2000-24168 RESO
RESOLUTION NO. 2000-24168
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, STRONGLY OPPOSING THAT
CERTAIN PROJECT PROPOSED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) FOR MIAMI BEACH, INVOLVING THE
CREATION OF A LEFT-TURN LANE ON SOUTHBOUND PINE TREE
DRIVE TO FACILITATE EASTBOUND MOVEMENT ONTO 41ST
STREET; WHICH DEDICATED TURNING LANE IS NOT WARRANTED,
AND WOULD REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF ELEVEN STATELY PINE
TREES; SUCH TREES BEING OF HISTORICAL VALUE TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH; REQUESTING THAT FDOT STOP ALL PLANNING
EFFORTS REGARDING THE PROJECT; AND FURTHER INSTRUCTING
THE ADMINISTRATION TO EXPEDITE THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION
PROCESS FOR PINE TREE DRIVE.
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is planning a "safety project"
for the intersection of Pine Tree Drive and 41st Street, which proposes to add a left-turn lane on
southbound Pine Tree Drive for vehicular traffic making a left turn onto eastbound 41st Street (the
Project); and
WHEREAS, in addition, such Project would require the removal of eleven (11) of the
majestic and historic pine trees which line the median, and date back to the early years of Carl
Fisher's coconut plantation; and
WHEREAS, the City strongly opposes the Project which the Administration has deemed
unwarranted for the following reasons:
. The traffic study done by FDOT in 1998 preceded the installation of traffic calming
measures on the Pine Tree/La Gorce Drive couplet, which, apparently, has reduced
the volume of southbound traffic on Pine Tree Drive;
. The FDOT traffic study for the proposed left-turn movement did not include
pertinent accident data or reached conclusions that are compelling enough to warrant
the removal of truly historic pine trees;
. The Middle Beach community has never identified the need for a protected left-turn
movement, or expressed concerns regarding lack of safety at the intersection,
although there have been plenty of opportunities to do so, at various public
involvement meetings for local projects, including the Municipal Mobility Plan, the
41st Street Enhancement, and the on-going General Obligation Bond Program
projects;
. The number of vehicles wishing to make an eastbound left-turn movement is
negligible as compared to the predominant southbound and westbound movements;
. The existing median, which houses the trees, acts as a mid-point safe haven for
pedestrians waiting for the green light, when crossing Pine Tree Drive; asphalting-
over the median wouldn't necessarily provide a safer environment for pedestrians.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby oppose that certain project proposed by the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) for Miami Beach, involving the creation of a left-turn lane on southbound
Pine Tree Drive to facilitate eastbound movement onto 41 st Street; which dedicated turning lane is
not warranted, and would require the removal of eleven stately pine trees; such trees being of
historical value to the City of Miami Beach; request that FDOT stop all planning efforts regarding
the project; and further instruct the Administration to expedite the historic designation process for
Pine Tree Drive.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 8th day of
November
,2000.
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MAYOR
ATTEST:
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CI CLERK
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APPROVED AS 'lO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
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CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA 33139
CITY OF
MIAMI
BEACH
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
TELEPHONE: (305) 673-7010
FAX: (305) 673-7762
October 4,2000
Mr. Jose Abreu, Secretary
Florida Department of Transportation, District Six
1000 N.W. Illth Avenue
Miami, Florida 33172
SUBJECT: FDOT-Proposed project, Intersection ofSR 112/41st Street and Pine Tree Drive,
to add a southbound left-turn lane.
Dear Mr. Abreu:
On behalf of the City of Miami Beach, I'm dismayed at receiving a copy of the attached Fact
Sheet regarding a FDOT -proposed safety project for Pine Tree Drive, at its intersection with SR
112/ 41st Street. The City feels that the proposed improvements are not warranted, and, once
again, requests that the project be stopped for the reasons outlined by the City staff in a letter to
Mr. Carlos Francis of your Traffic Operations Department, dated July 19,2000, and herein
attached for your review.
Traffic data from the Miami Beach Municipal Mobility Plan (MMP), collected for the subject
intersection, indicates that the left-turn movement from the southbound approach along Pine Tree
Drive is not a critical peak demand movement. Therefore, the City does not agree to the
removal of eleven (11) of its 'historic' pine trees to provide for a turning movement that is not
warranted. Weare also confident that the affected neighborhood's reaction to this Fact Sheet
will be similar to ours.
If you require additional information regarding the City's position, please feel free to contact
either me at (305) 673-7010, or Joseph Johnson, Transportation and Concurrency Management
Director at (305) 673-7514. Your attention to our request is appreciated.
~.
Sincerely,
d~o ho~
Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
Attachm~
cc: Matthew Schwartz, Assistant City Manager
Joseph Johnson, Transportation and Concurrency Management Director
Michael Alvarez, Assistant Public Works Director
Carlos Francis, Traffic Operations Department, FDOT
-;,
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Florida Department of Transportation
JED BUSH
GOVERNOR
District Office
1000 NW III Avenue, Room 6207
Miami, Florida 33172-5800
Telephone (305) 470-5197
THOMAS F. BARRY, JR.
SECRETARY
October 20, 2000
Mr. Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager, City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
SUBJECT:
Section 87016/ SR 112/41 Street: Safety Project at Pine Tree Drive.
CTP 1999-02-0013
Dear Mr. Gonzalez:
Thank you for your letter dated October 4, 2000 expressing your dismay over this project. However, I must
remind you that this is a 'safety' project of which the main intent is reducing crashes, including those crashes
involving pedestrians.
