99-23329 RESO
RESOLUTION NO. 99-23329
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EXPERIMENTAL ELECTROWAVE
ENHANCED ROUTE SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDES THE EXISTING
ROUTE PLUS THE ENHANCED PORTION WHICH WILL SERVE THE
AREA BOUNDED BY COLLINS AVENUE, FROM 16TH STREET TO 23RD
STREET; THE CULTURAL CAMPUS; THE GARDEN CENTER; THE
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL; AND THE CONVENTION CENTER;
APPROVING AND ADOPTING A PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 1999-2000
OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE ELECTROW A VE SHUTTLE PROJECT,
IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,930,000; AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION
OF A FUNDING PACKET WHICH INCLUDES $450,000 IN MIAMI BEACH
RESORT TAX FUNDS; $400,000 IN FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) FUNDS; $200,000 IN DEVELOPER
MITIGATION FUNDS; $300,000 IN CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR
QUALITY FUNDS; $250,000 IN PROJECTED FARE COLLECTION
REVENUES; $35,000 IN PROJECTED ADVERTISING REVENUES; AND
APPROXIMATELY $295,000 IN FY 1998-99 ELECTROW A VE BUDGET
(FDOT) CARRY-OVER FUNDS; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION
TO SEEK MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S PERMISSION TO OPERATE THIS
ENHANCED ROUTE AS A PERMANENT SERVICE; AND, FURTHER
GIVING THE ADMINISTRATION APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS TO
DEVELOP AND RECOMMEND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
RECURRING SOURCES OF LOCAL FUNDS THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR
THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE ELECTROW A VE OPERATING BUDGET.
WHEREAS, the Electrowave Shuttle Service has been in operation since January 1998,
and has carried over 2.2 million riders in 29 weeks of service; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to provide an "enhanced" route service to South Beach, which
will add the area bounded by Collins Avenue, from 16th Street to 23rd Street; the Cultural Campus;
the Garden Center; the Holocaust Memorial; and the Convention Center; to the existing route; and
WHEREAS, the existing route service will continue as such until the four additional shuttle
vehicles are ready for operation, sometime in November or December 1999; and
WHEREAS, the Fiscal Year 1999-2000 Electrowave Operating Budget provides for the
establishment of this enhanced route, which will operate 11 vehicles; 9 in route service and 2 in
rotation service, for a total operating cost not to exceed $1.93 million; and
WHEREAS, the City is being asked to contribute $450,000 in Resort Tax Fund, or 23.3 %
of the $1.93 million Electrowave Operating Budget; and
WHEREAS, the additional 76.7% in funds will come from new contributions: $400,000 in
Florida Department of Transportation funds; $300,000 in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality
funds; $200,000 in developer mitigation funds; $250,000 in projected fare collection revenues;
$35,000 in projected on-board advertising revenues; and approximately $295,000 in FY 1998-99
Electrowave budget carry-over funds; and
WHEREAS, such enhanced route service requires official approval by Miami-Dade County,
prior to being implemented as a permanent service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOL VED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby authorize the implementation of an experimental Electrowave enhanced route
service, which includes the existing route plus the enhanced portion which will serve the area
bounded by Collins Avenue, from 16th Street to 23rd Street; the Cultural Campus; the Garden
Center; the Holocaust Memorial; and the Convention Center; approve and adopt a proposed Fiscal
Year 1999-2000 Operating Budget for the Electrowave shuttle service, in the amount of
$1,930,000; authorize the appropriation of a funding packet which includes $450,000 in Miami
Beach Resort Tax funds; $400,000 in Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) funds;
$200,000 in developer mitigation funds; $300,000 in Federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality
funds; $250,000 in projected fare collection revenues; $35,000 in projected advertising revenues;
and approximately $295,000 in Fiscal Year 1998-99 Electrowave Budget carry-over funds;
authorize the Administration to seek Miami-Dade County's permission to operate this enhanced route
as a permanent service; and, further give the Administration approximately nine months to develop
and recommend the implementation of recurring sources of local funds that will provide for the
future needs of the Electrowave Operating Budget.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 22nd day of September
, 1999.
MAYOR
~~
ATTEST:
\LObd' PclA~
CITY CLERK
aJ
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
111 clJ;t.0! '
~-
EXH IB/r A
interoffice
MEMORANDUM
subject:
date:
Amelia Johnson, Transportation Coordinat r
City of Miami Beach
Judy I. Evans, Executive Director
Miami Beach Transportation Mana ent Association
Contract Manager for ELECTRO It VE Project
ELECTROWA VB - Passenger Profile Survey
August 3 1, 1999
to:
from:
Attached is a copy of the '<Passenger Survey" conducted March, 1999. The survey was
conducted by a group of local volunteers who surveyed passengers over a number of days, at
various times of the day and evening. The 109 passengers were surveyed during their commute.
