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Resolution 2024-33118 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-33118 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE, AT ITS MAY 24, 2024 MEETING, TO REPLACE THE TESLA MODEL X VEHICLE WITH A HIGHER CAPACITY STARCRAFT VAN OPERATING ON A FIXED ROUTE/FIXED SCHEDULE, SIMILAR TO THE FORMER MIAMI-DADE BUS ROUTE 115 ("ROUTE 115"), TO PROVIDE A MORE RELIABLE AND CONSISTENT CONNECTION BETWEEN NORTH BEACH AND MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER, AND TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE PROPOSED SERVICE TO AN EXISTING BUS STOP LOCATED ON 41 STREET EAST OF ALTON ROAD TO CONNECT TO ROUTE 150 (MIAMI BEACH AIRPORT EXPRESS); AND WAIVING, BY 5/7TH VOTE, THE FORMAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 2-367(E) OF THE CITY CODE, FINDING SUCH WAIVER TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY, AND AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THE FOLLOWING AGREEMENTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A FIXED ROUTE/FIXED SCHEDULE TRANSIT SERVICE TO A PORTION OF THE CITY'S AREAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED BY ROUTE 115, WHICH ROUTE WAS ELIMINATED BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AS OF NOVEMBER 13, 2023 AS PART OF THE BETTER BUS NETWORK: (1) AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGENCY AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA ("COUNTY"), PROVIDING FUNDING TO THE CITY FOR A FIXED ROUTE/FIXED SCHEDULE TRANSIT SERVICE; AND (2) AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LIMOUSINES OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. TO PROVIDE A FIXED ROUTE/FIXED SCHEDULE TRANSIT SERVICE TO A PORTION OF THE CITY'S AREAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED BY ROUTE 115; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE CITY,AT A MINIMUM, HAS SECURED A LETTER OF COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY TO FUND THE ENHANCED FIXED ROUTE/FIXED SCHEDULE SERVICE. WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade County ("County") Better Bus Network is a revamp of regional bus service based on a comprehensive countywide study conducted by the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works ("DTPW") in collaboration with Transit Alliance Miami, a not-for-profit organization. The Better Bus Network study was initiated in June 2019 and approved, as amended, by Resolution No. R-920-21 of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners ("BCC") on October 5, 2021. The BCC Resolution authorized the implementation, by DTPW, of the Better Bus Network; and WHEREAS, DTPW launched the approved route changes on November 13, 2023. The changes included several new bus routes in Miami Beach including routes 14, 15, 20, and 100 as well as improvements to service frequency; and WHEREAS, based on DTPW's assessment, frequency and reliability of Miami- Dade County bus service in the City of Miami Beach ("City") is expected to improve as a result of the Better Bus Network. However, the Administration initially and consistently expressed a few concerns with the Better Bus Network via City Commission Resolution No. 2021-31866, including the elimination of Route 115 without providing an alternative transit option for the affected community, such as an on-demand service, as a mitigation strategy; and WHEREAS, as part of the Better Bus Network, DTPW discontinued Route 115 due to historically low ridership (an average of approximately 134 riders per weekday and 67 riders on weekends). Route 115 connected North Beach to South Beach, serving Mount Sinai Medical Center, primarily along the Alton Road corridor(Attachment A). The service consisted of two (2) cut-away buses operating approximately 13 hours a day, seven (7)days a week, at approximately 50-minute headways(i.e. frequency of service). DTPW introduced new routes, including Route 14 from Omni Terminal in Miami to Mount Sinai Medical Center via the MacArthur Causeway, Alton Road, South Pointe Drive, Washington Avenue, Collins Avenue, and 41 Street, which will somewhat serve the areas in South Beach and Mid-Beach affected by the discontinuation of Route 115; and WHEREAS, to help mitigate the impact of DTPW's discontinuation of Route 115 and provide a suitable public transit option to the affected customers in North Beach, the City's Transportation and Mobility Department staff worked with DTPW staff on a plan to augment the City's on-demand transit service operated by Freebee to primarily serve the North Beach portion of Route 115 (all existing stops from 63 Street to 88 Street) as well as Mount Sinai Medical Center as an on-demand service; and WHEREAS, DTPW approved funding for one (1) additional Tesla X SUV vehicle for the expanded service; and WHEREAS, the additional Tesla X SUV vehicle was put in service on November 13, 2023, the same day Route 115 service was eliminated by DTPW; and WHEREAS, the annual operating cost of the additional Tesla X SUV vehicle is approximately $168,000 and will be funded (retroactively and prospectively) by DTPW for a two (2) year period through an Intergovernmental Agency Agreement ("IAA") between the City and the County; and WHEREAS, at the November 7, 2023 BCC meeting, prior to the launch of the Better Bus Network, Miami-Dade County District 4 Commissioner Micky Steinberg motioned and read into the record the following: "Commissioner Steinberg moves to direct the County Mayor or County Mayor's designee to continue the negotiation of an interlocal agreement with the City of Miami Beach and/or a third-party vendor for the provision of an alternative long-term on-demand or fixed route transit service to replace Route 115 which was eliminated with the adoption of the Better Bus Network. The County Mayor or County Mayor's designee is directed to bring back such negotiated interlocal agreement within 30 days of the