C4B-Ref- NCAC - Permanent Closure Of 400 Block Of Espanola WayMIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gav
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Me
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: September 11, 2013
SUBJECT: REFERRAL TO THE NEIGHBO 000/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE-
DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PERMANENT CLOSURE OF THE 400 BLOCK OF
ESPANOLA WAY BETWEEN WASHINGTON AVENUE AND DREXEL AVENUE.
BACKGROUND
Currently, the 400 Block of Espanola Way (between Washington Avenue and Drexel Avenue) is
closed from 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM every day and functions as a pedestrian mall with numerous
sidewalk cafes, retail venues, and restaurants. When open to traffic, the 400 Block operates as
a one-way street in the westbound direction only.
In May 2012, City officials attended an Espanola Way merchants meeting with representatives
of property owners and business owners. At the meeting, Espanola Way merchants requested
the extension of the street closure duration from 11:00 AM to 6:00 AM in order to enhance the
commercial viability of the corridor and improve pedestrian safety; thus, this one block of portion
Espanola Way would be closed to traffic for nineteen hours each day. During this meeting, the
City was informed that most deliveries occur from Drexel Avenue and Washington Avenue
because trucks cannot operate safely on Espanola Way. Based on the input from the
merchants, the City committed to conducting a traffic study in order to evaluate the impact of the
full closure of the 400 block of Espanola Way on the community and the adjacent roadway
network.
In February 2013, City staff met with representatives and property owners of the 400 Block of
Espanola Way to discuss the requirements for the street closure. During this meeting, the
representatives and property owners were advised of the process to be followed pursuant to the
County's Traffic Flow Modifications/Street Closure procedure. Essentially, the process consists
of the following six (6) steps:
1. A traffic study must be conducted to identify the impacts (if any) of the street closure on
the adjacent properties and roadway network.
2. Ballots must be completed by property owners affected by the proposed closure and
concurrence must be obtained from two-thirds (2/3) of all respondents.
3. City review and approval, including Fire, Police and Public Works Departments.
4. A public meeting to inform property owners regarding the proposed closure.
5. A City Commission Resolution approving the street closure (Resolution may override
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Agenda Item C ({ B
Date 9'--11-13
---------------------------------,
Commission Memorandum RE: Permanent Closure of the 400 Block of Espanola Way between Washington
Avenue and Drexel Avenue
September 11, 2013
Page 2 of2
ballot results).
6. Approval from the Miami-Dade County Public Works and Waste Management
Department
ANALYSIS
In May 2013, the City initiated the balloting process. Ballots were mailed to 53 properties within
the area bounded by 14th Street on the south, 15th Street on the north, Washington Avenue on
the east and Pennsylvania Avenue on the west. Over two-thirds (2/3) of the respondents voted
in favor of the street closure, thus meeting one of the required criteria for closure.
The City has engaged a traffic engineering firm to conduct the required traffic study. At this
time, the traffic consultant is evaluating the data collected to identify any impacts and determine
if the closure is feasible. In the coming weeks, staff will be meeting internally with the City's Fire
and Police Departments to obtain input on the closure and present optional treatments for
closure. Subsequently, the City will host a public meeting with property owners and
tenants/residents of the 400 Block of Espanola Way to present its findings and
recommendations regarding the closure.
As stated above, as part of the closure process, Miami-Dade County Public Works and Waste
Management Department, the entity with jurisdiction over traffic flow modifications and street
closures throughout the County, must review and approve the traffic study, ballot results, and
recommended method of closure if the closure is found to be feasible.
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and the City Commission refer the matter to the
Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee for input and further direction.
~~RG'JFD
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