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091-1998 LTC CITY OF MIAMI BEACH CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139 http:\\ci.miami-beach.fl.us L.T.C. No. 91-1998 LETTER TO COMMISSION SUBJECT: Status of the Miami Beach /1/ ~LV~ June 19, 1998 TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and Members of the City Commission , ~ - FROM: Sergio Rodriguez, City Manager Approximately one year ago, Carr Smith Corradino was hired to develop a Municipal Mobility Plan -- the first citywide transportation plan for Miami Beach. This work was to be completed by July of 1998. With this deadline fast approaching, the Administration feels it imperative to postpone the MMP completion to September 1998, for the following reason: The original scope of services for the MMP called for two community involvement workshops. At the request of the City's Transportation and Parking Committee, four workshops were held instead. This brought in a larger than expected amount of citizen input and, consequently, additional time is required to analyze and evaluate the input received and produce a plan that adequately meets the needs of the City and its residents. Miami Beach is an urbanized island community which lies in a coastal high hazard area, and, for reasons of health and safety, needs to comply with hurricane evacuation time frames as mandated by State and County regulations. This fact, plus the needs created by approved development and redevelopment projects, as well as those expressed by the residents at the workshops, require a lot of creativity on the consultant's part when developing a draft MMP. When the number of options from which to choose are scarce and the needs to fulfill are contrasting, diverse and numerous, additional time is needed to devise non-traditional solutions for the challenges at hand. Between now and August, the consultants will perform the following tasks: o Analyze and evaluate all citizen input in light of the MMP previous findings as to existing conditions, projected future conditions, and special user needs, and how the combined needs may corne to fit within and enhance the plan. o Devise creative, non-traditional and multimodal solutions for the City's transportation and mobility challenges. o Produce a phased and prioritized ten-year transportation plan, including a capital improvements program which is realistic, achievable, and coordinated to meet local objectives. Develop a concurrency monitoring system for transportation; and o Produce a plan that facilitates long-range strategic planning and policy decision-making. Letter to Commission June 19, 1998 Page 2 Therefore, the Administration strongly recommends that two additional months be given to the Consultant so that this first citywide transportation plan for Miami Beach can be appropriately completed. A proposed schedule for the extended MMP period follows: () August 31,1998: () September 16: () September 23: Draft-plan presentation to the Transportation & Parking Committee Draft-plan presentation at a special City Commission Workshop Final-draft presentation for City Commission consideration/action. As to the public involvement workshops held in North Beach, Middle Beach, South Beach, and City Hall, they were well attended and had a high level of public participation and input. Included herein is a compilation of the input received by area. As requests and interests from one area or neighborhood collided with the requests and interests of others, it became evident that a balanced and citywide management approach to traffic and mobility issues is the only effective and equitable way to redistribute traffic flow, reduce present and future traffic speed and intrusions, and enhance the quality of life, safety, and viability of the City as a whole. SR/HM/ AJ Attachments: Citizen Input at Four Workshops cc: Harry Mavrogenes, Assistant City Manager Janet Gavarrete, Assistant City Manager Mayra Diaz-Buttacavoli, Assistant City Manager Julio Grave de Peralta, Director of Public Works Dean Grandin, Director of Planning Joseph Johnson, Transportation Planner Amelia Johnson, Transportation Coordinator Parking and Transportation Committee Bruce Chatterton, Carr Smith Corradino MMP file (ltcmmp )aj Input received at the MIAMI BEACH MUNICIPAL MOBILITY PLAN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WORKSHOP - NORTH BEACH Biscayne Elementary School Cafeteria Tuesday, April 28, 1998, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. In attendance were Commissioner Jose Smith, four members of the City Staff (Joseph Johnson, Amelia Johnson, Michael Alvarez, and Willian Cary), three members of the Carr Smith Corradino consulting team (Brian Mirson, Bruce Chatterton, and Greg Kyle), and 23 residents of which only 18 signed the register, herein attached. Brian Mirson, President of Carr Smith Corradino, spoke briefly about the Municipal Mobility Plan goals and objectives, and asked that the residents express their concerns and wishes regarding traffic and mobility issues in North Beach. Mr. Mirson acted as a moderator. The comments, observations and suggestions received from those in attendance, follow: o In order to encourage more Miami-bound vehicular traffic to use the Kennedy Causeway (instead of driving down Miami Beach and take the Julia Tuttle Causeway), the City Commission should initiate discussions with and encourage the City of Miami/Miami-Dade County to address the blighted, unsafe, and unsightly conditions on the 79th-82nd Streets couplet, in an effort to improve the overall area. (Michael Thompson, 2140 Calais Drive) o Mr. Thompson also brought to the meeting a mock-up of a conceptual project he devised for the 63rd Street Flyover area. His concept includes two new flyovers for northbound and eastbound movements. This was viewed by those in attendance but no group discussion was held. o When the 63rd Street bridge opens it causes traffic backs-ups. When it gets stuck, causes extensive gridlock. Something creative needs to be done to alleviate mobility problems in the area. (Jo Asmudsson, 4580 N. Jefferson) o This is not a recent problem. The 