Resolution 2020-31167 RESOLUTION NO. 2020-31167
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND QUALITY OF
LIFE COMMITTEE, AT ITS FEBRUARY 3, 2020 MEETING, AND
DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO WORK WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
AND THE CITY OF MIAMI TO IMPLEMENT PROTECTION FOR THE
BICYCLE LANES ON VENETIAN CAUSEWAY INCLUDING THE
BRIDGES.
WHEREAS, the Venetian Causeway is the primary route for bicyclists and
pedestrians between the City of Miami Beach and the City of Miami, and
WHEREAS, Venetian Causeway is under the jurisdiction of Miami-Dade County;
and
WHEREAS, according to data collected in February 2018, approximately 263
bicyclists were observed using the bicycle lanes during the peak hours on a typical
Saturday; and
WHEREAS, 47% of the respondents claimed to have a member of their
household regularly riding a bike, and 37% of respondents claimed to feel unsafe while
riding bicycle in Miami Beach; and
WHEREAS, on August 29, 2019, a bicyclist was fatally struck by a car while riding
on the Venetian Causeway bike lanes; and
WHEREAS, at the January 15, 2020 City of Miami Beach Commission Meeting,
at the request of Commissioner Mark Samuelian, City Commission referred an item to
the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee ("NQLC") to discuss the status of
bicycle safety measures being enacted on the Venetian Causeway; and
WHEREAS, Transportation and Mobility Department staff has held discussions
with the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works ("DTPW")
regarding the potential implementation of physical protection for the Venetian Causeway
bicycle lanes; and
WHEREAS, County staff was open to exploring the implementation of delineators
for the section of the causeway within the Venetian Islands; however, they expressed
concerns with the implementation of delineators along the bridges due to the limited
width of the structure; and
WHEREAS, the protection for the Venetian Causeway bicycle lanes was
discussed at the February 3, 2020 NQLC meeting; and
WHEREAS, members of the Transit Alliance and NQLC members expressed
concerns with the safety of bicyclists in the bridges; and
WHEREAS, given the importance of this corridor for bicyclists in the area, the
NQLC passed a motion endorsing City staff's plan to work with the County and amending
staff's recommendation to include protection in the bridges; and
WHEREAS, both the Transit Alliance and NQOLC members requested that the
City explore other methods of protection for the bicycle lane.
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 accept the recommendation of the Neighborhood and Quality of Life
Committee, at its February 3, 2020 meeting, and direct City staff to work with Miami-
Dade County and the City of Miami to implement protection for the bicycle lanes on
Venetian Causeway including the bridges.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 12th day February, 2020
ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
/B/2cl-o
Rafael"E. Granado, City lerk
INCORP ORATED/
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
City Attorneyy Date
lc
Resolutions - C7 0
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: February 12, 2020
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, AT ITS
FEBRUARY 3, 2020 MEETING, AND DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO WORK
WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF MIAMI TO IMPLEMENT
PROTECTION FOR THE BICYCLE LANES ON VENETIAN CAUSEWAY
INCLUDING THE BRIDGES.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the recommendation of the
Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC) directing staff to work with Miami-Dade County and the City
of Miami to implement protection for the bicycle lanes on Venetian Causeway including the bridges.
NQLC MEETING AFTER-ACTION
The item was discussed at the February 3. 2020 NQLC.At the meeting, members of the Transit Alliance expressed
concerns with the safety of bicyclists in the bridges. Given the importance of this corridor for bicyclists in the area,the
NQLC passed a motion endorsing staffs plan to work with the County however, staffs recommendation was
amended to include protection on the bridges.The committee requested that this item come back in April for a status
update and further discussion.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
The Venetian Causeway is the primary route for bicyclists and pedestrians between the City of Miami Beach and the
City of Miami. Venetian Causeway is under the jurisdiction of Miami-Dade County. Over the past years,an increase
in vehicular traffic has been observed along the Venetian Causeway. These increases may be attributed to the
increasing demand and congestion on other primary causeways (MacArthur Causeway and Julia Tuttle Causeway).
According to data collected in February 2018, approximately 263 bicyclists were observed using the bicycle lanes
during the peak hours on a typical Saturday.Within the City of Miami Beach,the Venetian Causeway is signed at 25
mile per hour; however, the speed data collected in February 2018 resulted in an 85th Percentile Speed of 33 miles
per hour.
In 2015, the City Commission adopted Resolution # 2015-29083 establishing a new modal hierarchy prioritizing
pedestrians above all other modes of transportations. Based on this resolution, the City has worked with other
jurisdictional agencies(Florida Department of Transportation and Miami-Dade County)to pnontize improvements to
pedestrian infrastructure along major corridors. While according to the 2019 Community Satisfaction Survey 47%of
Page 460 of 1185
the respondents claimed to have a member of their household regularly riding a bike, 37%of respondents claimed to
feel unsafe while riding bicycle in Miami Beach. On August 29, 2019, a bicyclist was fatally struck by a car on the
Venetian Causeway. While the crash occurred outside of the boundaries of the City of Miami Beach, the conditions
of the road and bicycle lane are the same within the Miami Beach boundaries.
