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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLTC 167-2026 - Jurisdictional Authority Over Traffic Control DevicesMIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER LTC# TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: LETTER TO CO MM ISSIO N Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the Eric Carpenter,City Manager ~'-"...,.vi:.,,, April 23,2026 Jurisdictional Authority Over Traffic Control Devices The purpose of this Letter to Commission (L TC)is to inform the Mayor and City Commission ("City Commission")regarding Miami-Dade County's and the Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT")authority over the installation and operation of traffic control devices.This L TC is provided to the City Commission pursuant to a discussion on item R9 T (Discuss/Take Action: Update From Police And Transportation Departments On Traffic Congestion In North Beach And Traffic Light Synchronization Efforts)during the April 22,2026 City Commission meeting. Pursuant to Section 1.01 of the Miami-Dade County ("County")Home Rule Charter,the Board of County Commissioners has the power to: 1.Provide and regulate arterial,toll,and other roads,bridges,tunnels,and related facilities;eliminate grade crossings;provide and regulate parking facilities;and develop and enforce master plans for the control of traffic and parking. [... ] 4.Provide central records,training,and communications for fire and police protection;provide traffic control and central crime investigation;provide fire stations,jails,and related facilities;and subject to Section 1.01A(18)provide a uniform system for fire and police protection. Section 1.01(A)(1)and (4),Miami-Dade County Charter. Under Article XIII of the County Code,the Department of Transportation and Public Works ("DTPW or "Department")maintains full and exclusive jurisdiction over traffic engineering functions throughout the County,including the planning,installation,operation,maintenance,and timing of all traffic control devices.Section 2-96.1 of the County Code (excerpted below for reference)further outlines the County's jurisdictional authority over traffic engineering functions and traffic control devices within the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the County. Sec.2-96.1.-Jurisdiction declared exclusive;tampering with control devices prohibited. From and after September 16,1960,all traffic engineering services shall be performed by the traffic and transportation department,and such department shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all traffic control devices in both the incorporated and 167-2026 unincorporated areas of the county,and shall have exclusive jurisdiction to exercise the powers,duties and functions set forth herein.All municipalities in Miami-Dade County are prohibited from exercising any such powers,duties and functions,and shall not interfere with the performance thereof by said county department;provided,however,that the County Manager or designee,in his/her sole discretion,may authorize municipalities, which desire and are equipped and able to perform certain traffic engineering functions,to assume,together with all liability and without additional cost to the County,through an individual Intergovernmental Agency Agreement,and for local municipal streets only,the installation and maintenance of regulatory and street name signs,warning signs, construction warning signs,markings and barricades,pavement markings,traffic maintenance and traffic calming devices,all as may be specifically provided in the Agreement and subject to performing appropriate traffic engineering studies if required by such Agreement.The Department shall,however,retain exclusive jurisdiction over the permanent closure of access to any road or street.It shall be unlawful for any person,firm, corporation,or other legal entity,including municipal corporations,to change,modify,install, remove,damage,deface or destroy any traffic control device,unless authorized to do so by the traffic and transportation department,or by an Intergovernmental Agency Agreement. In addition,the installation,operation,and maintenance of traffic control devices on roadways and rights-of-way within the State Highway System must be approved by the State of Florida Department of Transportation ("FDOT"). DTPW and FOOT require municipalities to conduct and submit signed and sealed traffic engineering studies and final design plans for review and approval prior to permitting the installation of any traffic control device on their respective rights-of-way and/or within their jurisdictional purview. Should you have any questions or concerns on the above,please do not hesitate to contact Transportation and Mobility Department Director Jose R.Gonzalez,P.E.,at iosegonzalez@miamibeachf]_gov.