63rd Street-area was designed to facilitate vehicular movements north and south, and traditionally has been a busy area. Even several years ago it tended to become clogged during peak season. o Whatever project is finally decided for the 63rd Street flyover area should be a balanced project which is devised to meet the overall City needs and desires. (Brian Mirson, CSC) o Similar congestion or gridlock occurs when either one of the 79th Street bridges are opened or stuck. o 71 st Street also has a serious speeding problem. Approximately 75% of the traffic using the westbound street travel well beyond the posted 35 mph speed limit. Speed enforcement should be more prevalent and visible. (Michael Thompson) o The City should notify the public in advance (through newspaper and radio) when streets are going to be under construction, or accidents/incidents happen, to allow the residents to choose a different route and avoid unpredictable, time-consuming, and annoying traffic tie-ups. o On peak hours, 71 st Street tends to be clogged by either construction trucks or delivery trucks. Particularly during roadway improvement projects, better ways of managing traffic movements should be employed, and deliveries should be done only during off-hours. In addition, 71 st Street is hazardous for pedestrian crossings. (Michael Brazlevsky, 620 75th Street) Community-wide meetings such as this are rare. So, I encourage all of you to bring your ideas also to the North Beach Development Corporation (NBDC), which meets once a month at the Rowing Center on Indian Creek Drive at 65th Street. o Provide proper signage and channeling of traffic at intersections, such as on eastbound 71 st Street at Dickens Avenue, to prevent vehicles from stacking- up on the left turn lanes when they meant to go straight ahead. This impedes others from making the desired left turn movement. Left turn pockets are also needed at a few intersections with 73rd Street. (Michael Belcher, 830 Raymond Street) 2 <> Hurricane/emergency evacuation needs should be of primary concern when any proposed roadway modification projects are being considered and evaluated. <> The on-going North Shore Project on Collins Avenue, from 63rd to 72nd Streets, has built bump-outs on the previous third lane and squeezed the north-bound traffic into two (2) lanes only. Traffic back-ups are already occurring when buses stop on one of the through lanes, particularly during peak hours. When further development is in place, severe congestion may occur. This roadway segment should be reverted back to the original lane configuration. <> Due to the bump-outs on Collins Avenue at 71 st Street, the turning radius for the articulated buses is now narrower and more intrusive. <> This section of Collins Avenue is only 26 feet in width (10 feet less than the segments immediately north and south) and the so-called 'third lane' was very narrow and well below the 11-foot FDOT standard for travel lanes, anyway. The installation of knuckles, wider sidewalks, and streetscaping enhancements was a decision made by the North Beach community and endorsed by the City and FDOT. Besides, it would cost an additional $3 million to undo what has just been completed. (Donald Shockey, NBDC) <> A trade-off is obviously involved in this 3 or 2 laning issue: 3 lanes encourage development, while 2 lanes encourage balance and control. (Brian Mirson, CSC) <> Reverting back to 3 lanes would encourage development but would also make it easier for the residents and others alike moving through the corridor. (Carter McDowell, Attorney) <> Priorities are different in North Beach where responsible development is encouraged. (Kent Harrison Robbins) <> We need to reach for a balance in North Beach instead of allowing South Beach priorities to be applied here. 3 ~ Miami Beach should develop to fit the infrastructure, not the other way around. Clear and contrasting examples are the development practices in Coral Gables and in Kendall. (Brian Mirson) ~ Proposed projects such as the Gateway Entrance for the northern section of Collins Avenue, which promote responsible development, are needed and should be implemented. (Victor Diaz, 5300 N. Bay Road) ~ The proposed 2-waying of the northern section of Collins Avenue called for by the Gateway concept is too expensive at $12 million, approximately. (Kent Harrison Robbins) ~ Harding Avenue could also be a nicer neighborhood if it were not for the 3 lanes which make it a through street. Why not change it to 2 lanes, instead? ~ 77th Street should also be treated as an entryway. ~ The school drop-off area being proposed for 77th Street will create more problems than resolve them. (Michael Rotbart, 1675 Cleveland Road). ~ Vehicular/pedestrian conflicts are all too common on both Collins and Harding Avenues, from 71 st to 88th Streets. ~ ~ Pedestrians are always encountering problems when trying to cross from North Shore Park or the band shell to parking lots on the opposite side of Collins Avenue. (Victor Diaz) ~ Miami Beach functions as an outdoor recreation area. Therefore, the entire City should be enhanced for the convenience and safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. The scenic value of Indian Creek should be analyzed to favor and increase pedestrian and bicycle activities. ~ A comprehensive network of bike routes, lanes, and paths should be devised to emphasize the residential character of North Beach. 