(It is important to note that over 50% of the residents surveyed who owned a private vehicle were)
utilizing the shuttle for their commute instead of their own vehicle.. In addition, the majority of J(
those surveyed were between the ages of36-55 with the second largest group between 22-35. It
is also interesting to note that over 30 respondents were using the shuttle for work and/or
business.
This was only a small scale survey due to funding constraints. However, the MBTMA is
presently working with a professional researcher to develop and conduct an extensive survey. We
anticipate the project to take several months, and we will submit the survey results upon the
project's completion.
Thank you.
383
Survey#
ELECTROWA VE Ridership Survey
Total Survey Respondents = 109
(please read question exactlv as printed and circle appropriate response)
1. Is this your first time on the ELECTROWA VE Yes 47 No 62
shuttle? I,'
a. How may times do you ride it each week? Total=258/ Avg.=41
2. Are you a resident of Miami Beach? Yes 63 No 33
a. Where are you visiting from? Total = 152
b. How did you learn about the shuttle? Brochure 10
Concierge 16
Hotel employee 7
. Word or t'RQuth 42
Signage 9
. Ottler 12
3. As a resident of Miami Beach do you rent or own a Yes 54 No 9
vehicle? (out of 63 residents)
a. If yes, did you use the ELECTROWA VE Yes 52 No 0
shuttle instead of driving today?
4. What is your purpose for using the shuttle today? Shopping 10
Business 9
School 2
Work 21
Visiting Area 19
Eating 14
Entertainment 25
Other 4
5. Do you find the shuttle a convenient way to travel in Yes 99 No 0
this area?
I Avg = 258 (total number of rides per week).;. 62 (total number of respondents who are not first
time ELECTROWAVE riders) = 4.16
215 Respondents from: Tennessee(2); New York City(4); Orlando(1); IlIinois(1); Detroit(1);
Montreal(1); Key West(1); Tampa(1); Chicago(1); South Florida(2)
384
6. Would you like the ELECTROWA VE shuttle to 4151 Street 29
connect to another shuttle route that goes to: Collins Ave. South 33
Collins Ave. North 30
Alton Rd./West Ave. 24
Other 7
a. Would you be willing to transfer to another Yes 68 NoO
ELECTROWA VE shuttle to connect to that
route?
7. Do you find the ride on the shuttle pleasant and the Yes 96 NoD
drivers friendly and helpful?
8. If you work on South Beach, would you use an Yes 85 NoO
inexpensive Park & Ride (park in lot or garage and
take ELECTROWA VE shuttle to destination)? NJA 15
Passenger Age Range: (10-21) 2 (22-35) 21
(36-55) 57 (55+) 13
"THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS SURVEY AND FOR USING
Il:IE ELECTROWA VE ELECTRIC SHUTILE SYSTEM!!"
Surveyor Initials:
February/March 1999
385
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PROPOSED EXTENSION ELECTROWAVE
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386
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
, http:\\cLmiaml-beach.fl.us
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. ~tj
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City 0 ission
DATE: September 22, 1999
Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
I;
A RESOL N OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EXPERIMENTAL ELECTROWAVE
ENHANCED ROUTE SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDES THE EXISTING
ROUTE PLUS THE ENHANCED PORTION WHICH WILL SERVE THE
AREA BOUNDED BY COLLINS AVENUE, FROM 16TH STREET TO 23RD
STREET; THE CULTURAL CAMPUS; THE GARDEN CENTER; THE
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL, AND TlIE CONVENTION CENTER;
APPROVING AND ADOPTING A PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 1999-2000
OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE ELECTROW AVE SHUTTLE PROJECT,
IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,930,000; AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION
OF A FUNDING PACKET WHICH INCLUDES $450,000 IN MIAMI BEACH
RESORT TAX FUNDS; $400,000 IN FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) FUNDS; $200,000 IN DEVELOPER
MITIGATION FUNDS; $300,000 IN CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR
QUALITY FUNDS; $250,000 IN PROJECTED FARE COLLECTION
REVENUES; $35,000 IN PROJECTED ADVERTISING REVENUES; AND
APPROXIMATELY $295,000 IN FY 1998-99 ELECTROW A VE BUDGET
(FDOT) CARRY-OVER FUNDS; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION
TO SEEK MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S PERMISSION TO OPERATE THIS
ENHANCED ROUTE AS A PERMANENT SERVICE; AND, FURTHER
DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO DEVELOP, WITHIN THE NEXT
NINE MONTHS, A FUNDING STRATEGY THAT WILL BE BASED ON
RECURRING SOURCES OF FUNDS THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR THE
FUTURE NEEDS OF THE ELECTROW AVE OPERATING BUDGET.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution.