Both our staff and the consultant that prepared the safety study reviewed the information provided by the City
out of the Municipal Mobility Plan (MMP). We could find no conflict between the MMP and our proposed
safety improvements.. The Department is sensitive to the issue of tree removal and strives to maintain a balance
between their removal and operational improvements. However, the safety of the public is most important
consideration in making our decision.
In summary, this project has been developed to address the safety problems at the intersection. Continued
growth and development in Miami Beach will worsen the situation and it IS our responsibility to provide a safe
transportation system. While I thank you for taking the time to provide us with your concern, I consider the
\ matter addressed and will continue forward with the project's development.
Once again. thank you for your continued cooperation. Ifwe can offer further assistance please feel free to
contact us a umber listed above.
/
~incer y,
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Jo:eAbr ,Po .
Di trict Secretary
cc:
Rory Santana, District Traffic Operations Engineer .
Carlos Francis, District Safety Engineer '.' .~ " :J ::\ G
File
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www.dot.state.fl.us
G) RECYCLED PAPER
BOUNDARIES
PUBLIC INFORMATION
Intersection of SR lIZ/41st Street at Pine Tree Drive,
Miami Beach
For more information. please contact Ms. Cristina Lombillo
at (305) 774-7110, or Me, Carlos Francis, The Florida
Department of Transportation at (305) 470-5335,
SCOPE OF WORK
. Add a southbound left-turn lane
. Removal of 11 trees in the median
. Pavement markings
. Ground-mounted "No Turn on Red" signs
~ THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT
~ OF TRANSPORTATION
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
. Door-to-door canvassing to provide information and
gather feedback
Safer is... Always Better! -
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CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.f1.us
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO.
SleD -00
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and DATE: November 8, 2000
Members oftbe City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez , ~
City Manager Q U
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, STRONGLY OPPOSING THAT
CERTAIN PROJECT PROPOSED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) FOR MIAMI BEACH, INVOLVING THE
CREATION OF A LEFT-TURN LANE ON SOUTHBOUND PINE TREE
DRIVE TO FACILITATE EASTBOUND MOVEMENT ONTO 41ST
STREET; WHICH DEDICATED TURNING LANE IS NOT WARRANTED,
AND WOULD REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF ELEVEN STATELY PINE
TREES; SUCH TREES BEING OF HISTORICAL VALUE TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH; REQUESTING THAT FDOT STOP ALL PLANNING
EFFORTS REGARDING THE PROJECT; AND FURTHER INSTRUCTING
THE ADMINISTRATION TO EXPEDITE THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION
PROCESS FOR PINE TREE DRIVE.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution,
ANALYSIS
Several months ago, the Administration was officially notified that the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDaT) is planning a "safety" project for the intersection of 41 st Street and Pine Tree
Drive, which will include the installation of a left-turn lane on southbound Pine Tree Drive for
vehicular traffic wishing to make a left turn onto eastbound 41 st Street, and provide safe crossing
for pedestrians. The installation of a left-turn lane will require the removal of eleven (11) pine trees
from the median of Pine Tree Drive, north of 41st Street.
Upon analyzing the FDaT proposal, the City concluded that the project is not warranted, for the
following reasons:
(; Accident data is essential to justif'y any credible safety-related project aimed at preventing
accidents and promoting safety, The FDaT traffic study done in 1998 for the proposed left-
turn movement, failed to request pertinent accident data collected for the intersection, which,
if available, would have been provided by our local Police Department.
AGENDA ITEM
R-l~
Il-g -OD
DATE
November 8, 2000
Commission Agenda
FDOT Project/Pine Tree Drive
Page 2
(; The traffic study done by FDOT, back in 1998, preceded the installation of traffic calming
measures on the Pine Tree/La Gorce Drive couplet, which, apparently, has reduced the
volume of southbound traffic on Pine Tree Drive.
(; In addition, the number of vehicles attempting to make an eastbound left-turn at the
intersection is negligible, as compared to the number of vehicles proceeding south on Pine
Tree Drive or making a westbound turn onto 41st Street.
(; The existing median, which houses the pine trees, presently acts as a mid-point safe haven
for pedestrians waiting for the green light, when crossing Pine Tree Drive. Asphalting-over
the median wouldn't necessarily provide a safer environment for pedestrians.
(; The execution of an eastbound left-turn at the intersection was never identified by the Middle
Beach community as being a problem or a safety hazard. The area residents and businesses
have had plenty of opportunities to do so during several community involvement workshops
held regarding the Municipal Mobility Plan, the 41st Street Enhancement Project, and other
area projects. Concerns about the lack of safety are raised when a hazardous condition is
real, and not perceived by other parties unfamiliar with the area and its traffic patterns.
(; None of the majestic and truly historic pine trees, which date back to the early years of Carl
Fisher's coconut plantation, should be removed for the sake of a mere "operational
improvements" project, which would only slightly benefit the 41st Street corridor. In
addition, the City's Historic Preservation Division is in the process of pursuing a historic
designation for the trees and Pine Tree Drive.
On two separate occasions, the Administration notified FDOT that the City was not in favor of the
project. Most recently on October 4, 2000, the Administration wrote a letter to FDOT District Six
opposing the project and requesting that it be stopped. FDOT District Secretary's response, dated
October 20,2000, reaffirmed FDOT's intention to move forward with the project since "continued
growth and development in Miami Beach will worsen the (unsafe) situation and it is our (FDOT's)
responsibility to provide a safe transportation system." Both letters are attached hereto, for your
review.
The City should work to preserve its historic trees, particularly when their removal is being proposed
for the sake of a project that will produce negligible traffic and safety benefits. The Administration
recommends approval of the Resolution.
JGt~~~
Attachments
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