4 ~ Controlled-growth should go hand-in-hand with the establishment and/or encouragement of public transit options, pedestrian, and bicycle initiatives within North Beach and citywide. ~ A large parking garage/bus terminal should be built at the surface lot on Collins Avenue and 73rd Street. Combined with service by express buses to and from downtown and other areas of Miami, the garage would serve the needs of park-and-riders, local and otherwise, and serve as weekend parking for South Beach. ~ No intermodal facility should be built that would turn North Beach into a mere depository for South Beach-bound customers and visitors. ~ Concern was expressed regarding the speed of most express buses. North Beach, which supplies the labor force for other parts of Miami Beach, should be served by an extension of the ELECTROWA VE Service, instead. ~ MOTA buses leaving Miami Beach serve mostly downtown Miami and Hialeah. Additional service is needed from the Miami Beach to the northeast area of Miami-Dade County. ~ The City should work with the County to improve the consistency and reliability of service within the existing MOTA bus system, which is extensive but does not work properly. The City should provide more bus shelters and benches at regular intervals for the convenience of the transit riders. These two initiatives, combined with other incentives, may persuade others to become transit riders. ~ Our strategy for the MMP should be BALANCED. A balance could be achieved by enhancing/creating public transit options, maintaining/enhancing the quality of life and safety of the residential neighborhoods, while preserving our ability to create new opportunities and handle demographic changes. This should be our strategy and goal. (Brian Mirson) The Workshop ended at 8:30 p.m. (mmpmnuts) aJ 5 Input received at the MIAMI BEACH MUNICIPAL MOBILITY PLAN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WORKSHOP - MIDDLE BEACH The Tavern Room - Colonial Bank Building, 6th Floor Monday, May 4, 1998, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. In attendance were five members of the City Staff (Joseph Johnson, Amelia Johnson, Michael Alvarez, Gary Kokorian, and Lynn Bernstein), three members of the Carr Smith Corradino consulting team (Brian Mirson, Bruce Chatterton, Greg Kyle, and T. Imada). Thirty eight (38) residents signed the register, herein attached. Elayne Weisburd, Co-Chairpersons of the City's Transportation and Parking Committee and Middle Beach resident, introduced the City Staff and Consultants developing the Municipal Mobility Plan (MMP) for the City and thanked Middle Beach residents and business professionals for their attendance. Marty Hyman, member of the Transportation and Parking Committee and Middle Beach resident, explained that this preliminary MMP is merely a compilation of data, at this point, and that the TPC, the City and its consultants were holding this meeting to receive community input toward the development of the City's first transportation and mobility plan. Brian Mirson, President of Carr Smith Corradino (CSC), stated he is an urban engineer who is interested in suggesting ways to achieve a balance between traffic and community living issues. Level of service (LOS) is all relative to what the Miami Beach wants to achieve. In searching for a balance there may be winners and losers, but, ultimately, only balanced solutions will come to benefit the Miami Beach community as a whole. Mr. Mirson acted as a moderator. The comments, observations and suggestions received from those in attendance, follow: Jim Schlobohm, 5433 Alton Road: o He is glad to see CSC connected with the MMP. He has been doing research at FlU about traffic calming projects and has learned that CSC is also the consultant for a similar and worthwhile project in West Palm Beach. o At the northern portion of Alton Road, 85% of traffic moves at 48 mph. o At the lower portion of Alton Road, the medium traffic speed is 46.8 mph. o Ten miles over the 35 mph speed limit is already too much. o Police cannot be there all the time. o FOOT is not of much help. Their phylosophy is if you build a road, traffic will come. o Miami Beach is being used as traffic bypass for commuters from the northern beach communities. () Out-of-town commuters don't stop to spend money in Miami Beach. () City is maintaining the roads at Miami Beach taxpayer's expense. () Reroute the through traffic and keep only who works or lives here. () FOOT's solution is signalization. Most residents don't want traffic signals by their homes. () FOOT refuses to give us stop signs because the east-west roads crossing Alton do not meet the State's warrants for stop sign installation. () House next to mine has already lost five vehicles parked at or by shoulders. () Smooth, homogeneous roadway surfaces encourage speeding. () Traffic tables, bump outs with trees at intersections are effective measures to slow down traffic, reduce the street width for pedestrian crossings, increase safety for children using the crossings (level higher than the street itself), protect parked cars, don't hinder emergency evacuation needs, and no traffic lights to fall down during wind storms. () Redistribute traffic: Alton Road carries 42,000 vehicles-a-day, while Collins Avenue carries only 28,000. Collins south of 63rd Street is wider than Alton. () Reroute all commercial vehicles to commercial roads. Encourage trucks take Collins Avenue and 41 st Street. () One way 41 st Street (3 lanes plus a commuter lane) according to the peek traffic flow direction. () There have been six (6) fatalities on Alton Road in the last 10 years. () FOOT is taking way too long to develop a traffic mitigation plan for the road. () He closed by asking that FOOT and City work for the Middle Beach residents, start thinking out of the box - "work for, not against the taxpayer interests." Lynn Bernstein, representing the Middle Beach Partnership: () Complimented Jim Schlobohm for his interest, research and presentation. () However, on behalf of 41 st Street, she was very much opposed to his one- way plan for the street. It would be very unfriendly to commerce/business. Joy Malakoff, Colonial Bank: () We already have a plan for 41 st Street which includes traffic calming by installing landscaped medians and pedestrian crosswalks. Henry B. Kay, Council of Condos-Collins Avenue: o The right to 'equitable estoppel' should also apply to residents and property owners. I see speed on Collins Avenue. Very seldom the highrise district residents come to these meetings to complain. () We are concerned about deterioration of our quality of life. The face of MB has changed. Winter traffic is no longer that different from the year-round traffic. Now, there are families with 2 or 3 cars in the highrise district, which has become an entity