Resolution 2020-31215 RESOLUTION NO. 2020-31215
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO IMPLEMENT EXCLUSIVE PEDESTRIAN PHASES
AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS ALONG STATE ROAD A1A/COLLINS
AVENUE FROM 16TH STREET TO 24TH STREET, AND TO EXPEDITE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF EXCLUSIVE PEDESTRIAN PHASES AT THE
SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS OF STATE ROAD A1A/COLLINS AVENUE
AND 23RD STREET, AND STATE ROAD A1A/COLLINS AVENUE AND 22ND
STREET TO ADDRESS URGENT SAFETY CONCERNS; AND DIRECTING
THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THE EXECUTED RESOLUTION
TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WHEREAS, given the diversity of businesses and residential buildings along the
Collins Avenue corridor and its proximity to the beach, thousands of pedestrians cross
the corridor daily, and
WHEREAS, 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 when crossing an intersection; and
WHEREAS, in response to a request from the City, in October 2019, FDOT
evaluated the intersection of Collins Avenue and 23rd Street to determine the feasibility
of implementing an exclusive pedestrian phase to improve pedestrian safety; and
WHEREAS, the FDOT study found that 2,755 pedestrians and bicyclists cross
the intersection of Collins Avenue and 23rd Street during the weekend peak hour, which
represents approximately 92 pedestrians crossing every traffic signal cycle; and
WHEREAS, the traffic studies determined that the implementation of an exclusive
pedestrian phase at the intersection of Collins Avenue and 23rd Street will have some
impact to vehicular traffic but will improve pedestrian safety at this intersection; and
WHEREAS, all other intersections along Collins Avenue between 16th Street and
24th Street will operate satisfactorily with exclusive pedestrian phases; and
WHEREAS, the implementation of exclusive pedestrian phases at signalized
intersections along Collins Avenue from 16th Street to 24th Street is recommended to
improve pedestrian safety along a corridor that is highly utilized by pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 2015-29083, the City Commission
adopted a modal prioritization that places pedestrians first; bicycles, transit, and freight
second; and private automobiles third.
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 urge FDOT to implement exclusive pedestrian phases on
SRA1A/Collins Avenue from 16th Street to 24th Street and to expedite the
implementation of the exclusive pedestrian phases on SRA1A/Collins Avenue and 23rd
Street, and SRA1A/Collins Avenue and 22nd Street to address safety concerns; and
direct the City Clerk to transmit a copy of the executed resolution to the Florida
Department of Transportation.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 18th day March, 2020
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ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
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Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk _ �p ! , �;,,
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APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
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City Attorney Date
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Resolutions-C7 AB
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, URGING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO IMPLEMENT EXCLUSIVE PEDESTRIAN PHASES
AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS ALONG STATE ROAD A1A/COLLINS
AVENUE BETWEEN 16 STREET AND 24 STREET, AND TO EXPEDITE
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXCLUSIVE PEDESTRIAN PHASES AT
THE SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS OF STATE ROAD A1A/COLLINS
AVENUE AND 23 STREET AND STATE ROAD A1A/COLLINS AVENUE AND
22 STREET TO ADDRESS URGENT SAFETY CONCERNS; AND
DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THE
EXECUTED RESOLUTION TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve a resolution
urging the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to 1) implement exclusive pedestrian
phases at signalized intersections along SRA1A/Collins Avenue between 16 Street and 24
Street; and 2) expedite the implementation of exclusive pedestrian phases at the signalized
intersections of SRA1A/Collins Avenue and 23 Street and SRA1A/Collins Avenue and 22
Street to address urgent safety concerns; and directing the City Clerk to transmit a copy of the .
executed resolution to the Florida Department of Transportation.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
The Collins Avenue corridor is one of the most active corridors in the City of Miami Beach.
Given the multitude of hotels, businesses, restaurants, and activities along the corridor as well
as its proximity to the beach, thousands of pedestrians use Collins Avenue daily. Collins
Avenue is a state roadway under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT).
