LTC 578-2017 ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH TRANSPORTATION PLANMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# 578-2017
LETT R TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Cmiss
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manage
DATE: December 4, 2017
SUBJECT: ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH i - ANSPORTATION PLAN
For the sixteenth year in a row, the world-class art fair Art Basel Miami Beach returns to the
Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC), fresh on the heels of inking a long-term deal to
cement this relationship for another five years. Due to the complex nature of the current
Convention Center renovation and expansion project, this year's show will have a unique
pedestrian and vehicular flow, unlike any years prior.
Beginning on Tuesday, December 5 and continuing through Sunday, December 10, Convention
Center Drive (CCD) will be closed to all pedestrian access. The western most lanes of CCD will
be open to vehicular traffic, flowing northbound only. The eastern most lanes will be closed.
Throughout the duration of the show, CCD will be restricted to VIP cardholders only, including
VIPs with dual access cards to Art Basel and Design Miami. VIPs will be required to present their
card at the 17th Street entrance to CCD to gain vehicular access, and will then be allowed to
valet or drop off at the Botanical Garden where they will cue for VIP -only west side entrance to
MBCC. There will be no access to CCD via Dade Boulevard.
At the same time, there will be no eastbound access on 18th Street. The City Hall garage will be
restricted to valet usage only on December 6 and 7, and VIP self -parking and valet only for the
duration of the show through December 10.
The current Washington Avenue MOT will remain in place with the two eastern most lanes
continuing to flow with two way traffic. The Art Basel Box Office will be located on Washington
Avenue this year, where guests may pick up both VIP and general access credentials. Valet will
be available on Jackie Gleason Drive in front of The Fillmore. Art Basel will also provide shuttle
service between the east and west side of MBCC with pick up/ drop off at Washington and 17th
Street; Meridian and 19th Street; and Washington Avenue and 20th Street. Pedestrian access to
MBCC on the West Side will be available at 18th and Washington Avenue and 20th and
Washington Avenue.
For the past several months, the City has worked closely and diligently with Art Basel to create
extensive signage and communications plans pointing guests to the public entrance on the east
side of MBCC and the VIP entrance on the west side of MBCC. However, due to the complex
choreography of both vehicular and pedestrian access this year, it is likely that traffic will be
significant. Administration will continue to communicate across all channels to ensure that
residents and visitors alike are informed and safe through the course of Art Week in Miami
Beach.
JLM:ES