Resolution 2025-33569 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-33569
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY
COMMITTEE, AT ITS JANUARY 16, 2025 MEETING, TO CONDUCT A
FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE USE OF THE MIDDLE TURN LANE AS
A REVERSIBLE LANE ON 41ST STREET TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC
FLOW DURING PEAK TRAFFIC HOURS, SUBJECT TO A FISCAL
YEAR 2025 OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT, OR CONSIDERED
AS A BUDGET ENHANCEMENT THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 2026
BUDGET PROCESS.
WHEREAS, at the June 26, 2024 City Commission meeting, at the request of
Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the City Commission referred an agenda item (C4 AE)
to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee ("LUSC") to discuss the use of the center
turn lane as a reversible lane on 41 Street to improve traffic flow during peak traffic hours;
and
WHEREAS, State Road ("SR") 112/41 Street is classified as a principal arterial
with four (4) travel lanes (two (2) lanes eastbound and two (2) lanes westbound), and a
dedicated center turn lane, primarily used for left turns; and
WHEREAS, the roadway is under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of
Transportation ("FDOT"); and
WHEREAS, the 41 Street corridor regularly experiences heavy traffic congestion
during peak hours on weekday afternoons and during major special events in the City of
Miami Beach ("City"); and
WHEREAS, several factors contribute to daily recurring traffic congestion along
the corridor, including increased volumes due to drivers avoiding major ongoing
construction and choke points on I-395/MacArthur Causeway, extensive school zones
in the area, closely spaced traffic signals, and a high number of pedestrian crossings on
41 Street, along with heavy side street traffic from the connecting north-south avenues
which results in vehicles frequently blocking the 41 Street intersections and creating
gridlock in all directions; and
WHEREAS, based on the FDOT 2022 Level of Service("LOS") map,the 41 Street
corridor is, and has been, operating at an LOS F (failing) rating based on the annual
average daily traffic and capacity of the roadway; and
WHEREAS, reversible lanes are a traffic management technique often utilized to
improve traffic flow by changing the direction of travel lanes during a specified period of
time in order to serve the direction with greater travel demand; and
WHEREAS, reversible lanes increase the directional capacity of a roadway during
peak traffic periods; and
WHEREAS, reversible lanes on thoroughfares longer than two (2) miles with less
than ten (10)traffic signals are encouraged and preferred. Reversible lanes can be used
on a single center lane and are marked with a dashed doubled yellow line on both sides
of the road with signs above to indicate which lanes are open or closed to vehicular traffic
during a specific time of the day; and
WHEREAS, a benefit of reversible lanes is to improve traffic flow without the need
for additional infrastructure such as road widening; however, reversible lanes also tend
to be commuter-oriented and primarily serve vehicular traffic, de-emphasizing
pedestrians and bicyclists and restricting left turn movements to limit access to/from
adjacent land uses; and
WHEREAS, 41 Street is a roadway corridor with a large amount of pedestrian
activity, nine (9) traffic signals, a school zone, on-street parking on both sides of the
street, and multiple bus stops along the 3,115-foot roadway segment between Alton
Road and Pine Tree Drive; and
WHEREAS, in order to implement a reversible lane on 41 Street, a warrant
analysis and feasibility study including data collection, a traffic signal mast arm structural
analysis, and community outreach are required to determine the feasibility of utilizing the
center turn lane as a reversible lane to improve traffic flow during peak traffic hours; and
WHEREAS, it is important to note that the center turn lane of 41 Street is
frequently used by emergency vehicles, including Fire Rescue, to more quickly access
Mount Sinai Medical Center during periods of heavy traffic congestion; and
WHEREAS, since 41 Street is under FDOT's jurisdiction, the traffic study will need
to be reviewed and approved by both FDOT and Miami-Dade County Department of
Transportation and Public Works ("DTPW") in order to ascertain feasibility and proceed
with design and implementation; and
WHEREAS, the City Administration is exploring various strategies to manage the
increased vehicular demand on 41 Street, and the north-south avenues connecting to
41 Street, in order to help improve traffic flow in the immediate area, as well as to improve
pedestrian safety; and
WHEREAS, at the January 16, 2025 LUSC meeting, the Committee discussed
this item and recommended that the Administration proceed with conducting a traffic
study to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing the center turn lane as a reversible lane on 41
Street between Alton Road and Pine Tree Drive to improve traffic flow during peak traffic
hours; and
WHEREAS, the estimated cost for the 41 Street reversible lane feasibility study
is approximately $160,000; however, such funding has not been identified, budgeted or
appropriated at this time in the Transportation and Mobility Department's Fiscal Year
2025 operating budget.
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 hereby accept the recommendation the Land Use And Sustainability
Committee, at its January 16, 2025 meeting, to conduct a feasibility study on the use of
the middle turn lane as a reversible lane on 41st Street to improve traffic flow during
peak traffic hours, subject to a Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget amendment, or
considered as a budget enhancement through the Fiscal Year 2026 budget process.
