Resolution 2022-32111 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-32111
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING CONCERN WITH ROADWAY
SAFETY ALONG THE ALTON ROAD CORRIDOR IN MIDDLE BEACH, AND
URGING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO (1)
INCORPORATE EFFECTIVE TRAFFIC CALMING AND SPEED
MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED
SR907/ALTON ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FROM MICHIGAN
AVENUE TO ALLISON ROAD; (2) EXPEDITE THE INSTALLATION OF THE
RECOMMENDED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VICINITY OF THE
HORIZONTAL CURVE AT ALTON ROAD AND 63 STREET, AS IDENTIFIED
IN THE FDOT STUDY ENTITLED "ALTON ROAD FROM 62 STREET TO LA
GORCE DRIVE SPEED SAFETY STUDY"; AND (3) CONDUCT PUBLIC
INPUT MEETINGS/CHARRETTES WITH THE AREA RESIDENTS AND CITY
OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC CALMING AND
SPEED MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN FUTURE
ALTON ROAD PROJECTS.
WHEREAS, State Road 907/Alton Road is an arterial roadway under the jurisdiction of
the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT); and
WHEREAS, many of the crashes are related to speeding within the corridor and loss of
vehicle control in the vicinity of the pronounced horizontal curve at 63 Street; and
WHEREAS, given the prevalent speeding and the number of crashes resulting in property
damage, the City and residents of Alton Road have been expressing concerns to FDOT for
several years with regard to traffic safety on Alton Road between 41 Street and 63 Street; and
WHEREAS, based on historical crash data provided by the Miami Beach Police
Department, over 580 crashes, including three fatalities, have occurred along this segment of
Alton Road over the past five years; and
WHEREAS, FDOT has responded to some of these concerns over time by implementing
various signage and pavement marking improvements and installing several electronic signs as
speed mitigation; however, to date, FDOT has not made any physical improvements to the
configuration of the road to effectively mitigate speeding and reduce crashes; and
WHEREAS, FDOT is in the design phase for the reconstruction of three (3) segments of
this corridor:
• Michigan Avenue to South of 43rd Street(FPID #429193-1-52-01);
• South of 43rd Street to North of 48th Street (FPID#430444-1-52-01); and
• North of 48th Street to East Allison Road (FPID #430444-2-52-01); and
WHEREAS, resident concerns with safety and speeding on Alton Road were discussed
at the October 29, 2021 Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC); and
WHEREAS, the NQLC directed the Administration to work with the residents to develop
a resolution to transmit to FDOT with the concerns of the City and its residents; and
WHEREAS, the NQLC requested that FDOT conduct public meetings and/or charrettes
with the residents to discuss specific design elements to mitigate the concerns of the residents;
and
WHEREAS, Transportation and Mobility Department staff has met various times with
Alton Road residents to collaboratively develop a comprehensive list of key community needs
and priorities in terms of safety, traffic calming, and neighborhood walkability and livability for
FDOT to include as part of the design of the future Alton Road reconstruction projects in Middle
Beach; and
WHEREAS, at the March 9, 2022 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Alex
Fernandez sponsored an item to "Discuss A Request To FDOT For Possible Emergency
Improvements To 63 Street Due To Recurring Traffic Accidents"; and
WHEREAS, at the meeting, Transportation and Mobility Department staff shared the
recommendations of a recent traffic study conducted by FDOT pursuant to the City's request
titled "Alton Road From 62 Street To LaGorce Drive Speed Safety Study" intended to enhance
roadway safety in the vicinity of the pronounced horizontal curve located at Alton Road and 63
Street; and
WHEREAS, at the March 23, 2022 Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life
Committee meeting, the Administration presented the comprehensive list of key community
needs and priorities for inclusion in the future FDOT Alton Road projects as well as the list of
recommended short-term improvements in advance of the future Alton Road projects; and
WHEREAS, the comprehensive list of key community needs and priorities in terms of
safety, traffic calming, and neighborhood walkability and livability for FDOT to include as part of
the design of the future Alton Road reconstruction projects in Middle Beach, includes:
• Traffic calming by way of raised crosswalks, speed tables, raised intersections,
traffic circles and other similar devices to accomplish the target posted speed limit
of 30 miles per hour;
• Widen the parking lane to allow for more space to open vehicle doors;
• Replace conventional streetlight poles with aesthetic pedestrian-scale lighting
contextual to the single-family residential neighborhood;