effective date of this motion, or alternatively, place a written status report every 30 days thereafter on an agenda of the full Board without committee review pursuant to rule 5.06(j) of the Board's Rules of Procedure, until such time as the final negotiated interlocal agreement is placed on an agenda of this Board"; and WHEREAS, Transportation and Mobility staff inquired with DTPW staff about updating the IAA to account for Commissioner Steinberg's approved motion, however, DTPW has not made any changes to the IAA to explicitly reflect the motion. Rather, DTPW has added language to clarify that during the term of the agreement, DTPW will assess ridership and other reporting metrics to determine whether, in the long term, the service needs to be extended, modified, or cancelled. DTPW suggests that the term of the IAA also affords the City time to secure an alternative funding source to sustain the expanded Freebee service, if warranted; and WHEREAS, since the launch of the City's expanded on-demand Freebee service on November 13, 2023, Transportation and Mobility Department staff has been collecting data to evaluate the effectiveness of the new service; and WHEREAS, compared to the former Route 115 bus service, which had an average daily ridership of 134 riders on weekdays and 67 riders on weekends, from November 2023 to April 2024, the expanded on-demand Freebee service experienced a lower daily ridership, with an average daily ridership of 72 riders on weekdays and 42 riders on weekends. Based on City staffs assessment, the Tesla X SUV vehicle is currently serving the North Beach area with an average passenger wait time of approximately 15 minutes during off-peak hours; and WHEREAS, a key metric to note is the variation in passenger wait times during peak hours. The data shows that average passenger wait times increased significantly during weekday morning and afternoon peak hours, reaching up to 80 minutes; and WHEREAS, these long wait times during peak hours are higher than those of former Route 115, suggesting that while the City's expanded on-demand Freebee service offers substantial improvements during off-peak hours as compared to Route 115, it is challenging to maintain the high service frequency and low passenger wait times during peak periods of high passenger demand with only one (1) additional Freebee vehicle (Tesla X SUV) in service; and WHEREAS, this data analysis is vital to properly assess the performance of the expanded on-demand service and to identify areas where improvements or additional resources may be required. The disparity in passenger wait times underscores the need for a more balanced approach to the service that adequately addresses both off-peak and peak-hour demands and ensures a consistent and reliable on-demand transit experience for all users throughout the day; and WHEREAS, based on the data analysis, City staff met with DTPW and proposed enhancements to the existing on-demand Freebee service. The City requested to replace the existing Tesla Model X vehicle, which accommodates five (5) passengers, with a Starcraft van, a high-capacity vehicle which can accommodate 14 passengers. This upgrade aims to accommodate more passengers per trip, effectively meeting the increased demand for public transportation from North Beach to Mount Sinai Medical Center; and WHEREAS, the City proposed the implementation of a fixed route/fixed schedule service to provide a more reliable and consistent connection between North Beach and Mount Sinai Medical Center. The new service model would operate with one (1) Starcraft van 13 hours a day, 7 days a week, from 7 am to 8 pm, mirroring the operational hours of the former Route 115 and ensuring continuity in service availability for the community; and WHEREAS, the estimated service frequency and average passenger wait times for the proposed fixed route/fixed schedule service is expected to be between 60 to 70 minutes - which is somewhat comparable to the wait time for the previous Route 115; and WHEREAS, to support this new service model, the City requested additional funding from DTPW. The estimated annual operating cost for one (1) Starcraft van is approximately$245,000. This represents an increase of approximately$77,000 over the current annual operating cost and commitment from the County of$168,000 for one (1) Freebee Model X vehicle; and WHEREAS, per correspondence from DTPW dated May 1, 2024, the County is committing to fund $245,000 annually, from November 13, 2023 until November 2025 through the execution of an IAA between the City and County; and WHEREAS, on March 11, 2024, the City's Transportation, Parking & Bicycle- Pedestrian Facilities Committee (TPBPFC) discussed this issue extensively and recommended that the County provide two (2) high-capacity vehicles that accommodate a minimum of 12-15 passengers during peak hours to better serve North Beach's transportation needs, particularly for the route to and from Mount Sinai Medical Center. The proposed modification to the on-demand service is closely aligned with the recommendation of the TPBPFC as shared via Letter to Commission ("LTC") 102-2024; and WHEREAS, at the April 17, 2024 PSNQLC meeting, the Committee recommended that the existing Tesla Model X vehicle be replaced with a higher capacity Starcraft van operating on a fixed route/fixed schedule (similar to the former Route 115) to provide a more reliable and consistent connection between North Beach and Mount Sinai Medical Center. Additionally, the Committee would like the Administration to explore the feasibility of extending the proposed fixed route/fixed schedule service to an existing bus stop located on 41 Street east of Alton Road to connect to Route 150 (Miami Beach Airport Express); and WHEREAS, the recommendation of the PSNQLC was brought to the May 15, 2024 City Commission meeting for acceptance via a Commission Resolution (Item C7 W). However, at the May 15, 2024 