of its own. 2 o Unfortunately, I do have concerns but no solutions to offer, but am also happy that the City hired CSC to find the solutions. Marty Hyman, 5601 Collins Avenue: o I also live in Miami Beach for the last 18 years. o Traffic on Collins is too fast. I myself drive at 50-55 mph when others are blowing by me. Particularly during the late-night hours, when we are home sleeping or watching TV, tire screaching and speeding seem to increase. o Jim Thompson, at the North Beach workshop, has suggested a solution for the 63rd Street Flyover which will encourage more traffic to use Collins Avenue. Larry Epstein, 1413 Sunset Harbour Drive #409: o Representing himself and his wife, he's not concerned about speed because traffic on 20th Street will go nowhere. Sunset Harbour condos and townhomes are not the problem, Publix is the problem. Why was a 47,500 sq.ft. supermarket allowed to be constructed in that area? How did it happen? o 20th Street was narrowed by the inclusion of a median and the area was landscaped for the residential construction. o Traffic going west on 20th Street will make a left turn into Publix garage and exit right onto Bay Road to 20th Street, where it will cross the incoming traffic. This may create a traffic jam on 20th Street. A reasonable solution would be to allow the exiting traffic to go south on Bay Road, instead. One- waying Bay Road southward might be the right solution. o The wall to wall traffic may hamper the old-established family business in the area, such as Marks Cleaners and the Funeral Home. o The Publix people told me I live in a light industrial area. I disagree with them, this is a residential area because that's where I live. Jeffrey Saragosey, 1674 Bay Road: o I live on Bay Road and my concern is public safety and quality of life. There's already a lot of traffic coming from the park and boat ramp on Purdy Avenue. The Dade Boulevard, Bay Road and 17th Street intersection is already an unsafe area. Drivers are confused about what road to take, make prohibited left turns on Bay Road, make U turns by the unleveled intersection with no visibility to incoming cars, or inadvertently take the wrong side of the road at the 17th Street/Dade Boulevard forking intersection. o The situation is made more dangerous by the lack of a 4-way stop sign on Dade Blvd. at Purdy Avenue, and speeding east-west by cars using the Venetian Causeway. o Adding to the problem will be the Publix traffic: 2700 cars per hour, or a projected 10000 cars a-day. Public safety is not being addressed here. 3 Tamara Sheffman, 4600 Royal Palm Avenue: o The City should consider allowing cars traveling south on Alton Road to make an eastbound left turn onto Dade Boulevard. I'm sure this would reduce the number of similar turns onto 17th Street, thereby reducing congestion at this intersection. Bill Ingraham, 2125 Lake Avenue, President of Sunset Islands II and III Assoc.: o I've lived here for 27 years. Our two islands have only one exit via Sunset Bridge IV onto 20th Street and Bay Road. We shouldn't have permitted the construction of either Sunset Harbour or Publix. We want things the way they were 27 years ago. The City and developers have not spent one single dollar toward meeting concurrency in and around the 'light industrial' area, which is still opened to new development opportunities. Just imagine what will happen in the future! And, by the way, where is the plan to route us into North Bay Road? Richard Rosichan, 2060 Alton Road, Provisional Pres. of Lower Alton Road Assoc. o For us on lower Alton Road it is a safety issue. People have to use our road, there is no option. o County law requires that 2/3 of the residents of a street sign a petition in order to make it valid. We opposed the closing of North Bay Road, and only two of our residents refused to sign our petition. The petition in favor of the closure that was prepared by North Bay Road residents failed to get the required number of signatures, but still were granted a temporary barricade and closure. I understand CSC is reconsidering its prior conclusions. Brian Mirson, President, Carr Smith Corradino: At that time we didn't know what we were doing. Richard Rosichan: o Residents of Sunset Islands III and IV cannot get directly to their islands. Traffic on North Bay Road is absurdly light. I take walks through the area and did counts of my own onc: from 7:30-8:30 in the morning there were only 112 cars going on 3 directions, and trucks entering N. Bay Road were only the ones serving the road itself. o There is no need to close North Bay Road. If you were to come out from the new Publix, logically you'll take Alton Road which posts higher speed limit, no stop signs, no encumbrances. The situation being created by a small group of people in N. Bay Road is affecting the entire area. Why not one- way west both N. Bay Road and Purdy Avenue? Mark Friedman, 1201 20th Street (Mark's Quality Cleaners): o Mr. Bernstein of Car Doctor and I respect Mr. Rosichan's proposal to one- 4 way N. Bay Road and Purdy Avenue. We object to the closure of N. Bay Road which we see as a great inconvenience and disservice to the area. Minette Benson, 5660 Collins Avenue: o Adding to the mess being created by Publix and Sunset Harbour developments, are the proposed 20 Venetian Way and The Lofts projects. Come to the City Commission meeting of May 6th and say NO to these projects. The City adopted LOS D, may turn into F or G in this area. William E. Davis, 2330 Prairie Avenue: o Everything affects everything else. Putting more traffic onto Dade Boulevard will also emphasize the problems already faced by Prairie and Meridian Avenue residents: school crossing problems, very difficult to cross Dade Blvd. or the respective intersections during peek traffic hours, no school crossing or crossing lights do not work, angled streets, level difference, dangerous inntersections for pedestrians and bicyclists. o Now there is even a proposed hotel project on Dade Boulevard. Bea Kalstein: o It is unfortunate that people don't think ahead when development is being considered. New traffic to be generated on Dade