• Add signalized crosswalks to cross Alton Road at 23 Street, Chase Avenue(south
leg), 44 Court, 54 Street, 57 Street, 62 Street, and other intersections as
appropriate to improve pedestrian safety and allow residents to cross Alton Road
safely;
• Replace trees and landscape in the median with mature trees to help with traffic
calming, walkability, and livability along the corridor;
• Install high-emphasis (zebra) pedestrian crosswalks at all crosswalk locations;
• Install bulb-outs at all existing and proposed crosswalks and other locations as
appropriate to serve as traffic calming and reduce pedestrian crossing distances;
• Study the repurposing of the inside lane as a shared through/left turn lane; and
• Modify the east leg of the intersection of Alton Road and 51 Street to a single
entrance and exit and signalize the intersection; and
WHEREAS, the residents have requested consideration for the following improvements
in advance of the reconstruction projects:
• Restripe all pedestrian crosswalks as high emphasis (zebra) crosswalks;
• Reinstall missing reflective raised pavement markers along the corridor;
• Repair broken sidewalks and correct tripping hazards;
• Consider installation of"NO TRUCK" signs on Alton Road north of 43 Street;
• Reinstall missing ADA detectable pads at pedestrian curb ramps;
• Install temporary raised speed humps or other raised traffic calming devices; and
• Implement all the recommended improvements identified in the FDOT study
entitled "Alton Road From 62 Street To La Gorce Drive Speed Safety Study"; and
WHEREAS, given that a large percent of the crashes can be attributed to speeding on
Alton Road, the City is requesting that FDOT District 6 work closely with FDOT Central Office in
Tallahassee and the State Legislature to explore the use of speed cameras to more effectively
and efficiently enforce speeding and enhance safety along this corridor.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby express
concern with roadway safety along the Alton Road corridor in Middle Beach, and urge the
Florida Department of Transportation to (1) incorporate effective traffic calming and speed
management improvements as part of the proposed SR907/Alton Road reconstruction
projects from Michigan Avenue to Allison Road; (2) expedite the installation of the
recommended safety improvements in the vicinity of the horizontal curve at Alton Road and
63 Street, as identified in the FDOT study entitled "Alton Road From 62 Street to La Gorce
Drive Speed Safety Study"; and (3) conduct public input meetings/charrettes with the area
residents and City officials to identify the appropriate traffic calming and speed management
improvements for inclusion in future Alton Road projects.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 6th day of April 2021.
Dan Gelber, Mayor
ATTEST:
/ APR l 2 2022'
l ORP ORATED
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerkh
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
or y i 2ti
City Attorney 44, Date
Resolutions C7 R
MIAMIBEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Aline T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE: April 6, 2022
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING THE CITY COMMISSION'S
AND CITY ADMINISTRATION'S CONCERN WITH ROADWAY SAFETY
ALONG THE ALTON ROAD CORRIDOR IN MIDDLE BEACH AND URGING
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INCORPORATE
EFFECTIVE TRAFFIC CALMING AND SPEED MANAGEMENT
IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED SR907/ALTON ROAD
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FROM MICHIGAN AVENUE TO ALLISON
ROAD; AND REQUESTING THAT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION EXPEDITE THE INSTALLATION OF THE
RECOMMENDED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VICINITY OF THE
HORIZONTAL CURVE AT ALTON ROAD AND 63 STREET AS IDENTIFIED
IN THE FDOT STUDY ENTITLED "ALTON ROAD FROM 62 STREET TO LA
GORGE DRIVE SPEED SAFETY STUDY";AND CONDUCT PUBLIC INPUT
MEETINGS/CHARRETTES WITH THE AREA RESIDENTS AND CITY
OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC CALMING AND
SPEED MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN THE
FUTURE ALTON ROAD PROJECTS.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the resolution.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
State Road 907/Alton Road is an arterial roadway under the jurisdiction of the Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT). While Alton Road is mostly commercial south of
Michigan Avenue, the corridor is predominantly single-family residential between Michigan
Avenue and 63 Street in Middle Beach. In this section of the condor,Alton Road is a four-lane
divided roadway with an annual average daily traffic of 34,000 vehicles per day. There are not
many crosswalks or traffic signals along this section of the corridor which, coupled with the
number of horizontal curves between 41 Street and 63 Street, contributes to vehicles speeding
and numerous crashes.
