LTC 012-2021 FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN-SLOW STREETS PILOT PROJECT UPDATEDocuSign Envelope ID: 2DD3CF6D-D8AF-4E17-BAAE-3BF6B725CCC9
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 012-2021 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J. Aguila, Interim City Manager
DATE: January 12, 2021
SUBJECT: FLAMINGO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN/SLOW STREETS PILOT PROJECT
UPDATE
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide an update on the Flamingo Park
Neighborhood Open/Slow Streets Pilot Project. The goal of the pilot project is three-fold: 1) to
reduce vehicle volumes (i.e. cut-through traffic) and speeds; 2) encourage more walking, cycling,
and other forms of active transportation; and 3) provide calm streets for residents to travel along
to access essential community facilities such as Feinberg Fisher K-8, Flamingo Park,
supermarkets, and pharmacies, among others.
The pilot deployment began on October 21,
2020 and was completed on October 28,
2020. The pilot was temporarily paused for 17
days due to the Tropical Storm Eta, thus, it has
been in place for approximately 60 days. The
City was granted an extension of the pilot by
the County on December 2, 2020 and a Letter
to Commission # 445-2020 was issued on
December 9, 2020 advising of the extension.
Since the pilot’s inception, the City’s
Transportation and Mobility Department staff
has been conducting observations, collecting
data, and monitoring and refining the pilot. In
addition to staff observations and stakeholder
testimonies, the post-implementation
evaluation included the collection of
pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle volumes at
five locations throughout the pilot street
network including Meridian Avenue (2
locations), 13 Street, Pennsylvania Avenue,
and 10 Street.Below are some preliminary
results from the post-evaluation (Data
collected in December 2020). Pre-COVID
data (collected on 2012, 2017, 2019) was
used as the basis of comparison for the Slow
Streets pilot data.
• Bicycle Volumes – Increase of 30% in bike volumes in some corridors while the modal
share in some corridors has switched significantly to bicycle/ped central.
• Pedestrian Volume – Increase of 28% in some corridors.
Figure 1 – Open/Slow Streets Map
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LTC- Flamingo Park Open/Slow Streets Pilot Update
January 12, 2021
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• Vehicular Volumes – Data Analysis shows that even considering the decrease in traffic
volumes due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, traffic volumes within the pilot zone have
decreased approximately an additional 10%. This indicates a reduction in cut-through
traffic.
• Safety - Crash data is still being reviewed but preliminary reviews and coordination with
Police show no significant changes over pre-conditions. This is due to a limited sample
size.
• Community Surveys - Initial survey conducted in November showed 70% percent
community support for the pilot.
• Observations - Observations from staff, police officers, and community testimony indicate
a reduction in speeds and more compliance with existing traffic control signage. In
addition, a higher number of bicyclists and pedestrians are using the slow streets.
An additional modification to the pilot has been made as a result of community feedback and City
staff observations. In December 2020, the northern terminus of the open/slow street pilot on
Pennsylvania Avenue was extended from 15 Street to Lincoln Road. The extension enables for
a safer pedestrian and bicycle connection between Española Way and Lincoln Road via a slow
street. Figure 1 shows the updated Open/Slow Street Pilot Project Map. Transportation and
Mobility Department staff worked with the Communications Department to develop a new
wayfinding sign specific to this extension (Figure 2), and the signs are currently being installed
along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Aesthetic Signage Options
One of the concerns that has been stated by elected officials and members of the community is
the aesthetics of the existing signs. Staff has been working on identifying more aesthetic
solutions. It is worth highlighting that, similar to Miami Beach, other communities that have
implemented a slow streets pilot (such as Oakland, Seattle, San Francisco, and others)
commenced using temporary traffic control (i.e. construction) signage/barricades to
discourage cut-through traffic and, subsequently, upgraded to more attractive and
contextual signs if the pilot warranted continuation. This approach reduces the cost of
fabricating and installing signs that might need to be discarded after a pilot.
Following research and internal coordination, staff developed two options to improve the
aesthetics of the pilot. Both options include replacement of the “Road Closed” construction signs
by aesthetic “Rules of the Road” signs, which include more icons to make the sign easier to
understand (Figure 3). Option 1 consists of wrapping the construction barricades in the Miami
Beach brand (blue/green color scheme) (Figure 4A). Option 2 replaces all construction barricades
with flexible planter boxes with a sign placed inside the planter (Figure 4B) for placement on wide
Figure 2 – Wayfinding signs on Pennsylvania Ave
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Figure 3 – New signage for wide streets (left) and
narrow streets (right)
LTC- Flamingo Park Open/Slow Streets Pilot Update
January 12, 2021
Page 3
streets. Both options include replacing the construction signs on the narrow streets with a slim
and contextual Miami Beach-branded sign on a short delineator pole placed in the center of the
street (Figure 5).
On January 4, City staff presented two options to the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association
(FPNA) at its monthly virtual meeting. At the meeting, FPNA members voted in favor of Option
2. Given the pilot’s importance to the community, staff has participated in three FPNA meetings
(August 2020, November 2020, and January 2021) and will continue to participate in upcoming
meetings to gather community feedback. It is worth highlighting that several members of the
community are voluntarily assisting the City on this pilot by adopting sections of the Open-Slow
Streets network, performing periodic inspections, and coordinating with staff on any maintenance
issues or necessary modifications.
Figure 4A – Option 1: Wrapped barricades
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Figure 4B – Option 2: Flexible planter box with sign
for wide streets
LTC- Flamingo Park Open/Slow Streets Pilot Update
January 12, 2021
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Figure 5 – Slim signs on delineators for narrow
streets (field sample on Meridian Avenue)
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LTC- Flamingo Park Open/Slow Streets Pilot Update
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Cost
The existing temporary traffic control signs and barricades are being rented via a City contract at
a cost of approximately $7,000 per month. Staff has been in contact with sign vendors to obtain
costs for the two options developed. Option 1 will have an estimated one-time capital cost of
$18,000 to purchase new contextual signs and re-wrap all existing barricades plus a rental cost
of $4,000 per month for the barricades. Option 2 would have a one-time capital cost of $18,000
for the purchase of the signs and planters, and all barricades would be eliminated. The
maintenance, watering, and up-keep of the plants will be performed by City staff. As mentioned
above, FPNA voted in favor of Option 2.
Current Status and Next Steps
The Administration is moving forward with the implementation of Option 2 and eliminating the
need to rent and wrap construction signs and barricades. The contextual slim blue signs are
being installed by a City vendor beginning on January 12, 2021 and are anticipated to be installed
in seven business days. Staff is working on procuring the flexible planters and plant materials
and anticipates the installation to be completed in four weeks. Staff will continue to collaborate
with the FPNA and the community volunteer group on any necessary refinements to the pilot.
Additionally, staff continues to communicate with the County on this pilot and share data and post-
evaluation results.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
RJA/ATH/JRG/JFD/MR
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