Boulevard from the proposed hotel and Cultural Center will certainly add to the problems being experienced by the residents of the Dade Boulevard neighborhood. There are two north and south arterial streets in Miami Beach and they should carry most of the traffic. Drew Batavia, 2845 Prairie Avenue: o I live on Prairie with my wife and two children. If traffic is slowed down on Alton and more traffic is created on Dade Boulevard, what will it do to Prairie Avenue? Pedestrian crossing signals at the intersections with Dade do not work. Is the Municipal Mobility Plan also taking into account of ADA requirements for accessibility? Brian Mirson: ADA compliance is very much a part of the MMP. Jo Asmundson, Miami Beach Taxpayer Association: o I used to live on Alton Road just short of the 63rd Street Flyover, and, since then, a bottleneck was caused mainly by the bridge. The City is like a sausage and gets stuck there. I try to avoid these busy streets. We have only two through roads in Miami Beach and 18 people have been hurt by speeding vehicles on these roads. o Now I live close to the new Publix area. The MMP shows a projected LOS E for the area. When were these traffic counts done? 5 Brian Mirson: The counts were done on different days, were adjusted for seasonal variations and projected for 10 years, based on development approvals. Jim Schlobohm: <) Just about every road in Miami Beach is a collector road. The same kind of traffic calming on Alton Road should also be used on other roads. I've recently worked a lot with the Pine Tree/LaGorce Homeowners Association. We identified our common needs and goals and work together in reaching mutually acceptable solutions for our respective streets. <) The previous City Commissions had been very developer-friendly and the citizenry was quiet about it. Thinks are changing now. <) The Alton/Pine Tree/LaGorce neighborhoods combined represent 20% of the taxable value of the City. If we don't fight each other and work together instead, we can get things done, we can win. The City will do what we want as long as it makes sense. Brian Mirson's conclusion: Thank you for your input. Your concerns and suggestions will be carefully considered. For the MMP under development, we will strive to find the right BALANCE for the recommended solutions. It will be a plan that is deserving of approval and funding. In a few weeks, we will meet again at a Citywide MMP Workshop, yet to be scheduled. The workshop ended at 8:45 p.m. (mmp.mb) aJ 6 Input received at the MIAMI BEACH MUNICIPAL MOBILITY PLAN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WORKSHOP - SOUTH BEACH Police Station Conference Room, Washington Avenue Wednesday, May 13, 1998, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. In attendance were Commissioner Nancy Liebman, four members of the City Staff (Joseph Johnson, Amelia Johnson, Michael Alvarez, and William Cary), three members of the Carr Smith Corradino consulting team (Brian Mirson and Greg Kyle). Thirty two (32) residents signed the register, herein attached. Neil Fritz, Co-Chairman of the City's Transportation and Parking Committee (TPC) and South Beach resident, introduced the City Staff and Consultants developing the Municipal Mobility Plan (MMP) for the City and thanked South Beach residents and business professionals for their attendance. Mr. Fritz explained that there were no plans in place, at this point, and that the TPC, the City and its consultants were holding this meeting to receive community input toward the development of the City's first transportation and mobility plan. Brian Mirson, President of Carr Smith Corradino (CSC), stated he is an urban engineer who is interested in suggesting ways to achieve a balance between traffic and community living issues, and in helping create a 'vision' whereby economic development can be achieved without adding vehicles to the roadways. Level of service (LOS) is all relative to what Miami Beach wants to achieve as a City and community. In searching for a balanced plan there may be winners and losers, but, ultimately, only balanced solutions will come to benefit the Miami Beach community as a whole. Mr. Mirson acted as a moderator. Although repeatedly requested, several of those speaking failed to identify themselves by name. The comments, observations and suggestions received at the meeting were as follows: o 14th Street is a problem, it needs pedestrian crosswalks with pedestrian signals that use the internationally recognized sign for man walking. The pedestrian traffic flow is so intense It becomes almost impossible for vehicles to make either a left or right turn onto Ocean Drive, in the night hours. May be if traffic lights were appropriately timed, there would be less vehicular congestion and pedestrian movements would also be facilitated. Brian Mirson, CSC: o The length of lanes control capacity, not the traffic lights. But, be it on 14th Street or any other road, a balance needs to be reached between vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians using the road. This joint use creates a natural friction which may only be minimized by balancing the friction itself. The increasing change in demography is accentuating the friction. Traffic calming on 14th Street is not the solution because it would only push traffic onto the adjacent roads. Felix Boyle, 1801 Collins Avenue: o The blocks in Miami Beach are too long, which concentrate more people at fewer intersecting points. Jo Asmudsson, 4580 N. Jefferson: o Do your traffic projection figures include the future loads? Brian Mirson, CSC: o Yes, the future loads are included but have been calculated based on general assumptions provided by the Miami-Dade County Model. For instance, the year 2010 increase is 25% over their 1 O-year data. We have to use the County Model as a base case and follow their rules until our own data produced for the Municipal Mobility Plan (MMP) and Concurrency Management System (CMS) is submitted to the County so that they can - for the first time with our input - polish their Model for Miami Beach calculations. Jim Schlobohm, 5433 Alton Road: o Alton Road traffic has increased 90% over a 19-year period. Can't you use past history as a method to project future increases? Brian Mirson, CSC: o The County Model uses past, present, and projected data to reach the future- load figures. I have personally spent many years helping the County polish its Model for other municipalities within Miami-Dade County. Brad Crassner, North Bay Road Association: o There are two new highrises at Sunset Harbour, a new Publix under construction and other development proposals for the immediate area. want to make sure that the MMP will take these problems under consideration Jo Asmudsson, 4580 N. Jefferson: o Are all the new development projects in the vicinity of Alton Road, from 5th to 20th Street, included in your future-load projections? Brian Mirson, CSC: o If any development project has not been included, it will have to provide for mitigation measures. 