C7GG-Relocate Pedestrian Signal At Garden Avenue And Extend School Zone On 41stCOMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
A Resolution Of The Mayor And City Commission Of The City Of Miami Beach, Florida, Directing the City
Administration To Pursue The Relocation Of The Pedestrian Signal At Garden Avenue And The
Extension Of The School Zone On 41st Street With The Florida Department Of Transportation To Improve
The Safety Of Nautilus Middle School Students And Pedestrians Crossing 41st Street.
Key Intended Outcome Supported:
Enhance mobility throughout the city.
Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.): On a recent survey, 31% of the residents and 43% of
businesses rated the traffic flow as excellent or good.
Item Summary/Recommendation:
Pursuant to motions passed by the Committee for Quality Education (QEC) in 2012 regarding concerns
with the safety of students from Nautilus Middle School crossing 41st Street, City staff requested that the
Florida Department of Transportation (FOOT) conduct a traffic signal warrant analysis study to evaluate a
new pedestrian signal and crosswalk at Jefferson Avenue as well as the relocation of the existing signal
at Garden Avenue to Jefferson Avenue. Both scenarios were found to be unwarranted due to geometric
constraints at 41st Street and Jefferson Avenue. Of particular concern to FOOT is the proximity of the
existing signal at Meridian Avenue to Jefferson Avenue and the existing horizontal curve at Meridian
Avenue which limits visibility for motorists traveling westbound and affects stopping-sight distance and,
thus, reaction time for motorists to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. In addition, the data collected
by FOOT concluded that the existing volume of pedestrians and crashes occurring at Jefferson Avenue
and 41st Street over a three-year period did not meet minimum thresholds established by the Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
The FOOT study encouraged the use of crossing guards or Police to assist students crossing at
Jefferson Avenue. The study further recommended that an educational campaign be deployed to instruct
children on safe crossing techniques and to encourage students to cross at the signalized intersection at
Garden Avenue.
In an effort to address the Committee's outstanding concerns, in 2013, FOOT conducted a
comprehensive corridor safety study to evaluate the safety of pedestrians and motorists along the 41st
Street corridor from Alton Road to west of Pine Tree Drive. The study evaluated each intersection along
the corridor and the intersection of 41 51 Street and Jefferson Avenue in particular and evaluated all types
of crashes along the corridor from 2008 -2010. The FOOT study recommended installation of a raised
median with a pedestrian scale fence and landscaping along 41st Street. The City's and County's Public
Works Department have reviewed the study and share a mutual concern regarding the limited
effectiveness of a raised median in front of Nautilus Middle School. While the raised median with a
pedestrian scale fence may deter some students from jaywalking, others may navigate around the fence
and use the narrow concrete separators at the ends of the median to find refuge and jaywalk across 41st
Street to reach the Burger King. The FOOT safety study did not evaluate an expansion of the existing
North Beach Elementary school zone on 41st Street to include Nautilus Middle School.
Currently, City Police resources have been assigned to assist with directing Nautilus Middle School
students to cross at Garden Avenue and at Meridian Avenue. In addition, a City-funded school patrol
liaison and a Miami-Dade County School Board police officer provide assistance during morning drop-off
hours. The use of resources on a sporadic basis is intended to be a short term measure as it presents a
burden on available City Police resources. As a long term and more sustainable safety measure, the City
has requested that FOOT evaluate the possibility of extending the existing school zone for North Beach
Elementary to include Nautilus Middle School and re-evaluate the potential relocation of the pedestrian
signal at Garden Avenue to a mid-block location between Jefferson Avenue and Garden Avenue. Initial
responses from the FOOT in this regard have not been favorable. Further, City staff is working in
partnership with Miami-Dade County School Board to develop a viable and sustainable solution to
enhance the safety of Nautilus Middle School students and our youth throughout our community.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVING THE RESOLUTION
This item was discussed by the members of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC) on
September 30, 2013, and referred to City Commission in October for prompt action.
