LTC 222-2013 Traffic Assessment of Proposed 30 Day Maintenance MIAMI ?E'
._ R E G �.:.. i fir` F0
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
2013 JUL —2 Pfd 3: 09
NO. LTC # 222 -2013 TTER TO CP I M�I�S I :SlC�I�,J -; firs
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Me bers of the ty Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: June 27 2013
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT OF PRO OSED 30 DAY MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC
PLAN FOR CLOSURE OF SR 907 /ALTON ROAD AT 5TH STREET FLY -OVER
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide an update on the FDOT State Road (SR)
907 /Alton Road Reconstruction Project from 5' Street to Michigan Avenue and, in particular, a
proposed thirty (30) day closure. of the 5 Street fly -over in order to replace the existing
substandard traffic barriers and approach slabs on the fly -over.
Initially, FDOT proposed that the fly -over work would not require full closure except for 10 days
related to the approach slabs, but only narrowing of the fly -over for a six (6) month period (180
calendar.days). As per FDOT plans, the fly -over construction would require nightly work (12:00
AM to 5:00 AM). The proposed narrowing would take the fly -over from its current width to
approximately 10 feet at its narrowest point. In addition, the radius of the curve at the fly -over
would be affected by the narrowing, thus, as a safety precaution, FDOT would be required to
prohibit truck access on the fly -over. Upon further review of the means and methods of
construction, FDOT determined that nightly closures of the fly -over would be required in order
for the contractor to safely perform the work. The narrowing of the fly -over would remain even
during the non - working hours.
As a' result of outstanding safety concerns associated with narrowing the fly -over, and in an
effort to shorten the duration of the fly -over work, the contractor has advised FDOT and the City
of Miami Beach of an alternate Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) proposal consisting of the full
closure of the fly -over for 30 consecutive calendar days. The full closure of the fly -over would
allow the contractor to work longer shifts, safer and more efficiently, thus completing this work
earlier. The contractor has committed to completing all fly -over work in 30 consecutive calendar
days. This option represents a reduction of 150 calendar days in comparison to the approved
narrowing option. This proposal would also reduce noise pollution to surrounding properties at
night.
The contractor retained the services of a traffic engineering consultant to gauge the impacts of
the full closure'as.compared to the narrowing option and existing conditions. The proposed full
closure would require the contractor to perform alignment modifications to the intersection of 5th
Street and Alton Road in order to accommodate additional capacity in the eastbound direction.
Following the analysis by the traffic consultant, and based on -input from FDOT staff and City of
Miami Beach (City) staff, -it was determined that the lane configurations needed to mitigate the
anticipated traffic impacts due to the full closure would include an eastbound left /through lane,
an eastbound through lane, and an eastbound right /through lane.
As a result -of FDOT and City staff concerns with anticipated traffic delays and excessive
congestion approaching the intersection of 5 Street and Alton Road, particularly from the west,
F: \WORK \$ALL \(1) EMPLOYEE FOLDERS \Josiel Ferrer \LTC
FDOT SR 907 1Alton Road from 5` Street to Michigan Avenue Fly -Over Construction
June 7, 2013
Page 2 of 2
the FDOT's traffic engineering consultant performed a traffic modeling analysis that resulted in
the following delays and queue lengths:
Alternate MOT Proposed by
Existing Conditions MOT per Approved FDOT Plans Contractor
Delay (sec) Queue Length (ft) Delay (sec) Queue Length (ft) Delay (sec) Queue Length (ft)
EB 29.7 430 34.2 490 122 606
W 23.1 440 23.1 440 40 492
Existing Conditions MOT by Approved Plan MOT Prop. by the Contractor
Delay (sec) Queue Length (ft) Delay (sec) Queue Length (ft) Delay (sec) Queue Length (ft)
EB 30.7 400 75.2 N/A 129.4 635
WB 53 870 53 870 196.1 765
It is important to note that FDOT's Traffic Operations Department and Construction Department
have reviewed the proposal for full closure and offered their support via a letter to the City
(Attachment).
