R9C-Update On The Audible Pedestrian Signal ProgramE MIAMIBEACH
City of Miomi Beoch, I700 Conveniion Cenler Drive, Miqmi Beoch, Floridq 33139, www.miomibeochfl.gov
COMMISS N MEMORANDUM
TO:Mayor Philip Levlne and Members the City mtsston
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 30, 2014
SUBIECT: UPDATE ON THE AUDIBLE TRIAN SIGNAL PROGMM
BACKGROUND
ln 2009, the City coordinated with the Disability Access Committee (DAC) and Miami Dade
County Public Works Department's Traffic Signals and Signs Division (County) for the locations
and installation of nine (9) Audible Pedestrian Signals (APS) in South Beach.
Following the City's installations ot APS signals, staff and the DAC have taken a proactive step
in reviewing upcoming projects by State and County agencies to ensure that APS signals are
included along corridors with high pedestrian activity. As a result, recently completed Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) projects have added 14 APS signals along Collins
Avenue (between Lincoln Road and 26th Street) and 41"t Street (between Alton Road and
Collins Avenue). Current FDOT construction projects, Alton Road from Sth Street to Michigan
Avenue (expected completion in December 2014) and Collins Avenue from Sth Street to
Lincoln Road (expected completion in August 2014), will be adding a total of 14 additional APS
signals to the pedestrian network.
The APS Program is not based on installation at pre-selected locations but rather based upon
requests. On local roads, the City has worked with the DAC to install APS signals at locations
requested by the committee. Since the system's maintenance falls solely under the jurisdiction
of the County, APS signals are only approved when they are requested by a visually impaired
person or group. To supplement the APS signal installation effort on State projects, the City has
engaged an engineering design consultant to complete plans for six (6) additional APS signals
to be installed on local roadways as requested by the DAC. The design is currently at g0
percent and under review by the County. Once approval is granted by the County, the City will
engage a contractor for the installation of the APS signals.
ANALYSIS
There are currently 240 signalized intersections in the City of Miami Beach. Once the FDOT and
City projects are completed and the aforementioned APS signals have been installed,
approximately 195 intersections would need APS signal installation to have citywide coverage.
At this point, the installation of APS signals for all the intersections in Miami Beach may not be
appropriate due to capital costs, index of usage, noise pollution, and maintenance costs. The
current cost of APS signal installation for a typical intersection is approximately $13,000. To
pursue a citywide installation of APS signals, the City would need approximately 2.5 million
dollars to cover capital costs. Given the current maintenance staff constraints the County
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Commission Memorandum
Update on the Audible Pedestrian Signal Program
April 30,2014 Page 2 of 2
endures, the City would need to assist with the majority of the maintenance of the APS signals.
Preliminary maintenance figures submitted by the County indicate that each APS signal
maintenance visit incurs an average cost of one-thousand dollars ($1OOO1 in staff hours and
equipment. Another aspect to keep in mind when pursuing citywide installation is that the
current County approved product requires regular use. When the existing APS signals are not
used regularly, the system goes dormant and the county has to send a technician to reprogram
the audible feature. As part of the current APS Signal lnspection Program implemented by the
City, described herein, staff will determine the exact maintenance requirements for the system,
particularly in Miami Beach's environment.
ln the City's experience, and as corroborated by the County and its manufacturer, APS signals
are best suited for high pedestrian traffic areas where the added noise pollution would not
present a problem for adjacent residents. Various APS signals in the City of Miami Beach have
been subject of vandalism due to their negative effect in the quality of life of those residents
adjacent to them, particularly at night.
APS Siqnal lnspection Proqram
Upon receiving a request for a malfunctioning APS signal, staff immediately forwards the
request to County engineers for repair. County engineers have to physically visit the intersection
because the current APS signal infrastructure does not remotely communicate with the County's
Traffic Control Center. To ensure that APS signals are being regularly maintained by the
County, staff has developed an inspection program in coordination with the DAC. The program
will include the inspection of all APS signals on a quarterly basis, the immediate notification of
the malfunctioning signal to the County, advising DAC members of the signal malfunction, and
timeline for repair(s).
CONCLUS!ON
Staff will work with the DAC to determine additional intersections where APS signals may be
warranted and submit as part of the FY2014l15 proposed budget request. The City and the
DAC will also work together prior to the submittal for approval to the County in drafting a letter of
reqyest, describing the need for the new locations.er
KgB/JRG/JFD
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