City Commission meeting, during a discussion on agenda Item C7 W, and at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the City Commission referred the item to the May 24, 2024 Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee ("FERC"). The purpose of the referral was to discuss Item C7 W in light of receipt of a recent letter dated May 14, 2024 from Limousines of South Florida ("LSF"), Inc; and WHEREAS, at the May 24, 2024 FERC meeting, the Administration presented a table of comparison of the two proposals (Freebee and LSF). The FERC recommended that the Administration include the proposed fixed route/fixed schedule service in the current month-to-month agreement with LSF. This fixed route/fixed schedule service could be subsequently incorporated into a new contract with a vendor for the provision of Citywide Municipal Transit Circulator Services, currently being procured. ; and WHEREAS, the Administration recommends that the City Commission accept the. recommendation of the FERC to replace the Tesla Model X vehicle with a higher capacity Starcraft van operating on a fixed route/fixed schedule transit service to provide a more reliable and consistent connection between North Beach and Mount Sinai Medical Center. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission accept the recommendation of the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee, at its May 2024, 2024 meeting, to replace the Tesla Model X vehicle with a higher capacity Starcraft van operating on a fixed route/fixed schedule transit service to provide a more reliable and consistent connection between North Beach and Mount Sinai Medical Center; explore the feasibility of extending the proposed service to an existing bus stop located on 41 Street east of Alton Road to connect to Route 150 (Miami Beach Airport Express); waive by 5/7 vote the competitive bidding requirement in Section 2-367 (e) of the City Code; and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute the Intergovernmental Agency Agreement with the County and an amendment to the month- to-month agreement with LSF to provide the fixed route/fixed schedule transit service to a portion of the City's areas previously served by Route 115. PASSED and ADOPTED this 26th day June, 2024. ATTEST: teven Meiner, Mayor JUL ® 3 2024 Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk (sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez) IN(ORPRAiED APPROVED AS TO FORM &LANGUAGE &FOR EXECUTION 611:91 z�z City Attorney Date Resolutions -C7 AJ MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM: Rickelle Williams, Interim City Manager DATE: June 26, 2024 TITLE: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE, AT ITS MAY 24, 2024 MEETING, TO REPLACE THE TESLA MODEL X VEHICLE WITH A HIGHER CAPACITY STARCRAFT VAN OPERATING ON A FIXED ROUTE/FIXED SCHEDULE, SIMILAR TO THE FORMER MIAMI-DADE BUS ROUTE 115("ROUTE 115"), TO PROVIDE A MORE RELIABLE AND CONSISTENT CONNECTION BETWEEN NORTH BEACH AND MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER, AND TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE PROPOSED SERVICE TO AN EXISTING BUS STOP LOCATED ON 41 STREET EAST OF ALTON ROAD TO CONNECT TO ROUTE 150 (MIAMI BEACH AIRPORT EXPRESS); AND WAIVING, BY 5/7TH VOTE, THE FORMAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENT IN SECTION 2-367(E) OF THE CITY CODE, FINDING SUCH WAIVER TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY, AND AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THE FOLLOWING AGREEMENTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A FIXED ROUTE/FIXED SCHEDULE TRANSIT SERVICE TO A PORTION OF THE CITY'S AREAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED BY ROUTE 115, WHICH ROUTE WAS ELIMINATED BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AS OF NOVEMBER 13, 2023 AS PART OF THE BETTER BUS NETWORK: (1) AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGENCY AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA ("COUNTY"), PROVIDING FUNDING TO THE CITY FOR A FIXED ROUTE/FIXED SCHEDULE TRANSIT SERVICE; AND (2) AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LIMOUSINES OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. TO PROVIDE A FIXED ROUTE/FIXED SCHEDULE TRANSIT SERVICE TO A PORTION OF THE CITY'S AREAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED BY ROUTE 115; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE CITY, AT A MINIMUM, HAS SECURED A LETTER OF COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY TO FUND THE ENHANCED FIXED ROUTE/FIXED SCHEDULE SERVICE. RECOMMENDATION The City Administration ("Administration") recommends that the Mayor and City Commission ("City Commission")adopt the Resolution. BACKGROUND/HISTORY At the December 13, 2023 City Commission meeting, at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez,the City Commission referred an item (C4 Z)to the Transportation, Parking& Bicycle- Pedestrian Facilities Committee ("TPBPFC")and the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee ("PSNQLC"or"Committee")to discuss access to Mount Sinai Medical Center for North Beach residents who use public transportation as their main mode of transportation. The Miami-Dade County("County")Better Bus Network is a revamp of regional bus service based on a comprehensive countywide study conducted by the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works ("DTPW") in collaboration with Transit Alliance Miami, a not-for- Page 873 of 1862 profit organization. The Better Bus Network study was initiated in June 2019 and approved, as amended, by Resolution No. R-920-21 of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners("BCC")on October 5,2021.The BCC Resolution authorized the implementation, by DTPW,of the Better Bus Network. DTPW launched the approved route changes on November 13, 2023. The changes included several new bus routes in Miami Beach including routes 14, 15, 20, and 100 as