LTC 063-2018 Meridian Avenue Safety Initiatives UpdateOFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC #
063-2018
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber ana Members Df the City
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manage
, r__� I
DATE: February 10, 2018
LETTER TO COMMISSION
mmission
SUBJECT: MERIDIAN AVENUE SAFETY INITIATIVES UPDATE
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to provide an update on the status of ongoing
projects to improve safety along Meridian Avenue between Dade Boulevard and 17th Street.
The Meridian Avenue accident on February 4th was unfortunate, and the City's thoughts are with
the victims of the accident. While such accidents are beyond the City's control, and could
potentially occur on any City roadway, the following ongoing City initiatives are focusing on
creating a safe environment for pedestrians and bicyclists along Meridian Avenue via traffic
calming and safety improvements for all users.
Sight Visibility: As an immediate measure, the Parking Department has refreshed pavement
markings and installed plastic delineators to restrict parking and improve sight visibility from
driveways along this portion of Meridian Avenue.
Data Collection and Traffic Analysis: Data collection and traffic analysis is an important first
step in implementing roadway safety improvements such as signalized pedestrian crosswalks.
The Transportation Department has engaged a traffic consultant who is currently collecting
pedestrian and traffic data along Meridian Avenue between 17th Street and Dade Boulevard.
The data collection effort should be completed in two weeks.. To supplement this effort, Police
has installed a speed feedback trailer as a temporary measure to help raise awareness of the
current speed limit. In addition, Police is currently installing a traffic radar recorder to collect
speeds along the corridor.
Using the data collected, Transportation Department staff will conduct a traffic analysis to
determine if a signalized pedestrian crosswalk is warranted along this portion of Meridian
Avenue. By Home Rule Charter, traffic control is under the jurisdiction of the County, even
within incorporated areas and municipalities. As such, Miami -Dade County Department of
Transportation and Public Works will need to review and approve the City's traffic analysis, once
completed. If the County concurs that a signalized pedestrian crosswalk is warranted, the City
will complete a design and seek County and/or City funding for the installation of the pedestrian
signal through the budget process. If a signal is not warranted, the City will explore the
installation of alternative pedestrian enhancements, such as pedestrian push -button -activated
flashing beacons.
Lincoln Road District Master Plan: The Lincoln Road District Master Plan from October 2015
recommends wider sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and narrower travel lanes to the north and south of
Lincoln Road Mall, all traffic calming features that will help improve safety. The 100% design
LTC- Meridian Avenue Safety Initiatives Update
February 10, 2018
Page 2
plans for Lincoln Road District include buffered bicycle lanes along Meridian Avenue between
Lincoln Road and 17th Street, which will help calm traffic and provide additional space between
pedestrians, cyclists, and the travel lane. The City has contracted with a Construction Manager
who is currently performing pre -construction services for the Lincoln Road project.
Meridian Avenue Complete Street: The traffic data collection effort described above will be
used for a Complete Street Feasibility Study that is being initiated for Meridian Avenue between
Dade Boulevard and 17th Street, and from Lincoln Road to 16th Street. These are the portions
not included in the Lincoln Road District design plans discussed above. This Complete Street
Study furthers the recommendation of the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) adopted by the
City Commission on April 13, 2016 to implement protected bicycle lanes along Meridian
Avenue, providing a direction connection between the existing Dade Boulevard Shared -Use
Path and the existing green bike lanes on 16th Street. The Complete Street Study is anticipated
to be completed by July 2018. Once the study is completed, the City will expedite the
implementation of the recommended improvements with existing funding.
We hope that the above initiatives shows the City's commitment to improving safety for all users
of Meridian Avenue.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
3IJ6
JLM/KGB/JRG/LKW
F:\TRAN\$ALL\LTC\LTC - Meridian Avenue Projects.docx