PASSED and ADOPTED this /1 day of arc`I , 2025.
ATTEST:
7.—)1
MAR 2 0 2025 even Meiner, Mayor
,,s
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
1HCORP GRATED='
(Sponsored by Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez) • `lfN" .. _ 'A9
^ CH26
Co-Sponsored by Commissioner Tanya K Bhatt
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE,
1 &FOR EXECUTION
ICJ►IU 3 r
ION City Attorney • ��/ Date
Resolutions - C7 0
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Eric Carpenter, City Manager
DATE: March 19, 2025
TITLE: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LAND
USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, AT ITS JANUARY 16, 2025 MEETING,
TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE USE OF THE MIDDLE TURN LANE
AS A REVERSIBLE LANE ON 41ST STREET TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW
DURING PEAK TRAFFIC HOURS, SUBJECT TO A FISCAL YEAR 2025
OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT, OR CONSIDERED AS A BUDGET
ENHANCEMENT THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET PROCESS.
RECOMMENDATION
The City Administration ("Administration") recommends that the Mayor and City Commission
("City Commission") adopt the Resolution.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
At the June 26, 2024 City Commission meeting, at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez,
the City Commission referred an agenda item (C4 AE) to the Land Use and Sustainability
Committee("LUSC"or"Committee")to discuss the use of the center turn lane as a reversible lane
on 41 Street to improve traffic flow during peak traffic hours.
State Road ("SR") 112/41 Street is classified as a principal arterial with four (4) travel lanes (two
(2) lanes eastbound and two (2) lanes westbound), and a dedicated center turn lane, primarily
used for left turns. The roadway is under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of
Transportation ("FOOT"). The corridor is located in Mid Beach and provides direct access to/from
I-195/Julia Tuttle Causeway, a limited access federal facility, and SR A1A/Collins Avenue/Indian
Creek Drive (also under FDOT's jurisdiction).
The 41 Street corridor regularly experiences heavy traffic congestion during weekday afternoon
peak hours and major special events in the City of Miami Beach ("City"). Several factors contribute
to daily recurring traffic congestion along the corridor, including increased volumes due to drivers
avoiding major ongoing construction and choke points on I-395/MacArthur Causeway, extensive
school zones in the area, closely spaced traffic signals and high number of pedestrian crossings
on 41 Street, and heavy side street traffic from the connecting north-south avenues which results
in vehicles frequently blocking the 41 Street intersections and creating gridlock in all directions.
Based on the FOOT 2022 Level of Service ("LOS") map, the 41 Street corridor is and has been
operating at LOS F (failing) based on the annual average daily traffic and capacity of the roadway.
At the January 16, 2025 LUSC meeting, the Committee discussed this item and recommended
that the Administration proceed with conducting a traffic study to evaluate the feasibility of using
the center turn lane as a reversible lane on 41 Street between Alton Road and Indian Creek Drive
to improve traffic flow during peak traffic hours.
ANALYSIS
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Reversible lanes are a traffic management technique often used to improve traffic flow by
changing the direction of travel lanes during a specified period of time to serve the direction with
greater travel demand. Reversible lanes increase the directional capacity of a roadway during
peak traffic periods. Reversible lanes on thoroughfares longer than two (2) miles with less than
ten (10) traffic signals are encouraged and preferred. Reversible lanes can be used on a single
center lane and are marked with a dashed doubled yellow line on both sides of the road with signs
above to indicate which lanes are open or closed to vehicular traffic during a specific time of the
day. A benefit of reversible lanes is to improve traffic flow without the need for additional
infrastructure such as road widening. Reversible lanes tend to be commuter-oriented and
primarily serve through vehicular traffic, de-emphasizing pedestrians and bicyclists and restricting
left turn movements to limit access to/from adjacent land uses.
41 Street is a corridor with a large amount of pedestrian activity, nine (9) traffic signals, a school
zone, on-street parking on both sides and multiple bus stops along the 3,115-foot roadway
segment between Alton Road and Pine Tree Drive. In order to implement reversible lanes on 41
Street, a warrant analysis and feasibility study including data collection, traffic signal mast arm
structural analysis, and community outreach are required to determine the feasibility of utilizing
the center turn lane as a reversible lane to improve traffic flow during peak traffic hours. It is
important to note that the center turn lane of 41 Street is frequently used by emergency vehicles,
including Fire Rescue, to more quickly access Mount Sinai Medical Center during periods of
heavy traffic congestion. Furthermore, since 41 Street is under FDOT's jurisdiction, the traffic
study will need to be reviewed and approved by both FDOT and Miami-Dade County Department
of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) to ascertain feasibility and proceed with design and
implementation.
Tangentially, the Administration is exploring various strategies to manage the increased vehicular
demand on 41 Street and the north-south avenues connecting to 41 Street to help improve traffic
flow in the immediate area, as well as to improve pedestrian safety, as further described below.