well as improvements to service frequency. Details and maps of the bus route changes implemented as part of the Better Bus Network can be found here. Based on DTPW's assessment,frequency and reliability of Miami-Dade County bus service in the City of Miami Beach ("City") is expected to improve as a result of the Better Bus Network. However, the Administration initially and consistently expressed a few concerns with the Better Bus Network via City Commission Resolution No. 2021-31866, including the elimination of Route 115 without providing an alternative transit option for the affected community, such as an on- demand service, as a mitigation strategy. As part of the Better Bus Network, DTPW discontinued Route 115 due to historically low ridership (an average of approximately 134 riders per weekday and 67 riders on weekends). Route 115 connected North Beach to South Beach, serving Mount Sinai Medical Center, primarily along the Alton Road corridor (Attachment A). The service consisted of two (2) cut-away buses operating approximately 13 hours a day, seven (7)days a week, at approximately 50-minute headways(i.e. frequency of service). DTPW introduced new routes, including Route 14 from Omni Terminal in Miami to Mount Sinai Medical Center via the MacArthur Causeway, Alton Road, South Pointe Drive, Washington Avenue, Collins Avenue, and 41 Street, which will somewhat serve the areas in South Beach and Mid-Beach affected by the discontinuation of Route 115. To help mitigate the impact of DTPW's discontinuation of Route 115 and provide a suitable public transit option to the affected customers in North Beach, the City's Transportation and Mobility Department staff worked with DTPW staff on a plan to augment the City's on-demand transit service operated by Freebee to primarily serve the North Beach portion of Route 115 (all existing stops from 63 Street to 88 Street) as well as Mount Sinai Medical Center as an on-demand service.While City staff requested that DTPW allocate funds for the operation of two(2)additional Tesla X SUV vehicles to meet the anticipated demand of the expanded service area, DTPW approved funding for only one (1) additional Tesla X SUV vehicle for the expanded service. Transportation and Mobility Department staff worked promptly with Freebee to amend the agreement for on-demand transit services to include the additional vehicle and expanded service area. Thus, the additional Tesla X SUV vehicle was put in service on November 13, 2023, the same day Route 115 service was eliminated by DTPW.The annual operating cost of the additional Tesla X SUV vehicle is approximately $168,000 and will be funded (retroactively and prospectively) by DTPW for a two (2) year period through an Intergovernmental Agency Agreement ("IAA") between the City and the County. As sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the IAA was approved by the City Commission via Resolution No. 2023-32821 adopted on October 18, 2023. Following the two (2)-year financial commitment by DTPW, the continuation of the expanded on-demand Freebee service would need to be partially or fully funded by the City and/or other sources or eliminated. To inform Route 115 riders and the community about the expanded on-demand Freebee service available as of November 13, 2023, City staff placed flyers at all existing Route 115 bus stops in North Beach and issued e-blasts in conjunction with DTPW. In the notifications, customers were provided a phone number to request a Freebee ride in advance. Attachment B includes the on- demand Freebee service flyer. Note that at the November 7, 2023 BCC meeting, prior to the launch of the Better Bus Network, Miami-Dade County District 4 Commissioner Micky Steinberg motioned and read into the record the following:. "Commissioner Steinberg moves to direct the County Mayor or County Mayor's designee to continue the negotiation of an interlocal agreement with the City of Page 874 of 1862 Miami Beach and/or a third-party vendor for the provision of an alternative long- term on-demand or fixed route transit service to replace Route 115 which was eliminated with the adoption of the Better Bus Network. The County Mayor or County Mayor's designee is directed to bring back such negotiated interlocal agreement within 30 days of the effective date of this motion, or alternatively,place a written status report every 30 days thereafter on an agenda of the full Board without committee review pursuant to rule 5.060) of the- Board's Rules of Procedure, until such time as the final negotiated interlocal agreement is placed on an agenda of this Board." Transportation and Mobility staff inquired with DTPW staff about updating the IAA to account for Commissioner Steinberg's approved motion, however, DTPW has not made any changes to the IAA to explicitly reflect the motion. Rather, DTPW has added language to clarify that during the term of the agreement, DTPW will assess ridership and other reporting metrics to determine whether, in the long term, the service needs to be extended, modified, or cancelled. DTPW suggests that the term of the IAA also affords the City time to secure an alternative funding source to sustain the expanded Freebee service, if warranted. ANALYSIS Since the launch of the City's expanded on-demand Freebee service on November 13, 2023, Transportation and Mobility Department staff has been collecting data to evaluate the effectiveness of the new service. Compared to the former Route 115 bus service,which had an average daily ridership of 134 riders on weekdays and 67 riders on weekends, from November 2023 to April 2024, the expanded on- demand Freebee service experienced a lower daily ridership, with an average daily ridership of 72 riders on weekdays and 42 riders on weekends. Based on City staffs assessment, the Tesla X SUV vehicle is currently serving the North Beach area with an average passenger wait time of approximately 15 minutes during off-peak