Resolution 2024-33249 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-33249
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE
COMMITTEE, AT ITS JULY 10, 2024 MEETING, DIRECTING THE CITY
ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE COLLABORATING WITH RIDESHARE
COMPANIES TO IDENTIFY CONGESTED AREAS WHERE RIDESHARE
DRIVERS INCREASE CONGESTION BY OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC,AND TO
ESTABLISH DESIGNATED PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF ZONES IN SUCH
AREAS.
WHEREAS, at the May 15, 2024 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Tanya Bhatt
sponsored a referral item (C4 B)to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee
("PSNQLC") to discuss options to address increased traffic congestion created by rideshare
drivers picking-up and dropping-off passengers on the public rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, for several years, rideshare services have been, and continue to be, a
popular and convenient mobility option for many residents,visitors, and employees in Miami-Dade
County and the City of Miami Beach ("City"); and
WHEREAS, the rideshare industry's growing popularity has contributed to a documented
increase in total vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled on our local roadways — two (2) key
indicators of traffic congestion; and
WHEREAS,the rideshare industry's operational model,which consists of drivers stopping
on vehicular lanes of travel (often on major thoroughfares) to pick-up and drop-off passengers,
has contributed not only to increased traffic congestion but to safety concerns as well; and
WHEREAS, City staff from the Transportation and Mobility Department, along with the
Parking Department, recently met with representatives from Uber to discuss a potential
collaboration to explore initiatives intended to reduce the blockage of travel lanes on major
thoroughfares by Uber drivers while picking-up and dropping-off passengers, as well as to reduce
the increased traffic volume and congestion caused by many rideshare vehicles driving to, from,
and within the City; and
WHEREAS, during the initial meeting with Uber, two (2) potential pilot programs were
preliminarily discussed; and
WHEREAS, in potential Pilot Program 1: City staff proffered the concept of identifying and
designating strategic locations (i.e., on-street parking spaces or parking lots) in the City for use
by Uber drivers to pick-up and drop-off passengers in a manner that would not obstruct traffic flow
along major thoroughfare(s). A potential pilot program location would utilize the existing
passenger loading spaces on the 100 Block of 24th Street(north side of the One Hotel) in lieu of
the current pick-up/drop-off location which obstructs the northbound travel lane on Collins Avenue
and 23rd Street and contributes to significant traffic congestion and safety concerns in the area;
and
WHEREAS, in potential Pilot Program 2: Uber representatives expressed a desire to test
an "Uber Shuttle" service between the Miami Beach Convention Center/City Center area (due to
the availability of multiple parking garages in the area) and Hard Rock Stadium during the 2024
football season. This service would consist of four(4) shuttles in operation, each with a capacity
of approximately 40 passengers,with frequent and direct round-trip service from the Miami Beach
Convention Center/City Center area to Hard Rock Stadium before a game and returning to the
City after a game; and
WHEREAS, City staff is currently in discussions with Uber to further refine the
aforementioned potential pilot programs from an operational, logistical, and public safety
perspective. Furthermore, City staff will be meeting with Lyft representatives to discuss
collaborating and exploring similar ideas; and
WHEREAS, at the July 10, 2024 PSNQLC meeting, the Committee discussed this item
and passed a motion recommending that the Administration collaborate with rideshare companies
in identifying congested areas where rideshare drivers obstruct traffic and establish designated
pick-up and drop-off zones.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby accept the recommendation of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality
of Life Committee ("PSNQLC"), at its July 10, 2024 meeting, directing the City Administration to
continue collaborating with rideshare companies to identify congested areas where rideshare
drivers increase congestion by obstructing traffic, and to establish designated pick-up and drop-
off zones in such areas.PASSED AND ADOPTED this j/ day of cep 4rn4✓ 2024.
Steven Meiner, Mayor
ATTEST: \47SEP 9 7 2024
`
Rafael E. ranado, City Clerk �: B,1I y
(Sponsored by Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt) - � ° •`
' :IHCORP ORATED; -
Co-Sponsored by Commissioner Joseph Magazine , �. A
RcH
26
APPROVED AS TO
FORM&LANGUAGES
&FOR EXECUTION
¶IS'/zoz0-
City Attorney
Resolutions -C7 Y
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Eric Carpenter, City Manager
DATE: September 11, 2024
TITLE: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE,AT ITS
JULY 10, 2024 MEETING, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO
COLLABORATE WITH RIDESHARE COMPANIES IN IDENTIFYING CONGESTED
AREAS WHERE RIDESHARE DRIVERS OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC TO ESTABLISH
DESIGNATED PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF ZONES.
