Resolution 2021-31796 RESOLUTION NO; 2021-31796
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 APRIL 28
MEETING, TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY AND IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR
RAISED CROSSWALKS ON THE SOUTH AND NORTH LEGS OF THE
INTERSECTION OF CHASE AVENUE AND 40TH STREET, TO MITIGATE
SPEEDING AND ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY; AND FURTHER, TO
EXPLORE INCLUDING THE IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THE GENERAL
OBLIGATION BOND BAYSHORE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING
PROJECT.
WHEREAS, in March 2020, following resident concerns with pedestrian safety at the
intersection of 40 Street and Chase Avenue, Commissioner Steven Meiner sponsored the
referral of a discussion item to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee ("NQLC") to
explore modifying the current intersection traffic control from a two-way stop control to an all-
way stop control; and
WHEREAS, the evaluation criteria for multi-way stop signs are outlined in the U.S.
Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices ("MUTCD"); and
WHEREAS, the MUTCD specifies the minimum criteria that must be met prior to
installation of a multi-way stop control at an intersection; and
WHEREAS, the criteria are based on crashes and traffic volumes (vehicular, pedestrian,
and bicycle) at an intersection over various periods of time; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the MUTCD, for an all-way stop control to be warranted at an
intersection, a Warrant Analysis must be conducted, and, at a minimum, either Warrant 1 or both
Warrants 2A and 2B of the Warrant Analysis need to be met; and
WHEREAS, following the completion of a warrant analysis conducted by the
Transportation and Mobility Department staff in accordance with the MUTCD, Warrant 1 was not
met and both Warrants 2A and 2B were not met either, therefore, an all-way stop control is not
warranted at the intersection; and
WHEREAS, to improve pedestrian safety at this intersection in the immediate term, the
City will upgrade the existing crosswalks to high-emphasis crosswalks, install new pedestrian
crossing signs, and install signage advising westbound traffic on 40 Street that north-south
(Chase Avenue)traffic does not stop. These improvements are scheduled to be implemented in
July 2021; and
WHEREAS; according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, raised crosswalks have
been shown to reduce pedestrian crashes by 45% because they increase the visibility of
pedestrians and raise driver awareness approaching the intersection; and the increased
awareness results in more drivers seeing and yielding to pedestrians crossing the intersection;
and
WHEREAS, based on:the geometric characteristics of the intersection and the concerns
with pedestrian safety, staff additionally recommends implementing a raised crosswalk at the
north legof the intersection and ex��lorin the feasibilit of addinga crosswalk(potentiallyraised)
p � g Y'
at the south leg where a crosswalk does not currently exist; and
WHEREAS, at the April 28, 2021 NQLC meeting, Transportation and Mobility Department
staff presented the results of the All-Way Stop Control Warrant Analysis for the intersection of
Chase Avenue and 40 Street as well as the recommended improvements described above; and,
at the meeting, the Committee endorsed the Administration's recommendations; AND
WHEREAS, the Administration recommends the following safety improvements forthe
intersection of Chase Avenue and 40th Street: (1) restriping the existing crosswalk at the
intersection for high emphasis; (2) installation of new pedestrian crossing signs and (3)
installation of signage for westbound traffic on 40th street such that north-south (Chase Avenue)
traffic does not stop; and
WHEREAS, the Administration shall identify funding to implementtherecommended
raised crosswalksat the intersection to mitigate speeding and enhancevehicular pedestrian
safety, and if feasible, implement the recommended improvements as part of the upcoming
General Obligation Bond Bayshore Neighborhood Traffic Calming Project.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF.MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, hereby accepts: the recommendation of. the
• Neighborhood.and Quality of Life Committee, at its April.28 meeting, to explorethe feasibility and
identify funding for raised crosswalks on the south and north legs of the intersection of chase
avenue.and 40th street, to.mitigate speeding and enhance pedestrian safety; and further, to
explore including the improvements as part of the General Obligation Bond Bayshore
Neighborhood.Traffic Calming.Project:
PASSED and ADOPTED this 28th day July, 2021.