BACKGROUND
The Electrowave Circulator Shuttle Service has been in operation for 20 months and has become an
unquestionable Miami Beach success story. A "cursory" survey of shuttle riders was recently
conducted by the Miami Beach Transportation Management Association (MBTMA). The survey
Agenda Item R l L
Date q -~:l-~
376
indicates that South Beach residents, employees, and students are the predominant users of the
service during summer months and daylight hours, while tourist and visitor ridership is predominant
in the winter season, particularly during evening and night hours. The survey is herein attached as
Exhibit A. A fully functional and effective local circulator is essential to urban communities such
as Miami Beach, for the following reasons:
o It allows the City to meet concurrency requirements.
o It helps reduce traffic impacts on the City's limited roadway network which, in places, is
already at capacity or beyond capacity.
o It allows for continued economic viability and quality redevelopment.
o It is an essential.component of a comprehensive parking and transportation system.
As previously stated, the service provided by the Electrowave is highly beneficial to South Beach
as a community and Miami Beach as a whole, as evidenced by the following facts:
o The seven 22-passenger buses have carried over 2.25 million passengers to date, or an
average of 30,000 per week during the tourist season and 24,000 in the off-season. The
service is intensively used by residents, shoppers, students, visitors, and tourists.
o The cities of North Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale
and Tampa, are implementing local circulator services, pursuant to the success of Miami
Beach's bold experiment.
o The Electrowave Shuttle Project and the City of Miami Beach have been chosen as the
winner ofa 1999 Way to Go! Award by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This
most prestigious award is given to cities and organizations that "have undertaken the risks
of innovation and have enhanced their communities and the environment through
transportation improvements." The award will be given at an EPA conference scheduled for
September 17, 1999, in Dallas, Texas.
o The Electrowave also received the very first "DOT Administrator's Award" in the State of
Florida for being the most successful transit project in the State. FDOT is and intends to
remain a major supporter and funding partner for our shuttle service, as long as it continues
to succeed and meet its goals and objectives.
o EVENT NEWS NETWORK, from New York, has just announced its intention to rent space
on the Electrowave vehicles for placement of television monitors, which, during the Miami
Beach Boat Show, will air information regarding the Show and its multiple events, through
a continued broadcast to be hosted by a CBS News anchor person.
ANALYSIS
The following items are herein submitted for City Commission consideration and action:
1. Authorization to implement an Enhanced Route Service in South Beach, which will
combine the existing 17th-Street-to-South-Pointe route with a new segment to serve the area
encompassed by Collins Avenue (16th-23rd Streets), the Cultural Campus, the Convention Center,
377
the Garden Center, the Holocaust Memorial, and the Regal Cinema/Lincoln Road. The proposed
Enhanced Route is herein attached as Exhibit B. The Enhanced Service will also charge a 25-cent
fare per boarding.
Four (4) additional shuttle vehicles will soon be purchased, utilizing FTA Section 3 funds. After
the new vehicles arrive and are properly outfitted, the Enhanced route will operate as an
"experimental service," estimated to commence November, 1999.
2. Approval and appropriation of the proposed funding packet and FY 1999-2000
Electrowave Operating, Budget, in the amount of$1.93 million, as follows:
The proposed funding sources for the FY 1999-2000 Electrowave Operating Budget are as follows:
FY 1999-2000 City Resort Tax contribution
New FDOT/1999-2000 TIP contribution
An additional FDOT contribution in the amount of...
Developer Mitigation Funds .......................................
Federal Congestion Mitigation! Air Quality Funds
Projected Fare Collection Revenues
Projected on-board advertising revenues
Estimated Project carry-over funds (FDOT)
Proposed FY 1999-2000 funding total:
$ 450,000 (23.3% ofthe total budget)
200,000
200,000 (50% funds )
200,000 (matched at 50%)
300,000 (Enhanced Route only)
250,000
35,000
295,000
$1,930,000
A comparison between the present and proposed operating budgets is herein provided:
Expenditure Categories
Existing Route
FY 1998-99 FY 1998-99
Budget Projections
7 vehicles 7 vehicles
Enhanced Rte.
