R9P-Discuss- Emergency Vehicles-Residential Access To-From Venetian CSWY -Stein&MIAMIBTACH
OFFICE OF THE MAYOH AND COMMISSION
MEMORANDU"M
TO: Jimmy Morales, City Manager
FROM: MickySteinberg,Commissioner
DATE: July 11,2014
SUBJECT: Memo re Venetian Causeway
Please add to the July 23rd City Commission agenda a discussion of what can be done to
ensure continued access for emergency vehicles and residential access to/from the
Venetian Causeway via the East Bridge during construction on the West Bridge.
Thank you!
lf you have any questions please do not hesitate to call our office.
MtAMrffiffiSh*Ft
Comm issioner M icky Stei n berg
OFFICE OF MAYORAND COMMISSION
1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Tel : 305-673-7 1 03 I F ax: 305-673-7096 / www. miam ibeachfl.qov
We are committed to providinj excellent public siilice anA iafet4 to at wno tive, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic
community.
We are committed to providing excellent public seNice and salety to all who live, work, and play in our vibrant +-^^t^^t ^i-'^-:^
Agenda nem RQ P
Date ']-23-lY1155
# M}AMISHACH
City of Miomi Beoch, I700 Convention Center Drive, Miomi Beoch, Florido 33139, www.miomibeochfl.gov
COMM]SSION MEMORANDUM
Mayor Philip Levine and Members the City
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
July 23,2014
DISCUSSION REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF THE WEST END
BRIDGE ON THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY.
This item has been requested by Commissioner Micky Steinberg for discussion at the July 23,
201 4 Commission Meeting.
BACKGROUND
The Venetian Causeway is under the jurisdiction of Miami-Dade County. There are a total of
twelve bridges along the Venetian Causeway. Ten of the bridges are fixed span and two (2) are
movable/bascule bridges. The bascule bridges are located at the west and east ends of the
Causeway respectively. As a result of recent structural inspections, Miami-Dade County has
imposed an 11-ton weight restriction along the entire length of the Venetian Causeway with the
exception of the west end bridge which has a weight limit of five (5) tons.
ln anticipation of emergency repairs to be undertaken by Miami-Dade County to the west end
bridge on the Venetian Causeway, City staff has met with Miami-Dade County and FDOT. The
purpose of the meetings has been two-fold: to obtain an understanding of the anticipated scope
of work and schedule of the emergency work and to request that the County maintain access
and connectivity to the Venetian Causeway for pedestrians and bicyclists during the duration of
the emergency work on the west-end bridge.
At the meetings, City staff was informed that the emergency project consists of replacing
approximately 730 feet of an existing portion of the west end bridge, in particular the section
between the west bascule bridge and the mainland. As indicated by County staff, due to its poor
structural condition, this portion of the bridge cannot be repaired and must be replaced. To
expedite the work, the County will bid the project as a design-build contract with a total cost of
$10.1 million. The County anticipates retaining a contractor in October 2014 and closing the
west-end of the Venetian Causeway to all traffic by November 2014. The work is anticipated to
take six (6) to nine (9) months to complete.
lnitially, the County had suggested that all Venetian Causeway users should consider using the
MacArthur Causeway and Julia Tuttle Causeway as alternate routes; however, it was
determined that those options are not the most suitable for workers, including pedestrians and
bicyclists, that use the Venetian Causeway as a commuter route to travel to and from Miami
Beach. !n addition, the MacArthur Causeway presents some safety concerns for bicyclists due
to the lack of bicycle facilities on the two (2) bridges along the Causeway. City staff has
requested that FDOT review the existing bicycle facilities on the MacArthur Causeway and
make appropriate improvements if it is to serve as an alternate route for the duration of the
emergency work on the west-end bridge of the Venetian Causeway.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
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Commission Memorandum - Discussion Regarding the West End Bridge of the Venetian Causeway
July 23, 2014
Page 2 of 2
City staff has requested that the County consider including, as part of the contractor's scope of
work for the west-end bridge replacement, a provision to require connectivity for pedestrians
and bicyclists traveling on the Venetian Causeway. The County has indicated that it will
consider including that provision as part of the design-build contract and that it will be evaluating
options to maintain connectivity for pedestrian and bicyclists during the emergency work on the
west-end bridge.
Additionally, in response to a request from the Venetian community for a "lock-down" of the
easternmost bridge, the County has advised that it will be reaching out to the Coast Guard with
the intent of establishing a restricted activity schedule for the opening of the easternmost
drawbridge during the anticipated 9-month construction timeframe of the west end bridge.
Since the causeway and its bridges are under County jurisdiction, the County is the lead on
these discussions with the Coast Guard.
Please note that due to the above mentioned weight limitations imposed on the easternmost
bridge of the Venetian Causeway, Miami-Dade Transit has temporarily terminated the South
Beach Local (SBL) service to Belle lsle and truncated the service at the Publix on 20h Street as
the SBL buses do not meet the weight criterion. ln an effort to mitigate the lack of mobility
options for residents of Belle lsle, the City has proposed to extend the Alton-West Trolley
service to Belle lsle and provide a connection to the SBL and the Alton-West Trolley. The
proposed service would consist of one vehicle (weight has been approved by Miami-Dade
County Public Works) operating from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM, 7 days per week. The trolley service
would be temporary until the SBL service to Belle lsle is reinstated by Miami-Dade Transit.
Limousines of South Florida, the City's current trolley operator, has requested a modification to
its existing certificate of transportation approved by the County for the Alton-West Trolley
service. This approval is expected to occur at the next Board of County Commission meeting
scheduled for July 17, 2014. However, at the same time, weight limit restrictions on the
Venetian Causeway bridges have been recently re-evaluated by FDOT and, based on this most
recent structural analysis, there is a possibility that the County may relieve the current weight
restriction on the east-end bridge, thus allowing the SBL service to be reinstated, at which time
the City would terminate trolley service to Belle lsle.
fu,*r.
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