Financial Information·
Source of Amount
Funds: 1
OBPI Total
City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking:
Jose R. Gonzalez, Ext. 6768
irector Assistant Ci
MIAMI BEACH 478
Account Approved
C7 6-6--
oATE /0{6 -/3
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachR.gov
COMMISSION EMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Me
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: October 16, 2013
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR NO CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO PURSUE THE
RELOCATION OF THE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL AT GARDEN AVENUE AND THE
EXTENSION OF THE SCHOOL ZONE ON 41sT STREET WITH THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF NAUTILUS
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PEDESTRIANS CROSSING 41sT STREET.
The following item was discussed by the members of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs
Committee (NCAC) on September 30, 2013, and referred to City Commission in October for action.
BACKGROUND
Pursuant to motions passed by the Committee for Quality Education (QEC) in 2012 regarding
concerns with the safety of students from Nautilus Middle School crossing 41st Street, City staff
requested that the Florida Department of Transportation (FOOT) conduct a traffic signal warrant
analysis study to evaluate a new pedestrian signal and crosswalk at Jefferson Avenue as well as the
relocation of the existing signal at Garden Avenue to Jefferson Avenue. Both scenarios were found
to be unwarranted due to geometric constraints at 41st Street and Jefferson Avenue. Of particular
concern to FDOT is the proximity of the existing signal at Meridian Avenue to Jefferson Avenue and
the existing horizontal curve at Meridian Avenue which limits visibility for motorists traveling
westbound and affects stopping-sight distance and, thus, reaction time for motorists to stop for
pedestrians in the crosswalk. In addition, the data collected by FDOT concluded that the existing
volume of pedestrians and crashes occurring at Jefferson Avenue and 41st Street over a three-year
period did not meet minimum thresholds established by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices (MUTCD). FOOT District Six Traffic Operations Safety Office shared the traffic analysis
with FOOT Central Office in Tallahassee for consideration and Central Office agreed with the
District's study findings and recommendations
The FOOT study encouraged the use of crossing guards or Police to assist students crossing at
Jefferson Avenue. The study further recommended that an educational campaign be deployed to
instruct children on safe crossing techniques and to encourage students to cross at the signalized
intersection at Garden Avenue.
In an effort to address the Committee's outstanding concerns, in 2013, FDOT conducted a
comprehensive corridor safety study to evaluate the safety of pedestrians and motorists along the
41st Street corridor from Alton Road to west of Pine Tree Drive. The study evaluated each
479
Commission Memorandum-FOOT 41st Street Pedestrian Safety Study and Nautilus Middle School Crossing
(Barrier with Foliage)
October 16, 2013
Page 2 of3
intersection along the corridor and the intersection of 41st Street and Jefferson Avenue in particular.
The study evaluated all types of crashes along the corridor from 2008-2010. The study, however,
did not evaluate an expansion of the existing North Beach Elementary school zone on 41st Street to
include Nautilus Middle School.
Currently, City Police resources have been assigned to assist with directing Nautilus Middle School
students to cross at Garden Avenue and at Meridian Avenue. In addition, a City-funded school
patrol liaison and a Miami-Dade County School Board police officer provide assistance during
morning drop-off hours. The use of resources on a sporadic basis is intended to be a short term
measure as it presents a burden on available City Police resources.
As a long term and more sustainable safety measure, the City has requested that FDOT evaluate
the possibility of extending the existing school zone for North Beach Elementary to include Nautilus
Middle School and is awaiting a response from the FOOT in this regard. Further, City staff is
working in partnership with Miami-Dade County School Board to develop a viable and sustainable
solution to enhance the safety of Nautilus Middle School students and our youth throughout our
community.
ANALYSIS
The FOOT pedestrian safety study recommended the following safety improvements to discourage
pedestrians from crossing mid-block at unsignalized locations along 41st Street. See Attachment.