2 Don Worth, 1390 Ocean Drive: o First of all, I would like to compliment Amelia Johnson and Joseph Johnson for spearheading the development of the MMP, but I also want to express my concern regarding mitigation measures. We already have too many car in South Beach. Any mitigation plan that will permit the addition of more automobiles is unwelcome. o SoBe like Disneyland has a lot of pedestrian traffic, so my concern is for pedestrians, bicyclists and rollerbladers, and not for automobiles. Traffic lights should be shorter for vehicles and longer for pedestrians. o Ocean Drive is a dynamite street. We should restrict vehicles, eliminate a lane of parking, and widen the sidewalks o Mitigation plans should be approved by the Planning Board so that citizens could give input. No further capacity should be added due to these plans. Brian Mirson, CSC: o Adding capacity does not solve our problem. Leonard Berger, 1612 Jefferson #404: o His proposal is to make a couplet of Ocean Drive (<=DN) and Collins Avenue (<=DS), from 5th to 15th Streets, and one-way the crossing streets. o Install progressive traffic lights on even number streets on Ocean Drive and odd-numbered streets on Collins Avenue. o Be careful with improvements that attract traffic. Precious little can be done on Alton Road and Collins Avenue which are under State jurisdiction. Other roads are under County jurisdiction. A lot of automobile traffic comes from the northern communities. When it becomes uncomfortable driving on one road, they find an alternative way to go down residential Miami Beach areas. Brian Mirson, CSC: o A lot can be accomplished with the State and County when we learn to 'speak their language,' particularly since the Federal government itself has been changing its 'capacity' orientation (moving vehicles) toward moving people, instead. o We need to create a vision of what we want for Miami Beach. We need to give it a lot of thought prior to implementing anyone-way street. Sometimes it is the right answer when the impetus is to create a new image for the street; sometimes it is not because makes it lose the main street feel. o The challenge in Miami Beach is to improve traffic flow and yet maintain lower speed. When the City has a vision and a plan that are workable, the State or the County can be convinced to go our way. 3 Non-named person: o Several years ago, State Senator Jack Gordon proposed turning State roads to city jurisdiction. If the City had not rejected his proposal then, we wouldn't have to deal with FOOT imposing their rules on us now. Jeffrey Donnelly, 915 Jefferson Avenue: o It is easy to propose and implement one-way streets. What is difficult is to implement other solutions when the one-waying has not produced the expected results. Neil Fritz, 1300 Collins Avenue: o He hates the FOOT one-way plan for the crossing streets to Collins Avenue, from 5th to 15th Streets. We don't want their plan because it doesn't work for anyone. We need local solutions that address our local needs. He is willing to consider one-way street proposals which meet a local objective(s), but not when its impetus is to improve capacity on a State roadway. o Pedestrians are king in the Art Deco Historic District and should be given preference over vehicular movement. At 13th Street and Collins Avenue, pedestrians have a difficult time crossing the streets. The traffic signals there do not work for anyone, be it pedestrian or vehicles. o We also need to find solutions for certain absurd concurrency requirements which further restrict our ability to create a more pedestrian-oriented SoBe. o The David Plummer traffic study for the Loews Hotel project and area show no impact for pedestrians on Collins Avenue, and we all know this is not what will happen. . o The seasonal peak issue on South Beach is as dramatic as ever but, unfortunately, it does not reflect on vehicular traffic flow. How do we get more information about the seasonal pedestrian flow vs. the vehicular flow, and, if we find that something is wrong, how do we correct this miscalculation problem in the MMP? How will this be monitored? Brian Mirson, CSC: o The MMP will be updated every two years, as well as the computer model to reflect the changes occurred. David Kelsey, South Beach Hotel & Restaurant Association: o I'm concerned about all the new hotels on Collins Avenue. We have gridlock now. When everything is opening and functioning, with garages across the street, how do you propose to handle the constant pedestrian crossing, valet operations vs. the need to move vehicles on Collins Avenue north and south? 