As shown in the table above, the eastbound intersection delays for the alternate MOT proposal
by the contractor are higher as compared to existing conditions and the MOT as per FDOT
plans. It is worth noting that the queuing analysis shown above does not take into consideration
the nightly closures as they are outside of peak hours. The concern with the increase in delay is
that the compound effect will result in longer queues approaching the intersection from the west;
however, based on the reduced duration of construction and impacts to the community, as well
as a commitment from FDOT and its contractor to deploy a robust public outreach program, City
staff recommends that the full closure of the fly -over for 30 consecutive calendar days be
supported.
FDOT recognizes the need to enhance its public outreach program to effectively communicate
the upcoming closure of the fly -over and ensure the success of this alternate MOT plan. An
engineering task force, comprised of FDOT staff, contractor, traffic engineers, and City staff has
been formed to further analyze the alternate /detour routes, monitor traffic flow through the use
of traffic cameras, and coordinate the necessary modifications to the network and signal timings
to help mitigate traffic impacts due to the closure of the fly -over.
The FDOT public outreach team and contractor will initiate contact with the City Administration
and staff to coordinate the public outreach effort. The contractor anticipates performing the
closure beginning July 14 through August 13
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
KGB /A /JFD
F: \WORK \$ALL \(1) EMPLOYEE FOLDERS \Josiel Ferrer \LTC
. t
Florida Department of ` ra sportation
RICK - SCOTT Mirth Miami -Dade Construction A\AN' 11 PRASAD, P.E.
C OVER OR 1773' X 205"''Stivet SECRETARY
`d. Miami Beach, l T, 3 P(
June 24, 2013 DELIVERED BY ELECTRONIC MAIL
Eric T. Carpenter, P.E., Public Works Director_
1700 Convention. Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL-33139
EricCarpenter@miamiboachfl.gov
RE: Financial Project ID: 249911- 1- 52 -01, 249911- 1- 52 -02, 249911- 1- 56 -01, 249911- 3- 52 -01,
249911- 3 -52 -02
Contract: T -6290
FAP: 6227004U,6227002U
County: Miami -Dade
Description: SR 907 (Alton Road) from 5th Street to Michigan Avenue and at 5th
Street,' 10th Street and 14th Street
ALTON ROAD FLYOVER BRIDGE CLOSURES
Director Carpenter:
After careful analysis and .consideration, the Florida Department of Transportation has decided to
approve Bergeron. Land Development's proposal to close the Alton Road flyover bridge from the
MacArthur Causeway to northbound Alton Road for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days.
Although the FDOT acknowledges the increased congestion this closure will cause at the intersection
of Alton Road and 5th Street, we also recognize the significant benefits to this closure:
1. Bridge construction operations condensed to 30 calendar days versus an original 6 month
duration.
2. Limited nighttime operations versus the original plan which called for nightly closures between
12AM and 5AM
3. Safer passage for vehicles including. trucks.on at- grade streets vs. the flyover bridge with reduced
lane width
4. Safer workzone: for workers without the conflict caused by vehicles on the bridge during
construction operations
5. Limitation of the operation during non - school and non - holiday period of July 14, 2013 through
August 18, 2013
A disincentive clause for the late reopening of the bridge will be included in the construction contract.
The disincentive will be $5,000 /day up to $25,000.
The contractor will be required to provide .a detailed Maintenance of Traffic plan clearly identifying the
proposed detour routes with signage and the necessary traffic signaljzation adjustments to be
implemented. Also, in conjunction with the FDOT and the City of Miami Beach, the contractor will lead
www.dot.statefl.us
-an. aggressive Public Information -campaign to advise the affected community and commuters of
viable detour routes.
'I'd like to thank you and your staff for your attention and comments during the analysis of the
proposed closure. Our CEI and Public Information staff is prepared to work with the contractor and
the- City in the implementation of the closure. Please contact me with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,.
J I
Mark Croft, P.E.
District Construction Engineer
cc: Gus Pego, Debora Rivera, Mario Cabrera, Saud Kahn, Ivan Hay, Amanda Shotton, Daniel
Iglesias, Evelin Legoevic, Enrique Tamayo, Time File