,;:2.z........„......„:
ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
w. . .
. "I
at
Rafael E. Granado, C'6/2-y Clerk ape!.B. '`.�,,
:.: '%e',::' ',,,
••,y .
IINLORP ORATEDI I APPROVED AS TO
'-'° FORM&LANGUAGE
'a;q cH oM1. --' &FOR EXECUTION
( i
aly Attorney Date-. :
2
Resolutions-C7 AJ
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE: July 28, 2021
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA,ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, AT ITS
APRIL 28 MEETING, TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY AND IDENTIFY
FUNDING FOR RAISED CROSSWALKS ON THE SOUTH AND NORTH
LEGS OF THE INTERSECTION OF CHASE AVENUE AND 40 STREET TO
MITIGATE SPEEDING AND ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, AND, IF
FEASIBLE, INCLUDE THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND BAYSHORE NEIGHBORHOOD
TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECT.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission accept the
recommendations of the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC) at its April 28,
2021 meeting to:
• Proceed with the following recommended safety improvements on an immediate term for the
intersection of Chase Avenue and 40 Street
o restripe the existing crosswalk at the intersection for high emphasis
o install new pedestrian crossing signs
o install signage advising westbound traffic on 40 Street that north-south (Chase Avenue)
traffic does not stop
• Work with the Office of Management and Budget to identify funding to implement the
recommended raised crosswalks at the intersection to mitigate speeding and enhance
vehicular and pedestrian safety; and , if feasible, implement the recommended safety
improvements as part of the upcoming GOB Bayshore Neighborhood Traffic Calming project
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
The intersection of 40 Street and Chase Avenue currently operates as a two-way stop-
controlled, 3 leg or T-intersection. The east approach on 40 Street is stop-controlled while
Chase Avenue traffic is uncontrolled. There are crosswalks on the north and east legs of the
intersection only. Both 40 Street and Chase Avenue are classified as local roadways.
In March 2020, following resident concerns with pedestrian safety at the intersection of 40
Page 837 of 2012
Street and Chase Avenue, Commissioner Steven Meiner sponsored the referral of a discussion
item to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC) to explore modifying the
current intersection traffic control from a two-way stop control to an all-way stop control. At that
time, the City was under emergency stay-at-home orders due to the COVI D-19 pandemic; thus,
the Administration recommended delaying the data collection and evaluation of the intersection
until traffic returns to normal conditions.
It is worth highlighting that according to the 2019 City of Miami Beach Resident Survey, 74% of
respondents expressed that they are most concerned/dissatisfied with pedestrian safety
(vehicles not yielding to pedestrians) when crossing an intersection. As such, expediting the
implementation of pedestrian safety improvements is a priority for the Administration.
ANALYSIS
The evaluation criteria for multi-way stop signs are outlined in the U.S. Department of
Transportation Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD). The MUTCD specifies the minimum criteria that must be met prior to installation of a
multi-way stop control at an intersection. The criteria are based on crashes and traffic volumes
(vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle)at an intersection over various periods of time.
The approval, implementation, and maintenance of traffic control devices is under the
jurisdiction of Miami-Dade County; however, to expedite the approval process, City's
Transportation and Mobility Department engages a consultant to collect traffic data, conducts in-
house warrant analyses for multi-way stop controls, pedestrian flashing beacons, and traffic
signals, and works with the County to expedite the installation of the traffic control device, if
warranted.
All-Way Stop Control Warrant Study
Data was collected from Thursday, January 28, 2021 to Sunday, January 31, 2021 (96-hours)to
identify the peak eight (8) hours for the analysis. The peak day identified was Friday and the
peak times identified were 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Staff also coordinated with the temples in
the vicinity to ensure the data included pedestrian volumes generated by religious institutions.
Further, staff reviewed 2017 data and 2019 data for Chase Avenue and other corridors in the
vicinity of the intersection to determine if a factor needed to be utilized to normalize the data.