4 Brian Mirson, CSC: ~ We are very much aware of these challenges, but, at this point in the MMP development, we are not yet prepared to give an opinion on this. Morris Sunshine, 465 Ocean Drive: o I am aware that the CMS under development is using data provided by developer-commissioned traffic studies. It concerns me that you may being fed biased and wrong data. Brian Mirson, CSC: ~ We are not allowing the hired engineers/technical people to dictate our plans. We choose our own standards to develop our plans, we set the rules and establish the thresholds for the traffic studies to be prepared by consultants for each and all developer proposal. If mitigation plans are involved, we set the rules, develop a basic plan, identify the improvements to be done, establish the dollar cost, and the levels of financial involvement by each party. All controls stay with the City. Bea Kalstein: o With all upcoming development, how can you possibly project the problems they will create? Brian Mirson, CSC: o We cannot project the problems, but we can set the rules to be met. A no-named lady read an unsigned letter submitted by a SoBe resident: ~ o Delivery vehicles stop on prohibited areas of 14th Street, between Collins and Washington. o Restrict all deliveries to off-peak hours, excluding postal and parcel deliveries. Have this enforced by Police Officers. Violations should be treated as moving violations. ~ Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue should be made one way couplet. Jeff Donnelly, 915 Jefferson Avenue: ~ South Beach streets are dangerous for drivers and pedestrians alike. It is his belief that all SoBe streets presently not showing (in the MMP) as being adversely impacted by traffic, should be shown otherwise. o He conducts walking tours of the Art Deco District on weekends. It is no longer possible to safely lead a tour group across the streets to Ocean Drive. o The posted 30 mph restriction on 10th Street is too fast. The street has shade trees and the sight distance for traffic circulation is poor. ~ Streets sorrounding certain neighborhood areas of SoBe should also be considered for conflicting one-waying to force non-neighborhood traffic to go 5 around and away from the area. o The idling of buses on residential streets should be prohibited. Comm. Nancy Liebman: o In the early years, when I conducted these walking tours of the Art Deco District, the problem I encountered was not too much traffic but the fact that South Beach was not a safe community, particularly for pedestrians. Ken Kopstein, 3624 Collins Avenue: o Interested in seeing that the MMP includes bicycle and pedestrian ways running north-south which are also interconnected east-west from the beach to the bay. A bicycle/pedestrian corridor should also be planned for the beach itself. He also wrote a letter to the Mayor detailing his suggestions. o We need to work with the County and other agencies to improve and/or establish a truly efficient and effective public transit service to and within Miami Beach. Betty Gutierrez, 344 Meridian Avenue: o All interior streets in South Beach should be treated as traffic-impacted streets, based on the number of traffic accidents which occur every day. o Better and readily available public transit is what we need. Look at the success of the ELECTROWAVE! It has well served the needs of South Beach and has become so successful that most of the time we cannot even enter it. South Beach, as well as North Beach, need more public transit service availability. Brian Mirson, CSC: o Miami Beach has the ideal situation for the establishment of a successful and effective transit service. Besides, good transit service does add a lot to the fabric of any community. Non-named person: o I'm so worried about the movie theater being built on Lincoln Road at Alton Road. How can the City allow so much development in an area already riddled with traffic problems? Brian Mirson, CSC: o The question is how much can we stuff in the same box? It's ironic, I know, but other cities wish they had the opportunities that Miami Beach presently has. It brings to mind what Yogi Berra used to say about Yankee Stadium: "Nobody goes there because it is too crowded." o The right balance is what we need to reach. (mmpsobe) aj 6 ) 4TH MUNICIPAL MOBILITY PLAN WORKSHOP MIAMI BEACH CITY HALL - Collection of Citizens' Comments and Concerns - Thursday, June 4, 1998 South Beach Alton Road West of Alton road Two to four million more SF proposed residential coming on line. Corner of Biscayne Redo intersection. Create stop and/or signal. At tip of South Beach What LOS will residents have if ocean parcel (about 15 acres) and Portofino are built? What will be the effect on all the major arteries heading North? Intersection of 17th and 18th street Alton road junction - help! Intersection of Dade Boulevard Have "new Publix"; traffic signal required turning left on Bay road. Traffic signals in this area are pathetic. Intersection of 20th street Mitigation Publix - Excess traffic North and South bound of Bay road. Children are injured due to speeding problem. Drivers are obvious to signs. Lower Alton road Condition. Support the study regarding North Bay road; however, oppose the barricades. Me Arthur Causeway . Traffic influence Currently failing at a.m. and p.m. peak time. Proposed intersection improvement for one new project (between Alton and Mc. Arthur cswy). Washington Avenue Extend alternative transportation system. West Avenue Ramp connecting South Beach traffic. Collins Avenue Intersection at 11 th street Lights do not accommodate pedestrians. Intersection at 15th street Traffic congestion around this area due to two buildings in construction. Need traffic signals. Projected traffic problem due to two new hotels. Intersection of 20th and 21 st street Large block of metered spaces blocked off and left empty. Intersection of 23rd street New cultural center in process, traffic problem projected. ,) West Avenue Intersection of 1 Qlh street Waterfront access exits at 1 Qth street. Meridian Avenue Traffic Concern Bike riding and roller blading along Meridian Avenue (between 6th street and 11 th street) close half of street. Intersection between 11 th and 14th street Poor cross street. Remove parked cars near intersection, they are visible throughout Flamingo Park. Ocean Drive Intersection at 1 Qth street Alternative transportation concern. Stop sign will be preferable for pedestrian. Intersection at 11 th street Make connections from broad mark to Lummus to accommodate bike path and people movers. Washington Avenue Intersection of 14th street Get rid of the valet parkers tying up meters. Intersection of 1 J'h street Proposed "film city" and 15QQ-car garage for 17th street/Drexel/Pennsylvania, what are your plans for this? i Venetian Causeway Speeding issue Speeding East / West over East Venetian Causeway. 