Resolution 2020-31214 RESOLUTION NO. 2020-31214
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 TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION OF
EXCLUSIVE PEDESTRIAN PHASES AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS ON
ALTON ROAD BETWEEN 10TH STREET AND 16TH STREET; AND
FURTHER URGING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
TO EXPEDITE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEDESTRIAN
SIGNALIZATION IMPROVEMENTS.
WHEREAS, in 2017, the Florida Department of Transportation ("FDOT")
completed a full reconstruction of Alton Road from 5th Street to North Michigan Avenue;
WHEREAS, however, various safety concerns persist along the corridor, and
WHEREAS, following various pedestrian accidents and fatalities on Alton Road
between 10th Street and 16th Street since 2017, the City's Transportation and Mobility
Department staff explored various strategies to improve pedestrian safety along Alton
Road; and
WHEREAS, on June 5, 2019, City staff submitted a request to FDOT to conduct
a comprehensive study with a specific focus on determining the feasibility of
implementing exclusive pedestrian phases at all signalized intersections along this
section of the corridor; and
WHEREAS, in July 2019, pursuant to the City's request, FDOT engaged a traffic
consultant to complete a comprehensive pedestrian safety analysis of Alton Road from
10th Street to 16th Street; and
WHEREAS, the study scope included conducting an inventory of the study area,
collecting traffic data, performing a crash analysis, performing an operational analysis
for each alternative, developing recommendations, and performing a benefit/cost
analysis for the recommended improvements; and
WHEREAS, in October 2019, FDOT completed its safety analysis resulting in the
following recommendations:
• Implementation of exclusive pedestrian phases on Alton Road at 10th Street, 11th
Street, 12th Street, 15th Street, and 16th Street from 7AM to 12AM on weekdays
and from 7AM to 2AM on weekends
• Installation of electronic blank-out signs at the above intersections displaying a
"No Turn On Red" message
• Replacing the existing pedestrian LED flashing beacons at the intersection of
Alton Road and 13th Street with a new mid-block traffic signal; and
WHEREAS, the implementation of the recommended pedestrian improvements
will have some impacts to overall vehicular travel speeds along the corridor and slightly
increase queueing at signalized intersections; and
WHEREAS, at the February 3, 2020 Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee
meeting, the Committee endorsed the pedestrian improvements recommended by
FDOT.
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 accept the recommendation of the Neighborhood and Quality of Life
Committee at its February 3, 2020 meeting to approve the proposed implementation of
exclusive pedestrian phases at signalized intersections on Alton Road between 10th
Street and 16th Street; and further urge the Florida Department of Transportation to
expedite the implementation of the pedestrian signalization improvements
PASSED and ADOPTED this 18th day March, 2020
ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
-3/1rul
Raf el E. Granado, C' y Clerk `r •,..;;=
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
3 " '2o
City Att.rney Date
Resolutions-C7 AA
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: March 18, 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 APPROVING
THE PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION OF EXCLUSIVE PEDESTRIAN
PHASES AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS ON ALTON ROAD BETWEEN
10TH STREET AND 16TH STREET; AND REQUESTING THAT THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EXPEDITE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALIZATION
IMPROVEMENTS.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the
recommendation of the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC) to approve the
proposed implementation of exclusive pedestrian phases at signalized intersections on Alton
Road between 10 Street and 16 Street; and urge the Florida Department of Transportation to
expedite the implementation of the recommended pedestrian signalization improvements.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
In 2017, FDOT completed a full reconstruction of Alton Road from 5 Street to North Michigan
Avenue; however, various safety concerns persist along the corridor. Since that time, the City's
Transportation and Mobility Department has been working with the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) and Miami-Dade County to prioritize improvements to enhance
pedestrian safety along the Alton Road corridor. For example, at the City's request, FDOT
implemented an exclusive pedestrian phase at the intersection of Alton Road and Lincoln Road
so that pedestrians can safely cross north-south and east-west simultaneously while all vehicular
movements have the red light.
Following various pedestrian accidents and fatalities on Alton Road between 10 Street and 16
Street since 2017, the City's Transportation and Mobility Department staff explored various
strategies to improve pedestrian safety along Alton Road. On June 5, 2019, staff submitted a
request to FDOT to conduct a comprehensive study with a specific focus on determining the
feasibility of implementing exclusive pedestrian phases at all signalized intersections along this
section of the corridor.
Pedestrian safety on Alton Road between 10 Street and 16 Street was discussed at the June
Page 600 of 1097
19, 2019 Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee meeting. At the meeting, City staff
stated that it would continue to work with FDOT to enhance pedestrian safety on Alton Road and
that an update to the committee will be provided upon completion of the FDOT study.
According to the 2019 City of Miami Beach Resident Survey, 67% of residents do not feel safe
crossing streets, and 74% of residents feel that drivers do not yield to pedestrians at
intersections.
ANALYSIS
In July 2019, pursuant to the City's request, FDOT engaged a traffic consultant to complete a
comprehensive pedestrian safety analysis of Alton Road from 10 Street to 16 Street. The
study scope included conducting an inventory of the study area, collecting traffic data,
performing a crash analysis, performing an operational analysis for each alternative, developing
recommendations, and performing a benefit/cost analysis for the recommended
improvements. The analysis consisted of evaluating the feasibility of the following strategies at
signalized intersections within the corridor segment:
• Leading pedestrian interval (3 to 7 second interval during which pedestrians are provided a
"head start" via an early walk signal to begin crossing Alton Road before left tuming/right
turning vehicles from the side streets are allowed to enter the intersection). This strategy
increases motorists'visibility of pedestrians using the crosswalk(attachment 1).
• "Turning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrian" signs for vehicles making left turns and right turns from
side streets onto Alton Road and vice-versa. This strategy raises motorists' awareness of
pedestrians using the crosswalk(attachment 2).