Following the completion of the warrant analysis in accordance with the MUTCD, the following
results were obtained: •
• Warrant 1 - Five or more reported crashes in a 12-month period that are susceptible to
correction by a multi-way stop.
o Result—Typically, the analysis for Warrant 1 is performed reviewing the 12 months prior
to the data collection date; however, to account for the reduction in traffic due to the
Covid-19 Pandemic restrictions, staff reviewed 5 years of crash data to identify the
highest 12-month period. The 5 year review resulted in 3 crashes susceptible to
correction by a multi-way stop in a 12-month period between September 2017 and
September 2018. Based on the results of the analysis, Warrant 1 is not met.
• Warrant 2A- The vehicular volume entering the intersection from the major street approaches
(total of both approaches) averages at least 300 vehicles per hour for any eight hours of an
average day.
o Result—The average volume for the peak 8 hours is 583 vehicles. Based on the results
of the analysis, Warrant 2A is met.
Page 838 of 2012
• Warrant 2B - The combined vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle volume entering the intersection
from the minor street approaches (total of both approaches) averages at least 200 units per
hour for the same 8 hours, with an average delay to minor-street vehicular traffic of at least 30
seconds per vehicle during the highest hour.
o Result — The average volume for the peak 8 hours is 130 vehicles, pedestrians, and
bicycles. Based on the results of the analysis, Warrant 2B is not met.
Pursuant to the MUTCD. for an all-way stop control to be warranted at an intersection. at a
minimum. either Warrant 1 or both Warrants 2A and 2B need to be met. Given that Warrant 1
was not met and both Warrants 2A and 2B were not met either, an all-way stop control is not
warranted at the intersection. The warrant analysis of the intersection also included a feasibility
review of other types of potential devices, such as pedestrian flashing beacons, as well as a
review of current pavement marking conditions. While the pedestrian volumes are not sufficient
to warrant the implementation of pedestrian flashing beacons, staff recommends moving
forward with the following improvements in the immediate term:
• restriping the existing crosswalks as high-emphasis crosswalks (zebra stripe)
• installing new pedestrian crossing signs at the crosswalks
• installing a sign advising westbound traffic on 40 Street that north-south (Chase Avenue)traffic
does not stop
The Transportation and Mobility Department will restripe the crosswalk through one of its
rotational contractors and install the advisory signs in-house. These improvements are
scheduled to occur before the end of July 2021.
Speed Analysis
In addition to the turning movement counts, pedestrian counts, and vehicular counts collected at
the intersection, the City's traffic consultant also collected speed data. Speed data is used to
determine if speed calming features are warranted. Following are the results of the speed
study:
Chase Avenue:
• 85th percentile speed: 29 MPH
• Percent greater than posted speed limit of 25 MPH: 37%
• Percent greater than 30 MPH: 9%
40 Street:
• 85th percentile speed: 24 MPH
• Percent greater than posted speed limit of 25 MPH: 15%
• Percent greater than 30 MPH: 1%
Given that more than one in three vehicles travelling on Chase Avenue currently exceed the
posted speed limit of 25 MPH, staff reviewed the feasibility of implementing traffic calming
measures at the intersection. Based on the geometric characteristics of the intersection and the
concerns with pedestrian safety, staff recommends implementing a raised crosswalk at the north
leg of the intersection and exploring the feasibility of adding a crosswalk (potentially raised) at
the south leg where a crosswalk does not currently exist (see attachment). Similar to a speed
table, a raised crosswalk is effective in reducing vehicular operating speed by approximately
20%. In addition, a raised crosswalk increases the visibility of pedestrians and raises driver
Page 839 of 2012
awareness approaching the intersection. The increased awareness results in more drivers
seeing and yielding to pedestrians crossing the intersection. Raised crosswalks have been
shown to reduce pedestrian crashes by 45% according to the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
April 28. 2021 NQLC Meetina
At the April 28, 2021 NQLC meeting, Transportation and Mobility Department staff presented
the results of the All-Way Stop Control Warrant Analysis for the intersection of Chase Avenue
and 40 Street as well as the recommended improvements described above. At the meeting, the
Committee endorsed the Administration's recommendations including:
• Proceeding with the following recommended safety improvements on an immediate term for the
intersection of Chase Avenue and 40 Street
o restripe the existing crosswalk at the intersection for high emphasis
o install new pedestrian crossing signs
o install signage advising westbound traffic on 40 Street that north-south (Chase Avenue)
traffic does not stop
• Working with the Office of Management and Budget to identify funding to implement the
recommended raised crosswalks at the intersection to mitigate speeding and enhance
vehicular and pedestrian safety; and , if feasible, implement the recommended safety
improvements as part of the upcoming GOB Bayshore Neighborhood Traffic Calming project
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
Based on the 2019 Resident Survey, 17% of residents use walking as their primary mode of
transportation for trips within Miami Beach; 30% of residents use walking as their secondary mode of
transportation for trips within Miami Beach; 73% of residents are concerned or dissatisfied with
pedestrian safety(vehicles yielding to pedestrians)when crossing the street at an intersection.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The recommended immediate improvements, including restriping the crosswalk and installing
signage, has a cost of approximately $4,000 and the funds are included in the Transportation
and Mobility Department's Adopted Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Operating Budget.
