2008-26824 ResoRESOLUTION NO. 2008-26824
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE, BLOCK-BY-
BLOCKANALYSIS OF THE ALTON ROAD FROM 5T" STREET TO MICHIGAN
AVENUE REHABILITATION PROJECT (THE PROJECT) INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING CRITICAL ISSUES
TO THE CITY: A SHORT TERM SOLUTION FOR FLOODING ON ALTON
ROAD; PLAN(S) FOR PHASING OF CONSTRUCTION; A REQUEST THAT
FDOT PETITION TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY THE
REDUCTION OF THE PROPOSED ELEVEN (11) FOOT TRAVEL LANES TO
TEN AND A HALF (10.5) FOOT TRAVEL LANES; THE EXECUTION OF A
STUDY TO REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT ON ALTON ROAD TO THIRTY (30)
MILES PER HOUR; THE INCLUSION OF AGGREGATE POUR-IN-PLACE MIX
FOR TREE GRATES; NO BLOCKAGE AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS;
THE INCLUSION OF ON-DEMAND PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS; THE
INCLUSION OF BIKE RACKS; AND FURTHER URGING THAT FDOT
EXPEDITE THE DESIGN, FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
PROJECT, ALL TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY, AND ITS RESIDENTS AND
VISITORS, ARE DELIVERED THE BEST DESIGNED ROADWAY PROJECT,
IN THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER POSSIBLE.
WHEREAS, FDOT is responsible for the construction, design, and maintenance of Alton
Road (SR-907), including rehabilitation/redesign of the corridor, and is currently working on a
project for transportation improvements needed on Alton Road, from 5t" Street to Michigan
Avenue which may include, without limitation, safety issues, drainage, traffic flow, pavement
conditions, bicycle facilities, pedestrian enhancements, mass transit needs, parking, and
landscaping (the Project); and
WHEREAS, although Alton Road is a State-owned roadway, it is also unique in the City
of Miami Beach (City), in that this roadway is: heavily relied upon by those getting to-and-from
work; a major North-to-South artery; a local and visitor shopping, entertainment and commerce
venue; and also serves as a boundary for a residential historic district; and
WHEREAS, for many years, due to serious deterioration of the subsoil, a major flooding
problem has been created on certain parts of Alton Road, particularly in the southernmost
corridor; and
WHEREAS, due to lack of sufficient maintenance; proper marking and stripping; and
out-of-date and non-compliant design standards, Alton Road has earned the highest rates of
auto accidents and bicycle mortality statistics in the City; and
WHEREAS, traffic continues to develop into a substantial problem due to finite road
space and busier lives; and
WHEREAS, gasoline, insurance, and automobile prices are skyrocketing, necessitating
an imperative to strongly encourage more transit alternatives; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission, on behalf of its residents and visitors, encourages
the promotion of conscientious environmental and green alternatives; and
WHEREAS, under the "complete streets", principle all users of transportation systems,
including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users, as well as children, older individuals, and
individuals with disabilities, should be able to travel safely and conveniently on streets and
highways; and
WHEREAS, the City has invested significant capital improvement funds and grant
monies on improving City transit, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities to encourage alternatives to
private automobile use; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission is charged with determining a locally preferred
alternative for the Project from a variety of plans designed by FDOT, with public input; and
WHEREAS, at its regular meeting on May 14th, 2008, the City Commission unanimously
endorsed Local Preferred Alternative No. 1 for the Project, with the following additional
recommendations:
1. that FDOT present a petition to the Federal Highway Authority (FHA) for the
reduction of the currently proposed eleven (11) foot travel lanes to ten and a half
(10.5) feet, lanes throughout the entire length of the Project;
2. that a study be undertaken executed to reduce the speed limit on Alton Road down
to thirty (30) miles per hour;
3. that the Project include, in aggregate, pour-in-place mix for tree grates;
4. that there be no blockage on signalized intersections;
5. that on-demand pedestrian crosswalks be incorporated; and
6. that bike racks be incorporated.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that, with regard to the Alton Road
5th Street -Michigan Avenue Rehabilitation Project (Project), it is hereby the intent of the City
Commission to urge FDOT to take any and all actions, as necessary, to provide this community
with the best designed Project, on a block-by-block basis, NOT cone-size fits all policy, and that
in furtherance of this objective, the following issues be addressed:
1. that, as part of the Project, the City Commission urges FDOT to address a
short term solution for flooding on Alton Road, and ensure that all cross walks
and traffic lights are properly synchronized in the meantime;
2. that, as the City's economy will be greatly affected and serious life safety
issues, such as emergency vehicle movement, will be created during the
pendency of the Project, FDOT should designate/establish alternative routes
during construction; add message boards; describe phasing of construction;
and, in general, be clear and upfront with respect to conflicting projects and
timelines; and
3. that FDOT present a petition to the Federal Highway Authority for the
reduction of the currently proposed eleven (11) foot travel lanes to ten and a
half (10.5) feet throughout the entire length of the Project; and
4. that the City Commission recommended alternative for the Project, Local
Preferred Alternative No. 1, also include the following
recommendations/considerations by FDOT:
a. the undertaking of a study to reduce the speed limit on Alton Road down to
thirty (30) miles per hour;
b. the inclusion of aggregate pour-in-place mix for tree grates;
c. no blockage on signalized intersections;
d. the inclusion of on-demand pedestrian crosswalks;
e. the inclusion of bike racks; and
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
5. that FDOT expedite design, funding and implementation of this Project.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 14th day of May 2008.
