priority was assigned by the Committee to establish the NBL as the
first circulator added.
Under the direction of the motion made at the Neighborhoods Committee, City staff began
planning a revised route for the NBL in coordination with MDT and the community, and based
on the following criterion:
• Inventory of existing bus routes.
• Inventory of census data, such as household densities and car ownership.
• Inventory of destination points, such as parks, shopping, schools, libraries, etc.
• Identification of less congested roadways and intersections.
• Achievable headways.
City staff and MDT presented the revised NBL route at the Transportation and Parking
Committee (TPC) subcommittee meeting on December 16, 2008. Based on the results of this
meeting, City staff further revised the NBL route. Continued planning discussions amongst City
staff resulted in a more compact route that would shorten the headways between buses. The
route proposes to extend the northern limits to 81St Street, the southern limits to 69th Street, and
the western limits to Trouville Esplanade. The route is a bi-directional loop that would travel on
Dickens Avenue as well as along Collins and Harding and Normandy Drive and 71St Street as
one-way pairs (please see Attachment 2, Proposed NBL Route). Some portion of the Route R
and Route K, which run along Hawthorne, would therefore be required to maintain transit
service to the residents in that area.
This proposed NBL route was presented to representatives of the TPC, residents of the North
Beach Neighborhood, and Mayor Bower. The proposed route was also presented at a Mayor on
the Move meeting on January 13, 2009. The attendees of the Mayor on the Move meeting
expressed support of the proposed NBL route as a starting point. Many residents expressed a
desire for the NBL to service additional neighborhoods in North Beach at some time in the future
if additional funding becomes available.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The North Beach Local will improve mobility, is important for economic development, and will
enhance the quality of life for local residents and visitors. The Administration recommends the
North Beach Local route for approval and adoption by the City Commission.
Attachments:
1. Letter from Mayor Alvarez
2. P osed North Beach Local Route
JMG/RM/ /XF/CB
T:\AGENDA\2009Wanuary 28\Consent\NBL memo.doc
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
MIAMI-DADS COUNTY, FLORIDA
January 5, 2009
Mr. Xavier Falconi
Transportation Manager
r...lt~~ r?ali
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Dear Mr. Falconi:
m
r_
.~
0
~:
Cn
0
r;
y
z,
~,
3
rn
a
-.~
a~
c_
~.
t
rn
ss
m
f•
!J'1
o~
Thank you for attending the People's Transportation Plan Summit at the Miami Mart Airport
Hotel on November 15, 2008. During the public comments portion of the meeting, you noted that
the Coastal Communities Transit Study, a joint project of the City of Miami Beach and Miami-
Dade Transit, calls for the implementation of bus circulator service in the north and the middle
beach areas of the city, patterned after the successful South Beach Local.
I have been informed that Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) staff has been meeting with you and other
City officials and residents to review the options delineated in the study. However, it is important
that you keep in mind that the central issue presented at the Transit Summit was the lack of
available funding to expand and enhance the existing transit system. Prospective transit
improvements, such as many of the recommendations in the Coastal Community Transit Study,
need to be evaluated within this context.
Again, I would like to thank you for attending the Transit Summit and for providing information
on your work with the Coastal Communities Transit Study.
Sincerely,
~C~ -~° ~,
....,..,e------_
Carlos A. Alvarez
Mayor
George M. Burgess, County Manager
Denis Morales, Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor
Ysela Llort, Assistant County Manager
Harpal S. Kapoor, Director, Miami-Dade Transit
~-,
~ -.--
rT,
}}~_ ~ ~
.Yw rTf
'~^~ rr i
y.~~ ~
~ i
~~
n
STEPHEN P. CLARK CENTER, 1 1 1 N.W. FIRST STREET, SUITE 2910, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33128-1994 • (305) 375-5071 FAX (305) 375-3618
POTENTIAL CIRCULATOR ROUTE