hours. However, a key metric to note is the variation in passenger wait times during peak hours. The data shows that average passenger wait times increased significantly during weekday morning and afternoon peak hours, reaching up to 80 minutes. It is worth noting, however, that these long wait times during peak hours are higher than those of former Route 115, suggesting that while the City's expanded on-demand Freebee service offers substantial improvements during off-peak hours as compared to Route 115, it is challenging to maintain the high service frequency and low passenger wait times during peak periods of high passenger demand with only one (1) additional Freebee vehicle (Tesla X SUV) in service. This data analysis is vital to properly assess the performance of the expanded on-demand service and to identify areas where improvements or additional resources may be required. The disparity in passenger wait times underscores the need for a more-balanced approach to the service that adequately addresses both off-peak and peak-hour demands and ensures a consistent and reliable on-demand transit experience for all users throughout the day. At the February 14, 2024 PSNQLC meeting,the Committee recommended that the Administration share the data collected by the City with the County and explore other alternatives to the existing on-demand Freebee service in North Beach and return to the April 17, 2024 PSNQLC meeting with an update. Based on the data analysis, City staff met with DTPW and proposed enhancements to the existing on-demand Freebee service. The City requested to replace the existing Tesla Model X vehicle, which accommodates five (5)passengers, with a Starcraft van, a high-capacity vehicle which can accommodate 14 passengers. This upgrade aims to accommodate more passengers per trip, effectively meeting the increased demand for public transportation from North Beach to Mount Sinai Medical Center. Page 875 of 1862 Additionally, the City proposed the implementation of a fixed route/fixed schedule service to provide a more reliable and consistent connection between North Beach and Mount Sinai Medical Center. The new service model would operate with one (1) Starcraft van 13 hours a day, 7 days a week, from 7 am to 8 pm, mirroring the operational hours of the former Route 115 and ensuring continuity in service availability for the community. Attachment C shows the proposed alignment of the fixed route/fixed schedule service.The estimated service frequency and average passenger wait times for the proposed fixed route/fixed schedule service is expected to be between 60 to 70 minutes-which is somewhat comparable to the wait time for the previous Route 115. To support this new service model, the City requested additional funding from DTPW. The estimated annual operating cost for one (1) Starcraft van is approximately $245,000. This represents an increase of approximately $77,000 over the current annual operating cost and commitment from the County of $168,000 for one (1) Freebee Model X vehicle. Per correspondence from DTPW dated May 1,2024(Attachment D),the County is committing to fund $245,000 annually, from November 13, 2023 until November 2025 through the execution of an IAA between the City and County. The City's TPBPFC discussed this issue extensively and recommended that the County provide two (2) high-capacity vehicles that accommodate a minimum of 12-15 passengers during peak hours to better serve North Beach's transportation needs, particularly for the route to and from Mount Sinai Medical Center. The proposed modification to the Freebee service is closely aligned with the recommendation of the TPBPFC as shared via Letter to Commission ("LTC") 102-2024 (Attachment E). At the April 17, 2024 PSNQLC meeting, the Committee recommended that the existing Tesla Model X vehicle be replaced with a higher capacity Starcraft van operating on a fixed route/fixed schedule (similar to the former Route 115) to provide a more reliable and consistent connection between North Beach and Mount Sinai Medical Center. Additionally, the Committee would like the Administration to explore the feasibility of extending the proposed fixed route/fixed schedule service to an existing bus stop located on 41 Street east of Alton Road to connect to Route 150 (Miami Beach Airport Express). The Administration will work with DTPW and provide an update via LTC on the feasibility of this potential route extension. The recommendation of the PSNQLC was brought to the May 15, 2024 City Commission meeting for acceptance via a Commission Resolution (Item C7 W). However, at the May 15, 2024 City Commission meeting, during a discussion on agenda Item C7 W, and at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the City Commission referred the item to the May 24, 2024 Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee ("FERC"). The purpose of the referral was to discuss Item C7 W in light of receipt of a recent letter dated May 14, 2024 from Limousines of South Florida ("LSF"), Inc. (Attachment F). At the May 24, 2024 FERC meeting, the Administration presented a table of comparison of the two proposals (Freebee and LSF). The FERC recommended that the Administration include the proposed fixed route/fixed schedule service in the current month-to-month agreement with LSF. This fixed route/fixed schedule service could be subsequently incorporated into a new contract with a vendor for the provision of Citywide Municipal Transit Circulator Services, currently being procured. FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT The estimated annual operating cost for one (1) Starcraft van is approximately $245,000 to be fully funded by the County through an IAA. Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY) Page 876 of 1862 The Business Impact Estimate (BIE)was published on . See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-cierk/meeting-notices/ FINANCIAL INFORMATION N/A CONCLUSION • The Administration is committed to ensuring a convenient and reliable transit option for former Route 115 passengers and the North Beach community. The Administration believes that the enhanced Freebee service effectively meets passenger demands during non-peak hours. However, based on an analysis of data collected since the inception of the enhanced Freebee service on November 13, 2023, the Administration believes that one (1) Tesla Model X SUV vehicle currently in service is not sufficient to adequately meet passenger demand during peak hours. The Administration presented the data and findings to DTPW to advocate for supplemental funding to replace the existing Tesla Model X SUV with a Starcraft van with a higher passenger capacity, and the implementation of a fixed route/fixed schedule service. The County has preliminarily committed to providing additional funding for a Starcraft van, demonstrating a proactive response to community needs in North Beach. The next steps include updating the IAA and continuing our collaboration with DTPW to implement the desired changes. The Administration recommends thatlhe City Commission accept the recommendation of the FERC to replace the Tesla Model X vehicle with a higher capacity Starcraft van operating on a fixed route/fixed schedule transit service to provide a more reliable and consistent connection between North Beach and Mount Sinai Medical Center; explore the feasibility of extending the proposed service to an existing bus stop located on 41 Street east of Alton Road to connect to Route 150 (Miami Beach Airport Express); waive by 5/7 vote the competitive bidding requirement in Section 2-367 (e) of the City Code; and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute the Intergovernmental Agency Agreement with the County and an amendment to the month-to- month agreement with LSF to provide the fixed route/fixed schedule transit service to a portion of the City's areas previously served by Route 115. Applicable Area Citywide Is this a "Residents Right to Know" items Is this item related to a G.O. Bond pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Proiect? Yes No Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481s includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s)and principal(s): N/A Department Transportation and Mobility Sponsor(s) Page 877 of 1862 Commissioner Alex Fernandez Co-sponsor(s) Page 878 of 1862 88 St Attachment A in_uni 1 15Q a., N U d85St MID-NORTH BEACH 77st CONNECTION , 0 Q U oad 63 St 1 0 0 i Y o 0 U C CC C cc C o Q Mt.Sinai Medical 2 Center y ♦. •• I:\'4- cr C 0 4- Q N Q C o Q C_ . C) Cl) E 17 St w w 0 LiNORTH MAP NOT TO SCALE 08/2017 Lincoln Rd 0 © 0 @GoMiamiDade : GO Miami-Dade Transit MIAM 02.2021 miamidade.gov/transit (Dade g 4620 TTY/Fla Relay: 711 COUNTY WEEKDAYS I ENTRESEMANA I LASEMEN SOUTHBOUND MORNING AFTERNOON RUMBO SUR MA1 ANA /MATIN g TARDE / APREMIDI D/REKSYON SID Q Collins Ave&87 St 7:20 8:10 9:00 9:50 10:4011:3012:20 1:10 2:00 2:50 3:40 4:30 5:20 6:10 7:00 Abbott Ave & 69 St 7:34 8:24 9:12 10:02 10:5211:42 12:32 1:22 2:12 3:02 3:52 4:42 5:32 6:22 7:12 Mt Sinai Hospital 7:47 8:37 9:25 10:1511:0511:5512:45 1:35 2:25 3:15 4:05 4:55 5:45 6:35 7:22 Lincoln & Washington 8:04 8:54 9:44 10:34 11:24 12:14 1:04 1:54 2:44 3:34 4:24 5:14 6:04 6:54 7:37 NORTHBOUND MORNING AFTERNOON RUMBO NORTE MAIVANA MATIN E. TARDE APRENNDI DIREKSVON NO a l Lincoln & Washington 8:06 8:56 9:46 10:36 11:2612:16 1:06 1:56 2:46 3:36 4:26 5:16 6:06 6:56 Mt Sinai Hospital 8:21 9:11 10:00 10:50 11:40 12:30 1:20 2:10 3:00 3:50 4:40 5:30 6:20 7:10 Collins Ave & 69 St 8:35 9:25 10:14 11:04 11:54 12:44 1:34 2:24 3:14 4:04 4:54 5:44 6:34 7:22 Collins Ave & 87 St 8:51 9:41 10:3011:20112:10 1:00 1:50 2:40 3:30 4:19 5:09 5:59 6:49 7:37 WEEKENDS I FINES DESEMANA I WIKENN SOUTHBOUND MORNING AFTERNOON RUMBO SUR MA/7ANA /MATIN DIREKSVON SID ¢ TARDE / APREMIDI Collins Ave & 87 St 7:20 8:10 9:00 9:50 10:4011:3012:20 1:10 2:00 2:50 3:40 4:30 5:20 6:10 7:00 Abbott Ave&69 St 7:30 8:20 9:11 10:01 10:51 11:41 12:31 1:21 2:11 3:01 3:51 4:41 5:31 6:21 7:10 Mt Sinai Hospital 7:40 8:30 9:22 10:1211:0211:5212:42 1:32 2:22 3:12 4:02 4:52 5:42 6:32 7:20 Lincoln &Washington 7:54 8:44 9:38 10:28 11:18 12:08 12:58 1:48 2:38 3:28 4:18 5:08 5:58 6:48 7:33 NORTHBOUND MORNING AFTERNOON RUMBO NORTE MANANA D/REKSYON NO l MATIN2 2 TARDE / APREMIDI Lincoln & Washington 7:56 8:46 9:40 10:30 11:20°12:10 1:00 1:50 2:40 3:30 4:20 5:10 6:00 6:50 Mt Sinai Hospital 8:08 8:58 9:52 10:42 11:32 12:22 1:12 2:02 2:52 3:42 4:32 5:22 6:12 7:02 Collins Ave & 69 St 8:20 9:11 10:05 10:55 11:49 12:35 1:25 2:15 3:05 3:55 4:46 5:36 6:26 7:13 Collins Ave& 87 St 8:34 9:25 10:19 11:09 11:59,12:49 1:39 2:29 3:19 4:09 5:00 5:50 6:40 7:25 Scheduled times are approximate.Actual arrival and departure times may vary depending on traffic and road conditions. Las horas publicadas son aproximadas,pues dependen del trafico y otras condiciones de las vias.Ore yo apwoksimatif.We le bis yo ap rive oswa deplase ka vane selon kondisyon sikilasyon sou wout yoQ 115 . MID-NORTH ©© Q @GoMiamiDade GO Miami-Dade Transit s„ H MIAMFQADE CONNECTION miamidade.gov/transit 311 or 305.468.5900 I I Y/Fla Relay: 711 COUNTY Page 88 of 1862 Attachment B SERVLw. .',REA 7 e2L7eE' �p��p� MIAMI BEACH COUPTSSSv OF • MIAMI BEACH On-Demand - Service Area: �-� ' MIAMI BEACH COURTESY OF M I A M I BEACH • Getting around - Miami Beach just got easier! The City of Miami Beach has partnered with Freebee to offer a FREE On-Demand Transit IODT)service to riders throughout Mid-Beach and portions .7i . SCAN A N D of North Beach!ODT service provides first mile/ last mile service connecting to the existing Miami ;� DOWNLOAD T H E Beacn Tthe ey nd service Miami-Dade County nBus servde within the geo-fenced service area and door-to-door .,,a.a on RIDE FREEBEE service for trips originating and ending within the Wyst Ate'1S Sr PPP.y DOWNLOAD THE geo-fenced service area.The service operates as a _-i MOBILE APP! continuous vanpool.dynamically adjusting vehicle r FREEBEE routing to appropriately meet ridership demand and 19' r'' • • . a ..