Creation of Dedicated Turn Lanes on the North-South Avenues
The Transportation and Mobility Department engaged Alta Planning & Design, Inc., one of the
City's pre-qualified rotational transportation consultants, to conduct a comprehensive traffic study
to evaluate the feasibility of creating dedicated turn lanes on the north-south avenues (from Chase
Avenue on the west to Sheridan Avenue on the east) approaching 41 Street to more effectively
facilitate vehicular turning movements from those avenues onto 41 Street as well crossing 41
Street (north/south). The traffic study includes the feasibility of adding dedicated turn lanes, if
warranted, and the impacts, if any, to the existing bulb-outs at the intersections as well as a
structural analysis of the traffic signal mast arms to ensure the mast arms can support new
additional turning signal heads. The traffic study concluded that Chase Avenue, Prairie Avenue,
Sheridan Avenue, and Royal Palm Avenue warrant the addition of dedicated left turn lanes in
both the southbound and northbound directions at the 41 Street intersection.
41 Street Traffic Re-Circulation Pilot Program
In an effort to improve mobility for residents traveling north and south along Sheridan and Royal
Palm avenues crossing 41 Street, on September 17, 2024, the City implemented the 41 Street
Traffic Re-Circulation Pilot Program ("Pilot Program") during the weekday afternoon peak hours
of 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Pilot Program, as approved via Resolution No. 2024-33116, maintains
the existing two-way traffic flow on Sheridan Avenue and Royal Palm Avenue. No left turns are _
allowed onto 41 Street from Sheridan Avenue and Royal Palm Avenue during the pilot. Police
resources are deployed at two (2) 41 Street intersections (Sheridan Avenue and Royal Palm
Avenue) to ensure vehicles do not make a left turn onto 41 Street and continue traveling
north/south. A consultant was engaged to evaluate the effectiveness of the Pilot Program and
measure its impact on the surrounding street network. Based on field observations conducted by
City staff and the Consultant, the Pilot Program is performing as intended, and
northbound/southbound vehicles on both avenues are able to cross 41 Street during each traffic
Page 271 of 1157
signal cycle (i.e. no significant back-ups observed). At the February 26, 2025 City Commission
meeting, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2025-33547 extending the Pilot Program
for an additional six (6) months.
41 Street Corridor Revitalization General Obligation Bond ("GOB") Project
The City's Office of Capital Improvement Projects ("CIP") is currently at 60% design phase for the
41 Street Corridor Revitalization GOB Project between Alton Road and Pine Tree Drive. The
project focuses on enhancing walkability along the 41 Street corridor and proposes to widen the
sidewalks, enhance the existing curb extensions (bulb-outs) with additional pedestrian crossing
signage, and create bus pull-out bays in the eastbound and westbound directions along the
corridor such that buses and trolleys do not stop and block travel lanes on 41 Street while boarding
and alighting passengers.
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
The estimated cost for the 41 Street reversible lane feasibility study is approximately $160,000.
Funding has not been identified, budgeted or appropriated at this time in the Transportation and
Mobility Department's Fiscal Year ("FY") 2025 Operating Budget.
Should the City Commission adopt a resolution accepting the recommendation of the LUSC, the
Administration may seek a FY 2025 operating budget amendment or include the proposed
feasibility study for funding consideration through the ongoing FY 2026 budget process.
Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? Click or tap here to enter text.
(FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)
If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on:
See BIE at: https:/Iwww.miamibeachfl.govIcity-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
N/A
CONCLUSION
Reversible lanes are a traffic management technique often used to improve traffic flow by
changing the direction of travel lanes during a specified period of time to serve the direction with
greater travel demand. Reversible lanes increase the directional capacity of a roadway during
peak traffic periods without the need to widen the road.
In order to implement reversible lanes on 41 Street, a warrant analysis and feasibility study
including data collection, traffic signal mast arm structural analysis, and community outreach are
required to determine the feasibility of utilizing the center turn lane as a reversible lane to improve
traffic flow during peak traffic hours. Given 41 Street is under FDOT's jurisdiction, the traffic study
will need to be reviewed and approved by both FDOT and DTPW to ascertain feasibility and
proceed with design and implementation.
Should the City Commission adopt a resolution accepting the recommendation of the LUSC, at
its January 16, 2025 meeting, the Transportation and Mobility Department is prepared to engage
one of the City's pre-qualified rotational transportation consultants, subject to City Commission
approval for funding appropriation through a FY 2025 operating budget amendment or the FY
2026 budget process, to conduct a traffic study to evaluate the feasibility of using the center turn
lane as a reversible lane on 41 Street between Alton Road and Indian Creek Drive.
Page 272 of 1157
Applicable Area
Middle Beach
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?
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): N/A
Department
Transportation and Mobility
Sponsor(s)
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
Co-sponsor(s)
Condensed Title
Accept Recommendation, Feasibility Study - Reversible Lanes on 41st Street. (Fernandez) TR
Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only)
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