FY 1999-2000
Proposed Budget
11 vehicles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red Top Contract
Fleet Maintenance Charges
Uniforms for Shuttle Drivers
Miscellaneous Operating Expenses
Electricity to Charge Batteries
One Cell Phone
Project Administration Contract (MBTMA)
Information Services (Marketing)
Communication (radios for shuttle vehicles)
Fare Collection Expenses
Additional/Replacement Batteries (capital)
Insurance
Contingency
FY Budget Totals:
$ 774,000
478,000
6,000
35,569
50,000
200
95,700
80,000
22,000
-0-
-0-
63,000
7.000
$1,611,469
378
$ 756,000
320,000
3,500
10,966
30,000
200
95,700
10,000
22,000
5,000
-0-
63,000
-0-
$1,316,366
$ 903,296
600,000
7,000
30,000
50,000
200
99,250
50,000
30,000
40,000
21,000
87,000
12,254
$1,930,000
3. Authorization to seek Miami-Dade County's permission to operate the Enhanced Route
as a permanent service, pending continued funding. County authorization is required by County
Code.
4. Directing the Administration to develop and recommend the implementation of
recurring sources of local funds that will provide for the future needs of the Electrowave
Operating Budget. The City and the Miami Beach Transportation Management Association
(MBTMA) are striving to create other local sources of funding, which are recurring in nature, to
meet the operating needs of a 21 st Century Electrowave service. This will be done within the next
nine months.
The Administration's ultimate goal is to reduce substantially the shuttles' dependency on Resort Tax
funds, as well as on one-time cash funding or grants. Following are potential sources of recurring
funds which are presently being explored by the City and MBTMA:
o The Electrowave's annual pro-rata share of the National Transit Data Fund, which will be
available to the City on an annual basis, subsequent to January 20, 2000, when the
Electrowave Service becomes two-years old. The amount ofthis annual bonus for creating
additional transit ridership in Miami-Dade County has yet to be determined by MDTA, but
could reach $200,000 a year. This amount would increase proportionately to the Electrowave
ridership numbers.
o Additional farebox revenues to be collected by the Enhanced Route. Due to the number of
hotel rooms being added to the Collins Avenue corridor, from 16th Street to 23rd Street, plus
the addition of the Cultural Campus, Convention Center, Garden Center, and Holocaust
Memorial customers, fare collection proceeds could substantially increase, particularly
during the tourist season, due to conventions and other events being held in and around the
area.
o Increased revenues from on-board advertising. Two firms are presently advertising on the
back window of the shuttle vehicles, and are our first customers: Sbarro and Regal Cinema.
Funds collected to date for a 3-month advertising period amount to $5,400.
Recurring funds would also be generated by major initiatives which would require City Commission
approval, such as:
o The implementation of a surcharge on parking could generate substantial annual revenues
to help fund Electrowave operations. The surcharge implementation process would take 10
to 12 months, after approval by all parties involved.
o Implementation of benefit assessment districts in connection with the creation of
Transportation Concurrency Management Areas (TCMA), or "urban transit villages."
TCMAs are recommended by the Municipal Mobility Plan and their implementation
requires an amendment to the Miami Beach Comprehensive Plan, which would take
approximately one year to become effective.
379
<> Increased revenues from developer mitigation plans, particularly after TCMAs are created
in Miami Beach. An interest-bearing endowment account for Electrowave and TCMA
purposes should be created to capture fund allocations from local sources, above and beyond
those funds being appropriated for FY 1999-2000 operations.
<> Elimination ofthe existing parking impact fee to impose, instead, a transit impact fee that
would serve both transit and park-and-ride purposes, also in connection with the creation of
TCMAs.
Status of transit fare collections. Since the 25-cent fare was implemented on July 1, 1999, the
City has collected approximately $35,000 in revenues. As previously predicted, the ridership has
decreased by 18% to 20% since then; however, national experience with transit fare implementation
indicates that ridership eventually returns to near the original levels a couple of months later. In
Miami Beach, we expect it to increase substantially during the tourist season. The recent reduction
in ridership is not noticeable at the W ashington Avenue corridor, where the shuttle vehicles continue
operating over capacity.
CONCLUSION
It is undeniable that public transit is essential if the City is to achieve the goals and meet the
challenges of a turn-of-the-Century Miami Beach. The Administration recognizes the merits of the
Electrowave service and is optimistic about the prospects for creating recurring sources of local
funds that would sustain the project in future years. The Administration recommends approval of
the Resolution which includes the following items:
<> Authorization to implement an experimental "Enhanced" Route service in South Beach
<> Appropriation of $1,930,000 for the FY 1999-2000 Electrowave Operating Budget
<> Authorization to seek Miami-Dade County's permission to implement the route
<> Direction to the Administration to develop a funding strategy that will be based on recurring
sources of funds for future Electrowave operating budgets.
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380