At the January 15, 2020 City of Miami Beach Commission Meeting, Commissioner Mark Samuelian referred an
item to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee to discuss the status of bicycle safety measures being
enacted on the Venetian Causeway.
ANALYSIS
The existing typical section along Venetian Causeway varies. The typical section along the bridges includes two 10.5
to 11 feet. travel lanes and 4.5 to five feet. bicycle lanes. The typical section along the Venetian Islands consists of
three 11 feet travel lanes and two five feet bicycle lanes (Attachment A). Following a request from Commissioner
Samuelian's office, Transportation and Mobility Department staff has held discussions with the Miami-Dade County
Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) regarding the potential implementation of physical
protection for the Venetian Causeway bicycle lanes. While County staff was open to exploring the implementation of
delineators for the section of the causeway within the Venetian Islands, they expressed concerns with the
implementation of delineators along the bridges due to the limited width of the structure. The County specifically cited
concerns with motorists driving closer to the center line of the road and a potential increase in head-on collisions in
the bridges.As an alternative, the City has proposed the implementation of vibratory pavement markings and raised
pavement markings along the edge of the bike lane to warn the drivers if the tires touch the edge striping for the
bicycle lane. Based on the Countys preliminary input, staff has developed potential typical sections for the bridges
and the causeway portions of the Venetian Causeway(Attachment B).
At the February 3, 2020 NQLC meeting, members of the Transit Alliance and NQLC members requested that the
City explore various methods of protection for the bicycle lane including the Wave delineator and the Zicla bicycle
separator. Staff is currently in the process of coordinating a meeting with Miami-Dade County Department of
Transportation and Public Works staff to discuss design and permitting approach for the protected bicycle lanes
including the bridges.
If the protection-for the bicycle lanes throughout the corridor is approved, the City would need to coordinate with the
County to complete the design, obtain a Miami-Dade County construction permit, and execute an amendment to the
Venetian Causeway green bicycle lanes maintenance agreement to include the safety enhancements. It is worth
highlighting that the design and implementation of the enhancements is not currently funded. Based on the results of
the coordination with Miami-Dade County.a budget amendment may be required.
CONCLUSION
Given a recent fatality on the Venetian Causeway involving a bicyclists and at the request of the Transit Alliance, at
the January 15, 2020 City of Miami Beach Commission Meeting, Commissioner Mark Samuelian referred an item
to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee to discuss the status of bicycle safety measures being enacted
on the Venetian Causeway. Miami-Dade County staff has expressed concerns with the implementation of bicycle
separators on the Venetian Causeway bridges given the width of the current structures. At the February 3, 2020
NQLC meeting, members of the committee and members of Transit Alliance asked City staff to work with Miami-
Dade County and City of Miami to ensure that protection is also implemented on the bridges.
Applicable Area.
Middle Beach
Is this a "Residents_Right Does this item utilize G.O.
Page 461 of 1185
to Know" item, pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
No No
Strategic Connection
Mobility- Improve the walking and biking experience.
Legislative Tracking
Transportation and Mobility
SnonsQr
Commissioner Mark Samuelian
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
o Attachment A- Existing Typical Section
o Attachment B - Proposed Typical Sections without Protection on Bridges
o Resolution
Page 462 of 1185
Attachment A
VENETIAN CAUSEWAY
EXISTING TYPICAL SECTIONS (N.T.S)
42.6'
5' 5' 11' 11' 11' 4.6' 5'
SIDEWALK BIKE LANE TRAVEL LANE TURN LANE TRAVEL LANE BIKE LANE SIDEWALK
Az-. 4.(MOIMINIIi 1 II In , �
fli
'1111, dommlommmonsI 111 a
TYPICAL SECTION AT VENETIAN ISLANDS
32'
q' 5' 11'- - 11' 5' 4'
SIDEWALK BIKE LANE THAW L LANE TRAVEL LANE BIKE LANE SIDEWALK
' I 1
.v. n n
�" ____,)
____________ -- i
X X X X X T --ig-X X X X
Page 463 of 1 PPICAL SECTION AT BRIDGES
Attachment B
VENETIAN CAUSEWAY
PROPOSED TYPICAL SECTIONS (N.T.S)
42.6'—
5' 4' 11' - - 10' - 11' - 4' 5'
SIDEWALK BIKE LANE TRAVEL LANE TURN LANE TRAVEL LANE BIKE LANE SIDEWALK
O
1
le
Ilk /L JAlail MI I
M .#.17.....--r
___j i N.,--1 7 41
NEW l'BUFFER PROPOSED SECTION AT VENETIAN ISLANDS NEW 1'BUFFER
W/DELINEATORS W/DELINEATORS
Vta,.
32' -'
4' S' 11' 11' S' 4'
lail SIDEWALK BIKE LANE TRAVEL LANE TRAVEL LANE BIKE LANE SIDEWALK
44 t '''\
man
VIBRATORY 41
PAVEMENT MARKING '', t I i _
SAMPLE 4
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X ...__
VIBRATORY
PAVEMENT MARKINGVIBRATORY
Page 464 I469k)SED SECTION AT BRIDGES PAVEMENT MARKING