Based on historical crash data provided by the Miami Beach Police Department, over 580
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crashes, including three fatalities, have occurred along this segment of Alton Road over the past
five years. Many of the crashes are related to speeding and loss of vehicle control in the vicinity
of the pronounced horizontal curve at 63 Street. Based on an analysis of the crash data,
Transportation and Mobility Department has determined that the crash rate between 2016 and
2021 is about 4.5. For context, roadway segments with a crash rate above 1.0 are considered
high crash segments by FDOT.
Given the prevalent speeding and the number of crashes resulting in property damage, the City
and residents of Alton Road have been expressing concerns to FDOT for several years with
regard to traffic safety on Alton Road between 41 Street and 63 Street. FDOT has responded
to some of these concerns over time by implementing various signage and pavement marking
improvements and installing several electronic signs as speed mitigation. However, to date,
FDOT has not made any physical improvements to the configuration of the road to effectively
mitigate speeding and reduce crashes.
FDOT is currently in the design phase for the future reconstruction of three segments along the
Alton Road condor in Middle Beach:
• Michigan Avenue to south of 43 Street(FPI D #429193-1-52-01)
• south of 43 Street to north of 48 Street(FPI D#430444-1-52-01)
• north of 48 Street to east of Allison Road (FPI D#430444-2-52-01)
While prior signage and pavement marking improvements along Alton Road between 41 Street
and 63 Street have yielded limited benefit, FDOT's planned reconstruction projects offer a
much greater opportunity to effectively redesign the road to mitigate speeding and enhance
safety for all users pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
The resident concerns with safety and speeding on Alton.Road were discussed at the October
29, 2021 Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC) meeting. Residents and
representatives from FDOT attended the meeting to discuss the elements of the future
reconstruction projects and the importance of including traffic calming and additional pedestrian
crosswalks in the projects. At the meeting, the Committee recommended that the City
Administration work closely with the area residents to draft a City Commission resolution to
transmit to FDOT outlining the concerns and desires of the City and its residents in terms of
traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements along the Alton Road corridor in Middle
Beach. Additionally, the Committee requested that FDOT conduct public input meetings and/or
charrettes with the area residents to discuss specific design elements to mitigate the concerns
of the City and Alton Road residents.
Since the October 29, 2021 NQLC meeting, Transportation and Mobility Department staff has
met various times with Alton. Road residents to collaboratively develop a comprehensive list of
key community needs and priorities in terms of safety, traffic calming, and neighborhood
walkability and livability for FDOT to include as part of the design of the future Alton Road
reconstruction projects in Middle Beach.
At the March 9,2022 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Alex Fernandez sponsored an
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item to "Discuss A Request To FDOT For Possible Emergency Improvements To 63 Street
Due To Recurring Traffic Accidents". At the meeting, Transportation and Mobility Department
staff shared the recommendations of a recent traffic study conducted by FDOT pursuant to the
City's request titled "Alton Road From 62 Street To La Gorce Drive Speed Safety Study"
intended to enhance roadway safety in the vicinity of the pronounced horizontal curve located at
Alton Road and 63 Street. Staff emphasized the importance of FDOT identifying funding and
implementing the improvements recommended in the FDOT traffic study in the immediate term
rather than waiting for the future Alton Road reconstruction projects.