• Installation of a raised median with a pedestrian-scale fence and landscape features along
the corridor
• Installation of French barricades along the sidewalk or between the south sidewalk and the
curb (in front of the Burger King}.
• Providing high density landscape along 41st Street between Garden Avenue and east of
Jefferson Avenue between the sidewalk and back of curb to physically restrict mid-block
crossings.
• Installation of signs directing pedestrians to use crosswalks.
• Trimming landscaping on the south side of the roadway for better visibility exiting driveways.
• Installation of 'Do Not Enter' signs facing southbound on Jefferson Avenue.
• Improvement of street name signs
The draft FOOT pedestrian safety study has been reviewed by the Miami Beach Police, Fire, and
Public Works Departments as well as Miami-Dade County Public Works and Waste Management
Department. Due to the frequent need of emergency vehicles to use 41st Street to access Mount
Sinai Hospital, the City's Fire Department does not support a raised median along the entire stretch
of 41st Street; however, Fire Department would support a raised median with a pedestrian scale
fence and landscaping only at Jefferson Avenue in order to serve as a physical deterrent to student
crossing 41st Street illegally at that location.
The City's and County's Public Works Departments have a mutual concern regarding the limited
effectiveness of the proposed raised median. While the pedestrian-scale fence in the median may
deter some students from crossing at mid-block locations, other students who may choose to cross
illegally may be exposed to greater risk by attempting to navigate around the fence to find refuge at
the unobstructed ends of the median where only a raised concrete traffic separator would exist.
480
Commission Memorandum-FDOT 41 51 Street Pedestrian Safety Study and Nautilus Middle School Crossing
(Barrier with Foliage)
October 16, 2013
Page 3 of3
NCAC DISCUSSION
This item was discussed at the NCAC meeting on September 30, 2013. At the meeting, with
Commissioners Tobin, Libbin, and Exposito present, Commissioner Tobin made a motion to have
Administration move quickly and return to Commission in October with a solution that would improve
the safety of Nautilus Middle School students crossing 41st Street.
NEXT STEPS
Pursuant to the recommendation of the NCAC, City staff contacted FDOT again and requested that
it formally revisit the possibility of 1) extending the school zone along 41st Street to include Nautilus
Middle School; and 2) relocating the pedestrian signal at Garden Avenue to a mid-block location
between Jefferson Avenue/Burger King and Garden Avenue (rather than at Jefferson Avenue as
previously evaluated). This alternate location may help address some of the challenges identified in
the previous FDOT traffic study, in particular, the proximity of a signal at Jefferson Avenue to
Meridian Avenue and the placement of a crosswalk at the Burger King drive-through exit directly
across Jefferson Avenue.
The initial informal response received from FOOT on the City's above two requests were not
favorable; however, the Administration is working with FOOT to obtain a formal response on the
potential relocation of the pedestrian signal at Garden Avenue to a mid-block location between
Jefferson Avenue and Garden Avenue and the extension of the school zone on 41st Street to include
Nautilus Middle School.
CONCLUSION
It is important to note that one of the most significant factors in jaywalking is pedestrian
behavior. Since the City and County Public Works Departments believe that FOOT's
recommendation of a raised median and pedestrian scale fence in front of Nautilus Middle
School would have limited effectiveness in deterring jaywalking, the City has requested that
FOOT revisit the pedestrian signal relocation and school zone extension as potential safety
measures and provide a formal response. If these safety measures are rejected by FOOT,
all plausible engineering solutions will have been exhausted, and, at that point, the City
should consider active enforcement as a means to ensure the safety of Nautilus Middle
School students crossing 41st Street.
rt achment:
Proposed Conditions Diagram-Arthur Godfrey Road from Alton Road to Meridian Avenue
B/~~
T:\AGENDA\2013\0ctober 16\FDOT 41st Street Pedestrian Safety Study and Nautilus Middle School Crossing (Barrier with Foliage).doc
481
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