20th Street Intersection of Sunset Remove tag left turn restriction. Prairie Avenue Intersection of 17th street Beautification and pedestrians path renovation is needed. Along the exposed alleyways, trash receptacles are shown. Intersection of Dade Blvd New hotel to be constructed will impact both traffic and surrounding residential area. Dade Boulevard Intersection of Convention Drive Adjustments needed for intermittent heavy flows. Intersection of Pine Tree Drive Hebrew Acad./work area/fire station, FOOT suggested traffic O. How about doing it by Convention Center? North Bay Road Intersection of 20th street No left turn will work once true physical barriers are installed. The two planters and four cones are temporary. Congestion Access traffic concern in North Bay road going North and South bound. Traffic too heavy for neighborhood street. Speeding problem in the area causes accidents. Street holds only single family housing. The traffic study of May 21, 1998 was done when 20th street was closed. Was this fact included in the study? Concerns about shop and park when new Publix will open. ~ ) Middle Beach Alton Road Intersections of 21't, 23rd, and 2Th street Alton Rd North needs left turn stack lanes. Speeding problem Serious speeding problem encounters on lower Alton. What happened to the radar corps? Intersection of 23rd and 27th street Narrower lanes and traffic tables are needed, enlarged bump out protected parking for such purpose. Intersection of 29'h street Dangerous "U" turns with no line up room. Speeding concern At curve, around 29'h street, immediate temporary speeding relief is needed. Signage Move traffic light from 34th street intersection to 29th street intersection (at the entrance of Sunset 1 and 2). Development (traffic) Urgent needs to allow for the multi model bus depot being built. Traffic calming Take aggressive approach to traffic calming. Speeding concern Alton road is considered a major speeding site. Immediate speeding relief is needed. Intersection of 5151 street Park and exit from 5151 street is not easy. The traffic lights need adjustment. Intersection of 54'h street Coming in and out of the ClubHouse is difficult late at night when speeding is prevalent. Intersection of 58th street Lanes need to be narrower to reduce speed. Traffic tables is needed at intersections. Bulbount is also needed at intersections. Enlarge protected (bump out parking). Intersection of 59'h street Traffic tables are needed at exact intersection. Traffic congestion Evening rush hour back up, North on Alton road causes cut thru on 6151 street to La Gorge and left turns North for quick right onto 63rd street. Alton road's "5" curve (located North of 60th street) lacks of landscaped median to discharge chaos and shorts cuts. More equitable flow of traffic is necessary between Alton road, Collins Avenue and Indian Creek Drive. , Julia Tuttle Causeway Speeding concern Slow traffic down on Julia Tuttle causeway as it approaches 4151 street. ~ Pine Tree Drive Intersection of 41 51 street By Walgreen, in and out the intersection is a prime site for accidents. Signage concern Junction of Pine Tree drive, 4151 and 42nd street, traffic lights need to be adjusted. Intersection of 51 sl street Coordinate with County's redesign to come, Pine Tree bridge and 51 sl street. Residential areas in the city are becoming "race ways". This must be address for the whole city. Bea utification Landscaping for aesthetics and traffic calming purposes for both La Gorge Drive and Pine Tree Drive. Coordinate with County's traffic calming redesign to come. Intersection of 63,d street Both Pine Tree Drive and La Gorge Drive North of 63,d street also experience short cutters during evening back up. Collins Avenue Transportation concern Work with County for a good bus system and feeder shuttle. Get people to work by mass transit that will alleviate traffic. Get people out of their cars. Intersection of 561h street 24-hour speeding is a concern in this area going both North and South bound. Intersection of 60th street An "5" curve, located by Maison Grande's building, is the "most" dangerous curve of all. Two buildings are being constructed at the curve. This will bring a traffic impact issue, especially speed. Intersection of 63,d street This is an extremely dangerous intersection. After the last curve, the median is imposing and unexpected especially because of speeding on Collins Avenue. Intersection of 58th to 60th street "5" curve North and South bound of 581h /601h block speed, lacks of warning signs. Congestion More equitable flow of traffic is necessary between Alton Road, Collins Avenue and Indian Creek Drive. . 63rd Street Bridge on 63,d street The 63,d street bridge opens and closes. This may cause massive problem. Signage Directing lanes on Pine Tree Drive turning onto 63,d street are not clear until you get near the intersection. Development Allow for future development at old Saint Francis Hospital site. Traffic Problem Amend over pass; constant traffic problem occurs because too high vans ride by. To avoid traffic problem, 63rd street must be reconstructed for Pine Tree / La gorge. ) North Beach 63rd Street Signage Redesign the intersection of 63rd street approaches South of Indian Creek Drive, and also the signage directing traffic away from Pine Tree Drive, La Gorge Drive and Alton Drive's residential district and down Collins Avenue. Indian Creek Drive Intersection of Harding Ave Traffic congestion is a very big concern in this area. Speeding concern On Indian Creek Drive (around 71 sl street) citizens are concern for car speeding in/ out Manhattan Towers and making sharp turns onto Indian Creek Drive. Normandy Drive Speeding concern Speeding problems often occur on Normandy Drive. Harding Avenue ~ Signage Line of sign into one side of the street is poor when pulling out onto Harding Avenue. North Gateway , Lack of sense of empty into city on Harding Avenue. 77th Street Grid On 7Th street around Dickens Avenue a grid is required.