At the March 23, 2022 Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee meeting, the
Administration presented .the comprehensive list of key community needs and priorities for
inclusion in the future FDOT Alton Road projects as well as the list of recommended short-term
improvements in advance of the future Alton Road projects. The Committee passed a motion
endorsing the Administration's recommendations and moved the item to the April 6, 2022 City
Commission meeting with a favorable recommendation.
ANALYSIS
The comprehensive list of key community needs and priorities in terms of safety, traffic calming,
and neighborhood walkability and livability for FDOT to include as part of the design of the future
Alton Road reconstruction projects in Middle Beach, includes:
• Traffic calming by way of raised crosswalks, speed tables, raised intersections, traffic
circles and other similar devices to accomplish the target posted speed limit of 30 miles
per hour
• Widen the parking lane-to allow for more space to open vehicle doors
• Replace conventional streetlight poles with aesthetic pedestrian-scale lighting contextual
to the single-family residential neighborhood
• Add signalized crosswalks to cross Alton Road at 23 Street, Chase Avenue (south leg),
44 Court, 54 Street, 57 Street, 62 Street, and other intersections as appropriate to
improve pedestrian safety and allow residents to cross Alton Road safely
• Replace trees and landscape in the median with mature trees to, help with traffic calming,
walkability, and livability along the corridor
• Install high-emphasis (zebra)pedestrian crosswalks at all crosswalk locations
• Install bulb-outs at all existing and proposed crosswalks and other locations as appropriate
to serve as traffic calming and reduce pedestrian crossing distances
• Study the repurposing of the inside lane as a shared through/left turn lane
• Modify the east leg of the intersection of Alton Road and 51 Street to a single entrance
and exit and signalize the intersection
While it is crucial that FDOT include the above community-contextual street design elements as
part of its future reconstruction projects, it is equally important that FDOT address the
immediate concerns with safety and speeding along the corridor, particularly in the vicinity of the
pronounced horizontal curve at Alton Road and 63 Street. As such, residents are also
requesting that FDOT consider implementing the following short-term improvements in advance
of the future Alton Road reconstruction projects in Middle Beach:
• Restripe all pedestrian crosswalks as high emphasis (zebra)crosswalks
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•
• Reinstall missing reflective raised pavement markers along the corridor
• Repair broken sidewalks and correct tripping hazards
• Consider installation of"NO TRUCK" signs on Alton Road north of 43 Street
• Reinstall missing ADA detectable pads at pedestrian curb ramps
• Install temporary raised speed humps or other raised traffic calming devices
• Implement .all the recommended improvements identified in the FDOT study
entitled "Alton Road From 62 Street To La Gorce Drive Speed Safety Study"
Enforcement
The Miami Beach Police Department conducts periodic speed enforcement along Alton Road
in Middle Beach; however, sporadic police enforcement is not an effective deterrent to
speeding and is not a sustainable strategy to change long-term driver behavior. Given that a
large percent of the crashes can be attributed to speeding on Alton Road, the City is requesting
that FDOT District 6 work closely with FDOT Central Office in Tallahassee and the State
Legislature to explore the use of speed cameras to more effectively and efficiently enforce
speeding and enhance safety along this corridor.
Furthermore, Alton Road residents have requested that FDOT explore the possibility of tolling
on 1-195 and State Road A1A southbound to deter cut-through traffic on Alton
Road. The Administration believes that this request will need further research and discussions
both internally and with FDOT prior to the City taking a formal position on this request.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
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. In addition, 47% of residents responded that at
least one person in their household regularly rides a bike and 33% of residents consider
bicycling the most viable alternative to using cars for trips within Miami Beach. Based on the
same survey, while 64% of residents feel somewhat safe when riding their bicycle in the City,
37%of residents feel unsafe.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
N/A
Amount(s)/Account(s):
N/A
CONCLUSION
;Given the prevalent speeding, high number of crashes, and lack of pedestrian crosswalks along
the Alton Road corridor in Middle Beach, the Administration recommends that the City
Commission approve the comprehensive list of short and long term priority needs and requests
developed jointly by Alton Road residents and City staff. The priority list includes requests for
traffic calming, additional pedestrian crosswalks, and community-contextual street design
elements, among other desired improvements, to be considered by FDOT for potential
implementation either in advance of or as part of future FDOT reconstruction projects along
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•
Alton Road between Michigan Avenue and 63 Street in Middle Beach.