The proposed raised crosswalk on the north leg of the intersection is anticipated to cost
approximately$10,000 and the raised crosswalk on the south leg (if feasible) is anticipated to
cost approximately $15,000. The Transportation and Mobility Department will work with the
Office of Management and Budget to identify funding to include this improvement in the
upcoming GOB Bayshore Neighborhood Traffic Calming project scheduled to be completed in
early 2022.
CONCLUSION
In March 2020,following resident concerns with pedestrian safety at the intersection of 40 Street and
Chase Avenue, Commissioner Steven Meiner sponsored the referral of a discussion item to the
NQLC to explore modifying the current intersection traffic control from a two-way stop control to an
all-way stop control. Staff presented the results of the traffic analysis at the April 28, 2021 NQLC
meeting. Based on the results of the warrant analysis conducted by staff, an all-way stop control at
the intersection of Chase Avenue and 40 Street is not warranted. To improve pedestrian safety at
this intersection in the immediate term, the City will upgrade the existing crosswalks to high-emphasis
Page 840 of 2012
crosswalks, install new pedestrian crossing signs, and install signage advising westbound traffic on
40 Street that north-south (Chase Avenue)traffic does not stop. These improvements are scheduled
to be implemented in July 2021.
Furthermore, staff recommended consideration of a raised crosswalk at the north leg of the
intersection to mitigate speeding and increase pedestrian crossing safety. Staff will also explore the
feasibility of adding a crosswalk (potentially raised) at the south leg of the intersection where a
crosswalk does not currently exist.
The above recommendations were approved by the NQLC at its April 28, 2021 meeting. If the City
Commission accepts the recommendations of the NQLC, the Transportation and Mobility
Department will work with the Office of Management and Budget to identify funding to design and
construct the raised crosswalks, and, if feasible, implement the improvements as part of the upcoming
GOB Bayshore Neighborhood Traffic Calming project.
Applicable Area
Middle Beach
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item, pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
No Yes
Strategic Connection
Mobility- Improve the walking and biking experience.
Legislative Tracking
Transportation and Mobility
Sponsor
Commissioner Steven Meiner
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
o Intersection Aerial
Page 841 of 2012
11
Attachment--
Intersection Aerial i' - (.4� .r
.
s N, .. t' i
4P 'h iyt x+nP .J.•b • N i •• 1
ir
IIA
ilk
k, w •111.111 ••
Z CD
i - .. l
• nJ
,, u) w Raised Crosswalk Sample ..
cI3 0y
1�1.', Y^ i KIBI x x i it ...to
I x�.
III 4U
•
OM
V <x 40th Street
.
• %. 4 .
r
r 1:
0
IIP
Ix A ,`"1p"r1" �- ' 1 . h. '
•
. .. \ -,.f .• A J
QI�I ^ its
,•. I Earth .� .k Baa,� ��� I � ' . r��' .� x:
Gbogle a " 1oo ft _