ATTEST:
~~
CITY CLERK
Robert Parcher
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Saul Gross
Vice-Mayor
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m MIAMIBEACH
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
FROM: Ed Tobin, Commissioner ~(5 ~y~^
DATE: May 12, 2008
SUBJECT: City Commission Agenda item C6D and R9C- Resolution regarding FDOT
Alton Road 5th Street -Michigan Avenue Rehabilitation Project
Please place the following Resolution on the May 14, 2008 City Commission Agenda.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my Aide, Anthony Broad at ext. 6274.
ET/sm
Agenda Item ~ C
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Date S-l~f -off
m' MIAMIBEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members o the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: May 14, 2008
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
(FDOT) ON THE ALTERNATIVE DESIGN OPTIONS FOR THE ALTON
ROAD PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT (PD&E) STUDY,
FROM ST" STREET TO MICHIGAN AVENUE FOR SUBSEQUENT
DISCUSSION BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION.
This is an informational item only. In addition to the results of the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) Alton Road Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study, FDOT
is going to present their recommended locally preferred alternative, which the Commission does
not need to take a position on.
BACKGROUND
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Six is conducting the Alton Road
Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study for transportation improvements needed on
Alton Road from 5th Street to Michigan Avenue. The study will identify improvements on Alton
Road which may include safety, drainage, traffic flow, pavement conditions, bicycle facilities,
pedestrian enhancements including addressing deficiencies with the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), mass transit needs, parking, landscaping and aesthetics.
FDOT has been working on this project since early 2007. Part of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) requirement for this project is to conduct an intensive public involvement
process. As part of this requirement FDOT established the Alton Road PD&E Study Project
Advisory Group (PAG), which is comprised of stakeholders from the residential and
business community along Alton Road. No City staff was involved in the PAG; however,
FDOT has regularly provided the City with progress reports regarding the advancement of
this project. The purpose of the PAG is to provide input and direction on the development of
the conceptual design of the project.
Based on input provided by the PAG, City and City boards and committees, community
organizations, public comments, and further technical analysis, FDOT has narrowed the project
to alternatives that they believe best meet the purpose and needs of the project. Over ten (10)
possible alternatives have been reduced to five (5) alternatives: the no-build alternative; the
Transportation System Management (TSM) alternative; and three (3) build alternatives.
The current schedule for the Alton Road Project is as follows:
1. Presentation of final alternatives to seek input from the City's Neighborhoods/Community
Affairs Committee on April 30, 2008.
2. Presentation of final alternatives to seek input from the City Commission on May 14,
2008.
Agenda Item q C
Date ~-(y -0 ~'
FDOT Alton Road PD&E Study
May 74, 2008
Page 2 of 5
3. Preliminary Engineering Report will be publicly displayed by end of May 2008. This
document was submitted to the City for review and comment. The report contains the
following:
a. Summary of existing conditions
b. Analysis of final preferred alternatives
c. Environmental work required for project
4. Public Hearing to be held in June 2008, followed by a Public Comment Period
5. Finalize Preliminary Engineering Report and submit to the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) in July 2008
6. Contingent on FHWA approval, design to begin in FY 09110 (18 months to complete)
7. Design will provide an accurate construction cost, which will be used to prioritize
construction funds in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
8. Construction estimated to start in FY 2012-13
ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES
The existing conditions of Alton Road include a 100-foot Right-of-Way (ROW), 70 feet of
existing pavement width typically comprised of four (4) 11' travel lanes, two (2) 5' turn lanes, two
(2) 8' on-street parking on each side of the street, and 14.5' of landscape and sidewalk on either
side.
