Resolution 2019-30925 RESOLUTION NO. 2019-30925
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, FINDING THAT THE
INTERSECTION OF 41ST STREET AND JEFFERSON AVENUE
SHOULD BE DESIGNATED AS AN OFFICIAL STUDENT
CROSSING AND ACCORDINGLY: (1) REQUESTING THAT THE
SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DESIGNATE THE
41ST STREET AND JEFFERSON AVENUE INTERSECTION AS
AN OFFICIAL STUDENT CROSSING AND AS PART OF A SAFE
ROUTE TO SCHOOL; AND (2) URGING THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO IMPLEMENT A
SIGNALIZED CROSSING FOR THIS INTERSECTION TO
ENHANCE STUDENT AND GENERAL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
WHEREAS, SR 112/41 st Street is under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department
of Transportation ("FDOT"); and
WHEREAS, the lack of marked pedestrian crossings at the intersection of SR
112/41st Street/ and Jefferson Avenue has been a recurring safety concern for some
time; and
WHEREAS, there have been various accidents at this intersection, including four
pedestrians hit and injured over the last ten years (with two of the injured pedestrians
being under 14 years old); and
WHEREAS, the demand to cross 41st Street at Jefferson Avenue has increased in
the last few years as a result of new businesses and the new after-school enrichment
program attended by approximately 600 Nautilus Middle School students; and
WHEREAS, on January 22, 2019, the City's Committee for Quality Education
passed a motion urging the City of Miami Beach to work with FDOT to implement a safe
pedestrian crossing at the intersection of 41st Street and Jefferson Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the Nautilus Middle School Parent-Teacher-Student Association sent
a letter to Mayor Gelber regarding the need to improve pedestrian safety by way of a
pedestrian crossing at this intersection; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager sent a letter, dated February 1, 2019, to FDOT
District Secretary Jim Wolfe, requesting that FDOT explore ways to improve pedestrian
safety, including installation of a new crosswalk at the intersection of 41st Street and
Jefferson Avenue; and
WHEREAS, at its February 13, 2019 City Commission meeting, the Mayor and
City Commission discussed the seriousness of the recurring safety concerns at the 41st
Street and Jefferson Avenue intersection, and the City's dedication to the implementation
of the subject crosswalk by FDOT; and
WHEREAS, during the City's May 21, 2019 conference call with FDOT Traffic
Operations staff to discuss alternatives and next steps, FDOT advised that the most
feasible alternative to adding a crosswalk and signal at the 41st Street and Jefferson
Avenue intersection is for the City to submit a request to the School Board of Miami-Dade
County, Florida ("School Board") to include this intersection as part of a safe route to
school; and
WHEREAS, in a letter, dated June 27, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference and
attached to this Resolution as Exhibit "A"), FDOT further advised the City Manager that
FDOT will support the installation of a signalized midblock crossing at the 41st Street and
Jefferson Avenue intersection once the City and the School Board designate the
intersection as part of the Nautilus Middle School's official student crossing, and the
School Board designates the intersection as part of the Safe Route to School program;
and
WHEREAS, on July 10, 2019, City staff, FDOT staff, and School Board staff met
at the intersection to further discuss the requirements for the Safe Route to School
designation; and
WHEREAS, at the meeting, School Board staff advised that a resolution from the
City Commission will be necessary to commence the designation 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 find that the intersection of 41st Street and Jefferson Avenue should
be designated as an official school student crossing and accordingly: (1) request that the
School Board of Miami-Dade County designates the 41st Street and Jefferson Avenue
intersection as an official student crossing and as part of the Safe Route to School
program; and (2) urge the Florida Department of Transportation to implement a signalized
crossing for this intersection to enhance student and general pedestrian safety.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 31St day of July, 2019
ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
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Rafael . Granada, City Clerk
"` va4'''a APPROVED AS TO
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City Attorr yj', Date
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FDDT
Florida Department of Transportation
RON DESANTIS 1000 NW 1 1 1 Avenue KEVIN J.THIBAULT,F
GOVERNOR Miami, Florida 33172-5800 SECRETARY
June 27, 2019
Mr. Jimmy Morales
City Manager
Miami Beach.
1700 Convention Center.Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Subject: 41st Street and Jefferson Avenue
Request for Pedestrian Signal
In response to your request,the Department has completed additional assessments for the
purpose of justifying a pedestrian signal at the subject location. Although our findings were the
same as in previous studies; the Department recognizes that the subject intersection must satisfy
the mobility and safety needs,for student crossings. The Department will support the installation
of a signalized midblock crossing with the provision of Miami Dade School Board designating
this crossing as part of the Nautilus Middle school designated official school student crossingon
an adopted school walk route.plan of the school safety program.
Our office will commence measures for the signalized midblock crossing installation as soon as
we receive:a City of Miami Beach resolution and Miami Dade County School Board resolution
designating this crossing as an official school student crossing.
The Department remains committed to working closely with the community and
officials, and to the extent possible addressing traffic and highway safety issues. We ted
appreciate the opportunity to have investigated this issue for you. Please feel free to contact
me if there are any questions or concerns.
Sincerely, j
1
• .mss .
IMeiti , P', .