RECOMMENDATION
The City Administration ("Administration") recommends that the Mayor and City Commission
("City Commission") adopt the Resolution (Attachment A) pursuant to the recommendation of the
Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee ("PSNQLC" or"Committee").
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
At the May 15, 2024 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt sponsored a
referral item (C4 B) to the PSNQLC to discuss options to address increased traffic congestion
created by rideshare drivers picking up and dropping off passengers on the public rights-of-way.
For several years, rideshare services have been and continue to be a popular and convenient
mobility option for many residents, visitors, and employees in Miami-Dade County and the City of
Miami Beach ("City"). However, the rideshare industry's growing popularity has contributed to a
documented increase in total vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled on our local roadways—two
(2) key indicators of traffic congestion. Furthermore, the rideshare industry's operational model
consisting of drivers stopping on travel lanes, often on major thoroughfares, to pick-up and drop-
off passengers has contributed not only to increased traffic congestion but to safety concerns as
well.
ANALYSIS
In preparation for this item, City staff from the Parking and Transportation and Mobility
Departments recently met with Uber representatives to discuss a potential collaboration to explore
initiatives intended to reduce the blocking of travel lanes on major thoroughfares by Uber drivers
while picking-up and dropping-off passengers as well as reduce the increased traffic volumes and
congestion due to the many rideshare vehicles driving to, from, and within the City to provide
rideshare services. During the initial meeting with Uber, two (2) potential pilot programs were
preliminarily discussed and described below:
Potential Pilot Program 1: City staff proffered identifying and designating strategic locations (i.e.
on-street parking spaces or parking lots) in the City for use by Uber drivers to pick-up and drop-
off passengers in a manner that would not obstruct traffic flow along a major thoroughfare(s). One
potential pilot location would utilize the existing passenger loading spaces on the 100 Block of 24
Street(north side of the One Hotel)in lieu of the current pick-up/drop-off location which obstructs
Page 547 of 1377
the northbound travel lane on Collins Avenue and 23 Street and contributes to significant traffic
congestion and safety concerns in the area.
Potential Pilot Program 2: Uber representatives expressed a desire to test an "Uber Shuttle"
service between the Miami Beach Convention Center ("MBCC")/City Center area (due to the
availability of multiple parking garages in the area) and Hard Rock Stadium during the 2024
football season. The service would consist of four (4) shuttles in operation, each with a capacity
of approximately 40 passengers, with frequent and direct round-trip service from the MBCC/City
Center area to Hard Rock Stadium before a game event and returning to the City after a game
event.
Conceivably, a similar cross-bay rideshare shuttle service could be operated during annual high
impact events in the City with activations in the City of Miami (e.g. Art Week, Boat Show, and
others)to reduce the number of private vehicles—rideshare and non-rideshare-entering, exiting,
and traveling within our City and contributing to congestion on our roadways.
City staff is in discussions with Uber to further refine the above potential pilot programs from an
operational, logistical and public safety perspective. Furthermore, City staff will be meeting with
Lyft representatives to discuss collaborating and exploring similar ideas.
At the July 10, 2024 PSNQLC meeting, the Committee discussed this item and passed a motion
recommending that the Administration collaborate with rideshare companies in identifying
congested areas where rideshare drivers obstruct traffic and establish designated pick-up and
drop-off zones.
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
TBD
Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate?
(FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)
If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on:
See BIE at: https:llwww.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meetinq-notices!
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
TB D
CONCLUSION
The Administration is actively engaging in (or planning to engage in) discussions with the major
existing rideshare companies (Uber and Lyft) to discuss a collaboration and exploration of
potential initiatives, albeit on a pilot basis, intended to reduce the traffic congestion and address
safety concerns due to rideshare vehicles picking-up and dropping-off passengers on the travel
lanes along major thoroughfares. Once a plan and/or program is developed and ready to be
implemented, the Administration will share the information via Letter to Commission (LTC) and
communicate the program to the public.
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, Is this item related to a G.O. Bond
pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Project?
Page 548 of 1377
No No
Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481,
includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No
If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):
Department
Transportation and Mobility
Sponsor(s)
Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt
Co-sponsor(s)
Condensed Title
Accept Recom, Identify and Designate Designated Rideshare Pick-Up/Drop-Off Zones. (Bhatt)
TR
Page 549 of 1377