`iJ service needs within the service area. 19 �. t• ! APP NOW! Service Hours: w t i¢ '_„ '��;ill Iiiiii,I I AppStore ilndoll NO Monday-Friday:o.30arn•10pm A juiKaaad • ~ le'GougirPlay Saturday:8am-lOpm I Sunday:8am-8pm is Fare:Free THANKS FOR RIDING WITH US www.mbfreebee.com 1305-673-7117 ti YOUR FEEDBACK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. A FUN, FREE &GREEN I PLEASE SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ON-DEMAND SHUTTLE SERVICE TO FREEBEE@MIAMIBEACHFL.GOV HOW IT WORKS SERVICE HOUR Monday-Friday:6:30am-l0pm Saturday:8am-10pm 1 Request 2fl Set Your 3 Browse Sunday:8am 8pm A Ride Pick-Up - Local Fare:Free ril ., Tap the"Request a Location Destinations Ride"button on the 0 9 a < home screen of the Drop your pin exactly Search your Ride Freebee app. whereyouwoudlike destinationby FREEBEE INFORMATION to be picked up. category and find the an aw spot with an awesome Freebee deal! • Freebee is a FREE.door-to-door,on-demand transportation service,brought to you by the City of Miami Beach• Freebee vehicles are 100w,electric,and emission- free! eir ,,, • Your Freebee guide will share with you the latest and greatest happenings in the City of Miami Beach. • Freebee caters to any and all ages,f rom children to seniors,and all types of pets. Select Your 5 Freebee provides booster seats as appropriate for Enjoy joy 6 �,r..r„ .. Redeem Your children who exceed the size requirements to travel in a car seat. .- Destination ! '' 1 The Ride Freebee Deal! • Smaller children and infants are required to be i T" .+�'' Onceyou've reached secured in a federally approved car seat,provided by Lock in your selection Snap some photos of Mabee err their parent or guardian. and let us know where F your experience and ..,,,�..,,,.,, your destination, you'd like to go! y 0r"sl •' VW!t share them to the app. BIG BUS TOURS present your app deal • Rides can also be requested by flagging down an to the manager on available Freebee! fa - "•-. duty."Mark Offer As CLOSE THIS Used"to redeem! i. DEAL SCREEN ..-. r ;1 ... .1 ferabo • ♦ n ok.condridefr eebee .ijir -.•...,. X® ef @ridreetee ' ";' S info@ridefreetee.com 0 Support Widefreebee.com If you do not have a smart phone,or would like to request additional accessibility accommodations,please call 855-918-3733 A m a cn • • l� Alton Rd Alton Ro o, CO CD Oo Co W w 0 Hawthorne Nt_ Abbott/Harding t_Harding Indian Creek Di IO coCO i Collins Ave Collins Ave 0) n 3 CD 0 Attachment D MIAMI-DADE Department of MIAMEQADE Transportation and Public Works COUNTY Office of the Director 701 N.W. 1st Court • 17th Floor miamidade.gov Miami, Florida 33136 Tel: 786-469-5406 Fax: 786-469-5580 May 1, 2024 The Honorable Steven Meiner Mayor, City of Miami Beach 1700 Convention Center Drive Miami Beach, FL 33139 RE: Enhanced Miami-Beach On-Demand Service Dear Mayor Steiner: The Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) is offering a letter of intent to the City of Miami Beach to provide a commitment of funds for an enhanced existing On- Demand service, currently provided by FreeBee. Miami-Dade County Route 115 was eliminated November 13, 2023, as a result of the Better Bus Network which served passengers along Alton Road from Lincoln Road to 88 Street. The City of Miami Beach provides on-demand service along the Alton Road segment no longer served by the County. As per previous coordination with the City, the County agreed to augment the existing on-demand service with one additional vehicle up to$168,000 annually. This went into effect when the County service was discontinued on November 13, 2023. Since implementing the additional service, the city recognizes the current demand needs, which exceed a 5-passenger vehicle. The City desires to transition the additional resource into a larger 15-passenger vehicle to provide a fixed-route service. As such, the County is agreeing to provide additional funding in the amount of $77,000 for an additional vehicle. The County will commit to provide a total of up to $245,000 annually, from November 13, 2023 until November 2025, after which time the City will seek alternative funding and resubmit their PTP funded trolley service plan to the County for approval. The County is dedicated to collaborating with the City to enhance and complement the existing transportation network to better serve the needs of the residents and tourists. Should you have any questions, please contact me or you may contact Linda Morris, Chief of Scheduling and Planning at linda.morris@miamidade.gov or (305) 302-2135. Sincerely, Eulois letkley, Mia i-Dade County Director and CEO Page 884 of 1862 Pttachment E DocuSign Envelope ID:3AC49011-43F5-47A1-B3E1-1341E8E81EC8 MIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK NO. LTC # 102-2024 LETTER TO COMMISSION TO Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission FROM: Rafael Granado, City Clerk DATE: March 18, 2024 SUBJECT. TPBPF Committee Motion —Viable Solution to Replace Eliminated Bus Route 115 The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide you with correspondence received from the Transportation, Parking & Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee. /—ns rw l�t� RW/MB C: Alina Hudak, City Manager Eric Carpenter, Deputy City Manager Mark Taxis, Assistant City Manager Rickelle Williams, Assistant City Manager Monica Beltran, Parking Director Jose Gonzalez, Transportation and Mobility Director Page 885 of 1862 DocuSign Envelope ID:3AC49011-43F5-47A1-B3E1-1341E8E81EC8 Yraimpintation, Jianri £Sicti e-Jea/enf m !i TO: Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission Marcia Duprat Lepori,Chair Linda Kolko,vice chair FROM: Transportation, Parking& Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee DATE: March 18,2024 Members: Patricia Henao SUBJECT: Viable Solution to Replace Eliminated Bus Route 115 Joe Saunders Eva Dias Esteban ProteinMembers Present: Linda Kolko;Amy Rabin;Patricia Henao;Esteban Porcelli;Harvey Burstein;Joe Saunders; Amy Rabin Eva Dias&Peter Matos Harvey Burstein Akil Lester Members Absent:Marcia Duprat Lepori&Akil Lester Peter Matos Dear Honorable Mayor and City Commission: The Transportation, Parking and Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee (TPBPFC) held its hybrid meeting on Monday, March 11, 2024,and passed the below motion: Viable Solution to Replace Eliminated Bus Route 115 The Transportation,Parking, and Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee passed a motion regarding Miami-Dade County Transit's decision to eliminate Bus Route 115. We recommend that the City of Miami Beach Mayor and Commission urge the County to solve the issue of the elimination of Bus Route 115,which has created hardships for Miami Beach residents as well as employees of local business establishments and institutions, including Mt. Sinai Hospital. We recommend the County provide two (2) high-capacity vehicles that accommodate a minimum 12-15 passengers during peak hours, in addition to the existing Freebee service. As an advisory Committee,we urge the Mayor and City Commission to support this motion. Sincerely, Transportation,Parking& Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Committee Page 886 of 1862 Attachment F L5E5ULE "%b A TRANSPORTATION AMERICA COMPANY May 14, 2024 Ms. Rickelle Williams Interim City Manager City of Miami Beach 1700 Convention Center Drive Miami Beach, FL 33139 Re: Item C7 W—May 15,2024,City Commission Agenda Replacement Route for Former Miami-Dade County Route 115 Dear Madam Manager: Limousines of South Florida(LSF)has been honored to serve as the City's exclusive Fixed-Route transportation provider for the Miami Beach Trolley Program since 2014.Together with City staff, we have built one of the most successful municipal Fixed-Route (Trolley) Programs in the State of Florida, transporting an average of 500,000 passengers per month during our pre-Covid peak. In reviewing the Agenda for the May 15,2024 City Commission Meeting, we discovered that the City is considering awarding a two (2) year, no-bid contract to BeeFree LLC d/b/a FreeBee to operate a single vehicle, fixed-route service to replace Bus Route 115,which was discontinued by Miami-Dade County as part of the Better Bus Network. LSF is uniquely positioned to provide this Fixed-Route service to the City, while the City determines how to restructure its Citywide Fixed-Route system through ITN 2024-008-ND Municipal Circulator Services(the"ITN"). First, LSF is the only City vendor that provides comprehensive Fixed-Route transportation services,and LSF has an extensive track record of success with the City. Indeed, LSF successfully competed in the first Fixed-Route procurement publicly let by the City, and has successfully participated in all other solicitations— having been ranked the highest and most responsible and responsive provider in each publicly awarded contract thereafter. Second, as it turns out, LSE actually operated Route 115 on behalf of Miami-Dade County prior to its discontinuation in late 2023, as the County's contracted Fixed-Route provider. In this regard, LSF drivers are trained to operate Fixed-Routes,trained to assist passengers with mobility challenges,and very familiar with Route 115. We can resume service immediately, using a 20-passenger vehicle with two (2) secure Wheel-chair spaces (for a total of 22 passengers) at an annual cost of 5245,000 — the same cost proposed by FreeBee to operate a 14-passenger van with unknown wheelchair capacity.' ' The vehicle proposed by LSF has seamless side-entry capabilities for passengers in wheelchairs, a far superior option to rear-loading wheelchair access. This is particularly important because the terminus of the proposed route is Mount Sinai Hospital,meaning that the likelihood of wheelchair passengers is higher than most routes. Also, it should be noted that LSF's price offer assumes 2766 NW 62nd Street Miami,Florida 33147 Te1305.265.3302 Fax305.265.3303 Page 887 of 1862 L5P1TLE Page 2 A TRANSPORTATION AMERICA COMPANY Letter to Ms. Rickelle Williams Regarding Item C7 W—May 15,2024,City Commission Agenda—Replacement Route for Former Miami-Dade County Route 115 Recognizing that the City is in the midst of a competitive procurement for transportation services, LSF is willing to include this service in LSF's existing month-to-month Contract with this City. This will give the City maximum flexibility, and allow the City to transition this service to the successful proposer of the ITN, along with all other Fixed-Route services. Awarding a two-year contract for this small route can create operational challenges following the award of the ITN. We applaud the City for developing quick solutions to assist passengers impacted by the County's decision to discontinue Route 115 and, frankly, we applaud FreeBee for stepping outside of its comfort zone and offering to provide Fixed-Route service for the first time. That said, LSF respectfully suggests that the most prudent and flexible path forward for the City is to reactivate the 115 Replacement Route through a month-to-month agreement with the City's only Fixed- Route operator.LSF. We are available to initiate service immediately,and welcome the opportunity to resume providing high-quality. fixed-route rtation services to passengers along Route 115. Please do not - hesitate to contact 989-6423 should you wish to discuss further. I am available anytime. Si ely_z /-- Ra onzal- "r ident &CEO operation of one (1) vehicle for thirteen (13) hours per day, seven (7) days per week. from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, as described in the Commission Memorandum dated May 15, 2024. 2766 NW 62nd Street Miami,Florida 33147 1 e,305.265.3302 F a x 305.265.3303 Page 888 of 1862