If approved, the City Commission resolution will be transmitted to the FDOT District Six
Secretary. Furthermore, the Administration will work closely with FDOT leadership and staff to
ensure the inclusion of the City's recommended safety improvements in the future Alton Road
projects.
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 No
Strategic Connection
Neighborhoods-Work with partners to address regional safety issues.
Legislative Tracking
Transportation and Mobility
Sponsor
Commissioners Steven Meiner, Mark Samuelian, and Alex Fernandez
Page 943 of 1735
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-673-7411
April 12, 2022
District Six Secretary Stacy Miller
Florida Department of Transportation
1000 N.W. 111 Avenue
Miami, FL 33172
Dear District Six Secretary Miller,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2022-32111:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING CONCERN WITH ROADWAY SAFETY
ALONG THE ALTON ROAD CORRIDOR IN MIDDLE BEACH,AND URGING THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO (1) INCORPORATE
EFFECTIVE TRAFFIC CALMING AND SPEED MANAGEMENT
IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED SR907/ALTON ROAD
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FROM MICHIGAN AVENUE TO ALLISON
ROAD; (2) EXPEDITE THE INSTALLATION OF THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VICINITY OF THE HORIZONTAL CURVE AT ALTON
ROAD AND 63 STREET, AS IDENTIFIED IN THE FDOT STUDY ENTITLED
' "ALTON ROAD FROM 62 STREET TO LA GORCE DRIVE SPEED SAFETY
STUDY"; AND (3) CONDUCT PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS/CHARRETTES WITH
THE AREA RESIDENTS AND CITY OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY THE
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC CALMING AND SPEED MANAGEMENT
IMPROVEMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN FUTURE ALTON ROAD PROJECTS.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Steven Meiner, Commissioner Mark Samuelian,
and Commissioner Alex Fernandez)
This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commissioners of the City of
Miami Beach on April 6, 2022.
Respectfully,
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Steven Meiner
Commissioner Mark Samuelian
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel:305-673-7411
April 12, 2022
Secretary Kevin J. Thibault
Florida Department of Transportation
605 Suwannee Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Dear Secretary Thibault,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2022-32111:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING CONCERN WITH ROADWAY SAFETY
ALONG THE ALTON ROAD CORRIDOR IN MIDDLE BEACH, AND URGING THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO (1) INCORPORATE
EFFECTIVE TRAFFIC CALMING AND SPEED MANAGEMENT
IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED SR907/ALTON ROAD
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FROM MICHIGAN AVENUE TO ALLISON
ROAD; (2) EXPEDITE THE INSTALLATION OF THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VICINITY OF THE HORIZONTAL CURVE AT ALTON
ROAD AND 63 STREET, AS IDENTIFIED IN THE FDOT STUDY ENTITLED
"ALTON ROAD FROM 62 STREET TO LA GORCE DRIVE SPEED SAFETY
STUDY"; AND (3) CONDUCT PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS/CHARRETTES WITH
THE AREA RESIDENTS AND CITY OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY THE
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC CALMING AND SPEED MANAGEMENT
IMPROVEMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN FUTURE ALTON ROAD PROJECTS.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Steven Meiner, Commissioner Mark Samuelian,
and Commissioner Alex Fernandez)
This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commissioners of the City of
Miami Beach on April 6, 2022.
Respectfully,
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Steven Meiner
Commissioner Mark Samuelian
Commissioner Alex Fernandez