LTC 193-2012 FDOT Proposed Bicycle Lanes MIAM[BEACH
193 -2012
I LETTER TO COMMISIO,I
Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission c� "
FROM: °- ,Kathie'G: Brooks, Interim City Manager
„ DATE: July 25; 2012" '
SUBJECT: FDOT PROPOSED BICYCLE LANES ON ALTON ROAD FROM 5 STR'EE
MICHIGAN AVENUE rl C:)
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to. provide an update on the pending matter of the
proposed bicycle lanes ,on Alton Road as part of the Florida. Department , of Transportation .
(FDOT). roadway reconstruction project that is scheduled to begin in April 2013. The project is
located along State Road 907 /Alton -Road from 5 Street;to Michigan Avenue.
At-the City Commission meeting of July `1 "8; 201'2, FDOT presented an update on the planned
Alton: Road project. During. the presentation, FDOT stated its preferred _position is to install 5
foot.wide standard bicycle lanes along Alton Road as part of the project. Discussion ensued
among the Commission in regards to the safety and appropriateness, of the proposed bicycle
lanes and how "to best move forward given the, City's. longstanding opposition to this position.
City staff stated that a conference call was scheduledfor July 19, 2012, between FDOT-and City,
`staff to discuss this -outstanding matter in particular. The City Commission passed a resolution.
-requesting the , - implementation of bicycle lanes along West Avenue and' one -way bicycle pairs .
along the east -west side streets in lieu of� standard bicycle lanes along the - Alton Road corridor
from 5 Street to Michigan Avenue as proposed' by FDOT.
On July 19 a conference call was held between FDOT and the 'City. Participants included our
Mayor Matti Herrera Bower, Interim City Manager, Kathie G. Brooks, City Administration staff,
City Attorney's staff, FDOT Assistant Secretary :of Engineering. and Operations, FOOT District
Six .Secretary, -FDOT General Counsel, and the City's lobbyist -'in Tallahassee. The City
explained its position and at the conclusion of the conversation, FDOT agreed that the solution
identified in the City's Resolution adopted on July; 18, 2012 is a fair compromise. The City
proposed to install bicycle lanes .on West Avenue 'as an equivalent ; alternative to the bicycle•
lanes on Alton Road as proposed by FOOT. The West Avenue bicycle lane alternative would
include one -way .pair bicycle lanes along the east -west streets to. provide safe connectivity to ..
Alton Road: The City further committed to fund the construction of the bicycle lanes on West
Avenue and the connector streets` a nd t0 begin construction of the bicycle lanes immediately
after "FDOT completes the construction of the Alton.-Road project. This mutually agreeable'
solution would ensure that FDOT -would not need to shift'the curb line or footprint of Alton Road,.
in accordance with the final roadway design plans. FDOT would,` however, modify the current
. roadway plans to reflect the elimination of the. bicycle Janes on Alton , Road. .1n addition, for your
information and in , accordance with FDOT standards, shared lane markings, "or '`sharrows" - will
be installed along`. Alton Road within the project limits..,
It is important to note that bicycle lanes on West Avenue are part of the City's Atlantic Greenway
Network (AG N) Master Plan adopted by City Commission as'well as the West Avenue Basis of
Design Report (BODR). The mutually agreeable. solution reached by the: City and FDOT as a
FDOT Proposed Bicycle Lanes on Alton Road from S Street to Michigan Avenue
July , 25, 2012
Page 2 of 2
result of the July 19 conference call will allow for the implementation of a bicycle facility along
an adjacent" parallel corridor that ensures bicycle safety and connectivity. .
P.lease'feel free'to.'contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
KGB/JSG /FHB /JRG
F: \WORK \$ALL \(1)• EMPLOYEE FOLDERS\Jose R. Gonzalez \LTC \LTC FDOT Proposed Bicycle Lanes on Alton Road'.docx
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