• Exclusive pedestrian phase (without having to push a button, pedestrians automatically receive
the walk signal in all directions and can cross Alton Road and side streets concurrently while all
vehicular movements have a red light). This provides the safest pedestrian crossing condition
as it minimizes conflicts between turning vehicles and pedestrians, particularly if right turns on
red are prohibited (attachment 3).
• "No Right Turn on Red" signs prohibiting vehicles from making right turns on red from Alton
Road to side streets and vice-versa.
FDOT Study Recommendations
FDOT completed its safety analysis in October 2019. Given the high volume of pedestrians
observed crossing Alton Road at the study intersections and the fact that the side street left-
turn movements are not protected (i.e. no green an-ow), the consultant determined that leading
pedestrian intervals would not be an effective strategy to reduce conflicts between pedestrians
and motorists and should only be considered as a short-term measure.
FDOT's recommended improvements include:
• Implementation of exclusive pedestrian phases on Alton Road at 10 Street, 11 Street, 12
Street, 15 Street, and 16 Street from 7AM to 12AM on weekdays and from 7AM to 2AM on
weekends.
• Installation of electronic blank-out signs at the above intersections displaying a "No Turn On
Red" message (attachment 2). The electronic signs will activate automatically during the
exclusive pedestrian phase to minimize vehicle/pedestrian conflicts. Given the size and weight
of the signs, this recommendation is subject to a structural analysis of the traffic signal mast
arms to ascertain the mast arms are capable of withstanding the additional load.
• Replacing the existing pedestrian LED flashing beacons at the intersection of Alton Road and
13 Street with a new mid-block traffic signal (such as the existing signal at 1421 Mon Road).
The proposed mid-block traffic signal provides for a safer pedestrian crossing because it
requires vehicles to come to a complete stop (rather than yield) when pedestrians have the
walk signal.
Benefit-Cost Analysis
Page 601 of 1097
Based on FDOT's report, the implementation of the exclusive pedestrian phases and the
installation of the "No Turn on Red" blank-out signs, is expected to result in a reduction of
approximately two pedestrian crashes per year. The potential reduction in crashes can be
translated into a positive benefit/cost ratio of 8.6. This ratio indicates that the implementation of
the recommended improvements is economically viable.
Potential Impacts to Vehicular Traffic and Mitigation Strategy
The FDOT study found that:
• Vehicular travel time along this section of the corridor will increase by 98 seconds and average
speed is expected to decrease from 14 MPH to 9 MPH during the afternoon peak hour.
• Vehicular queueing on Mon Road is expected to increase at all study intersections; however,
none of the study intersections would fall below Level of Service D which is the minimum
standard for the City of Miami Beach and most major urban cities.
Once implemented, the City's Transportation and Mobility Department staff will work with the
County to optimize signal timing and minimize the anticipated impacts to vehicular traffic on
Alton Road.
FDOT Educational Campaign
In August 2019, FDOT conducted a multi-agency educational/enforcement event on Alton
Road as part of its Alert Today -Alive Tomorrow safety campaign (attachment 2). The event
consisted of distribution of educational material and on-street training for motorists and
pedestrians. Over 400 flyers were distributed to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists by law
enforcement and FDOT personnel. The event also included an enforcement piece resulting in
124 citations, no arrests, no written warnings, and 34 oral warnings issued. The event was
covered by local media. The FDOT public information team visited the corridor again in
November and December 2019 to distribute educational material and perform on-street training
for motorists and pedestrians.
Upcoming FDOT Street Lighting Project
Pursuant to the results of the crash analysis performed by the City, 14 of the 24 crashes during
the three-year analysis period occurred at night. While not specified in the reports, street
lighting could have been a contributing factor in some of these crashes. As a result of
increased pedestrian crashes throughout the state, in 2017, FDOT approved a new intersection
street lighting standard. In the October 2019 Alton Road Safety Improvements report, the
FDOT consultant identified deficiencies in existing street lighting at intersections. FDOT has
awarded an intersection lighting improvement project on Alton Road from 6 Street to 20 Street.
The project is scheduled to begin in April 2020.
CONCLUSION
The City's Transportation and Mobility Department has reviewed the FDOT Alton Road
Pedestrian Safety Study and concurs with FDOT's recommendations. While the proposed
improvements will have some impact on vehicular traffic, the implementation of exclusive
pedestrian phases at signalized intersections from 10 Street to 16 Street will improve
pedestrian safety along the corridor.
In addition, the proposed improvements support the City's adopted modal hierarchy and its
vision to be a people-first city where the pedestrian is prioritized in mobility options. Additionally,
the proposed improvements will help mitigate the community's stated concern with pedestrian
crossing safety as reflected in the 2019 Miami Beach Resident Survey.
Applicable Area
South Beach
Page 602 of 1097
Is this a "Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
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
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ ATTACHMENT 1
D ATTACHMENT 2
❑ ATTACHMENT 3
Page 603 of 1097
Attachment 1
Leading Pedestrian Interval
Pedestrian is signaled to walk 3-7 seconds before conflicting vehicle receives the green light to
allow the pedestrian to establish presence in the crosswalk.
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Motor Vehicle
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Page 604 of 1097
Attachment 2
Turning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrian Sign:Sign typically installed next to the traffic signal head to advise
motorists to yield to pedestrians as they make turns.
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Blank-out No Turn on Red Sign: Digital sign connected to the traffic signal that activates when the no
turn on red prohibition is active. In the case of Alton Road,it is being recommended when the exclusive
pedestrian phase is activated.
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Page 605 of 1097
Attachment 3
Exclusive Pedestrian Phase Diagram
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Legend
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• Page 606 of 1097