District Traffic operations Engineer
cc: James Wolfe, PE, District Six Secretary
Rudy.Garcia, PE, Transportation Operations Director
Tish Burgher, Communications Manager EXHIBIT
Resolutions - C7 0
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 31, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, FINDING THAT THE INTERSECTION OF
41ST STREET AND JEFFERSON AVENUE SHOULD BE DESIGNATED AS
AN OFFICIAL STUDENT CROSSING AND ACCORDINGLY: (1)
REQUESTING THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
DESIGNATE THE 41ST STREET AND JEFFERSON AVENUE
INTERSECTION AS AN OFFICIAL STUDENT CROSSING AND AS PART OF
A SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL; AND (2) URGING THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO IMPLEMENT A SIGNALIZED
CROSSING FOR THIS INTERSECTION TO ENHANCE STUDENT AND
GENERAL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission adopt the resolution.
ANALYSIS
State Road 112/41 Street/Arthur Godfrey Road is principal arterial under the jurisdiction of the
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Over the past ten years, the City has made
various requests to FDOT for the installation of a new crosswalk at the intersection of 41st
Street and Jefferson Avenue. There have been various accidents at this intersection, including
four pedestrians hit and injured over the last ten years. Two of the injured pedestrians were
under 14 years old. The most recent pedestrian accident occurred in February 2019. The
pedestrian demand at this intersection has increased in the last few years as a result of new
businesses, including a Starbucks Coffee, and the new after-school enrichment program
attended by approximately 600 Nautilus Middle School students.
In January 2019, the City's Committee for Quality of Education passed a motion urging the City
to work with FDOT to implement a safe pedestrian crossing at the intersection of 41st Street
and Jefferson Avenue. This motion was followed by a resolution of the City Commission in
February 2019 urging FDOT to install a new crosswalk at this intersection to improve pedestrian
safety, in light of the accident involving a Nautilus Middle School student who was struck by a
vehicle while crossing 41st Street. A letter from Mayor Gelber along with the adopted resolution
was subsequently transmitted to FDOT.
Page 301 of 1288
On May 21, 2019, the City met with FDOT staff to discuss alternatives and next steps. FDOT
advised that while it would conduct a crosswalk warrant study, the most feasible alternative to
add a crosswalk and signal at this intersection would be for the City to submit a request to
Miami-Dade County Public School (MDCPS) to include this intersection as part of a safe route
to school. If the intersection is formally designated as such, FDOT would be able to move
forward with identifying funding for the design and installation of a traffic signal and pedestrian
crosswalk at the intersection of 41st Street and Jefferson Avenue.
On July 10, 2019, City, FDOT, and MDCPS staff met at the intersection to further discuss the
requirements for the potential designation of a safe route to school. At the meeting, MDCPS
staff advised that a City Commission resolution is required to commence the designation
process.
CONCLUSION
The 41st Street corridor currently has nine signalized intersections and three signalized mid-
block crossings between Alton Road and Collins Avenue. In addition, the corridor has an
existing school zone between Chase Avenue and Prairie Avenue. If the crossing at 41st Street
and Jefferson Avenue is designated as part of a safe route to school, the school zone will need
to be extended to west of the intersection. This would reduce speeds along the corridor during
the morning and afternoon school zone hours. While the expanded school zone supports the
pedestrian needs of the 41st Street corridor during school zone hours, it is worth noting that
vehicular congestion and delays along the corridor are expected to increase.
If MDCPS approves the designation of the 41st Street and Jefferson Avenue intersection as a
safe route to school, FDOT stated that it would fund the design and installation of the new
crosswalk and signal at the intersection. The City would be responsible for funding a crossing
guard position to assist pedestrians crossing at this intersection during school zone hours. The
funding for a crossing guard in an approximate amount of $13,860 per year would be subject to
approval by the City Commission as part of a future budget process.
KEY INTENDED OUTCOMES SUPPORTED
Ensure Comprehensive Mobility Addressing All Modes Throughout The City
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Once funds for design and construction of a signalized pedestrian crossing are programmed by
FDOT, the City will request funding for a crossing guard in the amount of $13,860 annually
through a future budget process.
Legislative Trackina
Transportation
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Resolution
Page 302 of 1288
FDCTIi
Florida Department of Transportation hcvirv�. rntei��uiar,r
ROA pFs�eh�rrs 1000 NW 111 Avenue SECRETARY
GOVERNORMiami,Florida 33172-580()
June 27, 2019
Mr. Jimmy Morales
City Manager
Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Subject: 41st Street and Jefferson Avenue
Request for Pedestrian Signal
In response to your request, the Department has completed additional assessments for the
purpose of justifying a pedestrian signal at the subject location. Although our findings were the
same as in previous studies; the Department recognizes that the subject intersection must satisfy
the mobility and safety needs for student crossings. The Department will support the installation
of a signalized midblock crossing with the provision of Miami Dade School Board designating
this crossing as part of the Nautilus Middle school designated official school student crossing on
an adopted school walk route plan of the school safety program.
Our office will commence measures for the signalized midblock crossing installation as soon as
we receive a City of Miami Beach resolution and Miami Dade County School Board resolution
designating this crossing as an official school student crossing.
The Department remains committed to working closely with the community and elected
officials, and to the extent possible addressing traffic and highway safety issues. We
appreciate the opportunity to have investigated this issue for you. Please feel free to contact
me if there are any questions or concerns.
Sincerely, Ill
•
it,..Q
der .
0marMeitin, P.E.
District Traffic operations Engineer
cc: James Wolfe, PE, District Six Secretary
Rudy Garcia, PE, Transportation Operations Director EXHIBIT
*fish Burgher, Communications Manager
3.0.1
Page 305 of 1288