FDOT has narrowed the design options for Alton Road to five (5) possible alternatives: no-build,
transportation system management (TSM), and three (3) build alternatives.
No Build Alternative
The no build alternative will not provide any additional roadway improvements beyond already
programmed projects such as pedestrian safety improvements, leaving the existing facilities
largely unchanged from their present configurations.
Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative
The TSM alternative is a limited construction alternative that would use minor improvements to
enhance capacity. The following improvements were identified as part of the TSM Alternative:
• Resurfacing of pavement along with signage and pavement marking improvements.
• Four-lane roadway with 12-foot wide inner lanes to accommodate future mass transit;
10-foot wide two-way left-turn lane; and periodic median islands.
• Landscaped sidewalks.
• On-street parking.
• ADA improvements.
• Access management improvements
• Traffic signal optimization.
FDOT Alton Road PD&E Sfudy
May 74, 2008
Page 3 of 5
A typical roadway section of the proposed TSM Alternative is presented in Figure 1
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Figure 1. Proposed Typical Section of Alton Road TSM Alternative
Build Alternative 1
The first build alternative is composed of the following cross section: four (4) travel lanes, which
include two (2) 11-foot through lanes in each direction; 11-foot center left-turn lane/periodic
median islands; 9-foot on-street parking lanes; and 13-foot sidewalks with opportunity for
landscaping.
A typical roadway section of Build Alternative 1 is presented in Figure 2.
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Figure 2. Proposed Typical Section of Build Alternative 1 for Alton Road w/o Bike Lanes
Build Alternative 2
The second build alternative is composed of the following cross section: four (4) travel lanes,
which include two (2) 11-foot lanes in each direction; an 11-foot center left-turn lane/periodic
median island; 9-foot on-street parking; 5-foot bicycle lanes; and 8-foot sidewalks. The 9-foot
wide parking can be reduced to 8 feet thus providing an extra foot for the inner lane to
accommodate mass transit in the future. This cross section considers improvements for traffic
safety, bicycle facilities, pedestrian enhancements, and public transit needs.
FDOT Alton Road PD&E Study
May 14, 2008
Page 4 of 5
A typical roadway section of Build Alternative 2 is presented in Figure 3.
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Figure 3. Proposed Typical Section of Build Alternative 2 for Alton Road with Bike Lanes
Build Alternative 1A (Pending City Resolution)
On March 26, 2008, the Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee requested FDOT to meet
with the Alliance for Reliable Transport (ART) to explore the possibility of incorporating bike
paths into the design of Alton Road. At the April 7, 2008 ART meeting with FDOT, Build
Alternative 1 was modified to add one directional bike path adjacent to the sidewalk on each
side of Alton Road. The cross-section for this design would be as follows: two (2) 8' sidewalks,
two (2) 4' bike paths each with 2' of clearance between the bike path and curb and gutter, two
(2) 8' on-street parking lanes, four (4) 11' travel lanes, and an 11' median. In the original
design, the on-street parking lane was 9' wide to allow space for a future mass transit project.
FDOT stated that a mass transit lane can still be accommodated with the reduction of one (1)
foot.
A typical roadway section of Build Alternative 1A is presented in Figure 4. This typical section of
roadway is symmetrical on the left side of the center line.
Figure 4. Proposed Typical Section of Build Alternative 1A for Alton Road with Bike
Paths
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FDOT Alton Road PD&E Study
May 74, 2008
Page 5 of 5
CURRENT STATUS
FDOT presented the Alton Road PD&E Study to the Neighborhoods/Community Affairs
Committee on April 30, 2008. Committee members endorsed Build Alternative 1 as the
preferred alternative, which will provide 13 foot sidewalks with an opportunity for landscaping.
The Committee members requested that FDOT provide signage on the sidewalks to inform
pedestrians that bicyclists would be sharing the sidewalks.
The Alton Road PD&E Study is also scheduled for a presentation at the Historic Preservation
Board on May 13, 2008 and at a special Planning Board Meeting on May 13, 2008 at 5:OOpm.
Subsequently, FDOT will present the Alton Road PD&E Study and the preferred alternative at a
public hearing in June 2008. The time and place of this public hearing are yet to be determined.
JMG/RCM/FHB/FV/XF/CL
T:WGENDA120081May 14\ConsentlFDOTAIton Road Memo.doc