Resolution 2022-32023RESOLUTION NO. 2022-32023
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO RE-
OPEN WASHINGTON AVENUE'S TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC (BOTH
NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND), TO RETURN WASHINGTON AVENUE
TO THE CONFIGURATION EXISTING PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC;
AUTHORIZING the CITY MANAGER TO EXPEND THE FUNDS THAT ARE
NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THIS CONFIGURATION; FURTHER, REFERRING
THE DISCUSSION OF THE PERMANENT CONFIGURATION OF
WASHINGTON AVENUE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD
QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY
ADMINISTRATION TO INSTALL SIGNAGE ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE,
DIRECTING BICYCLISTS TO NEARBY STREETS (SUCH AS PENNSYLVANIA
AVENUE) CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS "SLOW STREETS" FOR THE
BENEFIT OF BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS; AND FURTHER, DIRECTING
THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR AND INSTALL
PROTECTIVE STRIPING FOR BICYCLE LANES ON PENNSYLVANIA
AVENUE.
WHEREAS, In May 2020, the City and the Washington Avenue Business Improvement
District (WAVE BID) began coordinating a pilot program to assist businesses along Washington
Avenue in economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, prior to COVID-19 pandemic and the initiation of the pilot program,
Washington Avenue consisted of four travel lanes (two northbound and two southbound) divided
by a landscaped median and with on -street parking and wide sidewalks on both sides; and
WHEREAS, the pilot program's goal was to expand restaurants into the parking lane
through the use of parklets to allow restaurants to increase the number of tables while complying
with social distancing guidelines, and repurposing the outside travel lane in each direction to
implement protected bike lanes to promote safe cycling; and
WHEREAS, the pilot configuration resulted in a reduction of two lanes of traffic (one
northbound and one southbound) to accommodate the parklets and protected bike lanes and
WHEREAS, based on the information provided by Washington Avenue Business
Improvement District, businesses reported an average increase in revenues of 28% between
October and December 2020; and
WHEREAS, based on data tracked and collected by the Transportation and Mobility
Department, daily bicycle volumes on Washington Avenue increased by 875 trips per day since
implementation of the pilot in August 2020 and by 337 trips per day since the December 2020
pilot effectiveness study, indicating a substantive growth in bicycle trips; and
WHEREAS, based on the increase in bicycle volumes and business activity along the
corridor, it can be concluded that to date, the pilot has been effective in accomplishing its primary
goal of promoting economic recovery during the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Mayor and City Commission to re -open the two travel
lanes on Washington Avenue as they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, reverting
Washington Avenue back to four travel lanes (two in each direction), and authorize the City
Manager to expend the funds that are needed to implement this configuration; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission wish to refer the discussion of permanent
configuration of Washington Avenue to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee; and
WHEREAS, in addition, in order to further encourage safe cycling, the Mayor and City
Commission direct the City Administration to install signage along Washington Avenue directing
bicyclists to nearby streets (such as Pennsylvania Avenue), currently designed as "Slow Streets"
for the benefit of bicyclists and pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, furthermore, the Mayor and City Commission direct the City Administration
to identify funding for and install protective striping for bicycle lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby direct the City Administration to re -open Washington Avenue's two lanes of
traffic (both northbound and southbound), to return Washington Avenue to the configuration
existing prior to the COVID-19 pandemic; authorize the City Manager to expend the funds that
are needed to implement this configuration; further, refer the discussion of the permanent
configuration of Washington Avenue to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee; and
further direct the City Administration to install signage along Washington Avenue, directing
bicyclists to the nearby streets (such as (Pennsylvania Avenue), currently designated as "Slow
Streets" for the benefit of bicyclist and pedestrians; and further, direct the City Administration to
identify funding for and install protective striping for bicycle lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 470 day of 701kry 2022.
Attest:
L
Rafael F. Granado, City Clerk
Dan Gelber, Mayor
(Sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez)
' NCO RP ORATED.:
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
City Attorney ttll Date
Resolutions - R7 T
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney
DATE: January 20, 2022
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION
TO RE -OPEN WASHI NGTON AVENUE'S TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC (BOTH
NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND), TO RETURN WASHINGTON
AVENUE TO THE CONFIGURATION EXISTING PRIOR TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC; FURTHER, REFERRING THE DISCUSSION OF THE
PERMANENT CONFIGURATION OF WASHINGTON AVENUE TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE; AND FURTHER
DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO INSTALL SIGNAGE ALONG
WASHINGTON AVENUE, DIRECTING BICYCLISTS TO NEARBY
STREETS (SUCH AS PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE) CURRENTLY
DESIGNATED AS "SLOW STREETS" FOR THE BENEFIT OF BICYCLISTS
AND PEDESTRIANS; AND FURTHER, DIRECTING THE CITY
ADMINISTRATION TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR AND INSTALL
PROTECTIVE STRIPING FOR BICYCLE LANES ON PENNSYLVANIA
AVENUE.
ANALYSIS
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the above -referenced Resolution is
submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission at the January 20, 2022
Commission meeting.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a "Residents Right
to Know" item, pursuant to
City Code Section 2-14?
No
Legislative Tracking
Does this item utilize G.O.
Bond Funds?
No
Page 899 of 1313
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Resolution
Page 900 of 1313