According to the 2019 City of Miami Beach Resident Survey, 67% of residents do not feel safe
crossing streets; 74% of residents feel that drivers do not yield to pedestrians. In a continued
effort to improve pedestrian safety and multi-modal transportation along Collins Avenue, the
City's Transportation and Mobility Department worked with FDOT to implement pedestrian
signalization improvements between 5 Street and 24 Street.
Page 607 of 1097
In response to a request from the City, in October 2019, FDOT conducted a study of the
intersection of Collins Avenue and 23 Street to determine the feasibility of implementing an
exclusive pedestrian phase. Exclusive pedestrian phases enable pedestrians to cross north-
south and east-west concurrently (without having to push a button) while all vehicles have a red
light. This is the safest condition for pedestrians to cross at an intersection, particularly if right
turns on red are prohibited for vehicles during the pedestrian walk phase (attachment).
According to studies conducted by the Federal Highway Administration, exclusive pedestrian
phases:
• reduce vehicle-pedestrian crashes by 35%
• If combined with turn prohibitions during the pedestrian phase, virtually eliminate pedestrian-
vehicle conflicts which also makes pedestrians feel more secure
• Reduce confusion for unfamiliar pedestrians particularly if it is activated automatically
ANALYSIS
To review the feasibility of implementing an exclusive pedestrian phase at the intersection of
Collins Avenue and 23 Street, FDOT collected weekday and weekend counts. The study
found that 2,755 pedestrians and bicyclists cross the intersection during the peak weekend
hour (i.e. approximately 92 pedestrians per traffic signal cycle). The study also found that six
crashes involving pedestrians or bicycles had occurred between 2012 and 2016. More recent
crash data has revealed that two crashes involving pedestrians or bicycles have occurred from
2017 to date.
In parallel to the FDOT study, the City's Transportation and Mobility Department staff collected
pedestrian/bicycle counts at the signalized intersections of Collins Avenue with 16 Street and
17 Street for the scramble crosswalk feasibility study. The pedestrian counts showed that over
1,400 pedestrians cross at both intersections during the peak hour.
Potential Traffic Impacts to Collins Avenue and 23 Street
To determine the potential traffic impacts, FDOT performed a micro-simulation analysis of the
Collins Avenue and 23 Street intersection. The following results were obtained:
• During the morning weekday peak hour, average vehicular delay to traverse the intersection
increases by seven seconds per vehicle, and northbound queueing increases by about three
vehicles per cycle.
• During the afternoon weekday peak hour, average vehicular delay to traverse the intersection
increases by 22 seconds per vehide.
• During the Saturday peak hour, the average vehicular delay to traverse the intersection
increases by 34 seconds per vehicle.
Given the number of vehicles and signalized movements,this intersection is anticipated to experience
the highest amount of delay if an exclusive pedestrian phase is implemented; however, given the high
number of pedestrians who cross at this intersection, the anticipated safety benefit to pedestrians
would be highest.
Vehicular delay at other intersections along Collins Avenue between 16 Street and 24 Street would
not be adversely impacted by the implementation of exclusive pedestrian phases at those
intersections.
CONCLUSION
The City's Transportation and Mobility Department has worked with FDOT to review the
feasibility of implementing exclusive pedestrian phases at signalized intersections along Collins
Page 608 of 1097
Avenue from 16 Street to 24 Street.
Given the high number of pedestrians crossing Collins Avenue between 16 Street and 24 Street
on a daily basis, the Administration believes that the implementation of exclusive pedestrian
phases at signalized intersections along this section of Collins Avenue is warranted. In
particular, the intersections of Collins Avenue/23 Street and Collins Avenue/22 Street should be
prioritized to address urgent safety concerns at these locations. While the proposed
improvements will have some impact on vehicular traffic, the implementation of exclusive
pedestrian phases will significantly 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. The
proposed improvements will also help mitigate the community's expressed concern with
pedestrian crossing safety as reflected in the 2049 Miami Beach Resident Survey.
Applicable Area
South Beach
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.Q.
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
Page 609 of 1097
Attachment
Exclusive Pedestrian Phase Diagram
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Page 610 of 1097