LTC 085-2023 Update #2 on Active Traffic Management and Mitigation EffortsM IAM I BEACH
NO. LTC#
TO :
FROM:
DATE:
LETTER TO COMMISSION
Honorable Mayor Dan G elber and Mem bers of the City Commission
Ana T. H udak, cy Mana $ff\X
Febru ary 22, 2023 \)"
SUBJECT: Update #2 on Active Traffic Management and Mitigation Efforts
The purpose of this Letter to Com m ission (L TC) is to pro vide an update to Letter to Commission
#037-2023 dated January 31, 2023, regarding various traffic management and enforcement
strategies currently in place to help m itigate traffic congestion along our key thoroughfares.
For context, it is im portant to note that an analysis of average daily traffic along the Julia Tuttle
Causew ay has shown that vehicle volum es fo r the month of January 2023 are approximately 5%
higher as com pared to January 2022 and 2.5% higher as compared to January 2019 (pre-
pandem ic) volum es. Most of this additional vehicular traffic uses 41 Street, Alton Road, and
Collins A venue/Indian Creek Drive to travel w ithin the City. In addition, based on the Florida
D epartm ent of Tra nsp or tation ("FD O T") 2021 Level of Serv ice map (attached), several major
thoro ughfares in our City are operating at a failing level of service (i.e. over capacity) based on
average annual daily traffic volum es in com parison to the vehicle capacity of those ro adways. In
general, w hen ro adw ays operate at or over capacity, particularly during peak traffic periods, any
additional volum e can exacerbate congestion and create gridlock. Moreover, when over-
saturated traffic conditions occur, traffic signals cannot operate effectively and can give drivers
the im pression that coordination is off.
COLLINS AVENUE FROM 58-63 STREETS
O n February 15, 2023, Florida Pow er & Light ("FPL") advised that it completed the undergro und
electrical system w ork w hich required lane closures on Collins Avenue northbound betw een the
5800 B lock and 63 Street and created gridlock in the area for several months. FPL indicated that
all equipm ent and traffic contro l signs associated w ith its pro ject were rem oved from the right-of-
w ay. O n Monday, February 20, 2023, FPL comm enced pavem ent restoration work (sidewalks,
curbs, gutters, and medians) and is expected to complete this work by March 10. Some nighttime
lane closures w ill be required to com plete the restoration.
In addition, given the FPL pro ject has been com pleted, FO O T is proposing to resurface Collins
A venue/Indian Creek D rive from the 5800 Block to w est of 63 Street. The scope of work includes
m illing and resurfacing, upgrading the signage and pavem ent markings, upgrading pedestrian
ram ps and detectable w arn ing surfaces at the intersection of Collins Avenue and 63 Street, and
m inor sidew alk im pro vem ents. The project is not expected to start until after Spring Break ends
on M arch 26, 2023. The Public W orks and Transportation and Mobility Departments are working
closely w ith FO O T on the Maintenance of Traffic ("M O T") plan for this pro ject to ensure any
required lane closures are perform ed in such a way as to minimize the impact to traffic flow to
the extent possible.
SOUTHBOUND INDIAN CREEK DRIVE AT 41 STREET
The intersection of Indian Creek Drive/41 Street represents a critical juncture betw een tw o major
state ro ads and a choke point in our transportation network. G iven both of these ro adways are
under the purview of the FO O T, the City has urged FO O T, including via a recent City Commission
resolution, to im plem ent both short-term/interim and long-term solutions consisting of introducing
085-2023
a s e c o n d so u th b o u n d rig h t tu rn la n e a t th is in te rs e ctio n (to tra v e l w e stb o u n d o n 4 1 S tre e t) a s
fu rt h e r d e s c rib e d b e lo w .
In th e sh or t -te rm /int er i m , th e C ity h a s re q u e s te d th a t F O O T a u th o riz e th e re in sta te m e n t o f th e
d u a l so u th b o u n d rig h t tu rn la n e s a t th e in te rs e c tio n o f In d ia n C re e k D riv e /4 1 S tre e t th a t w e re in
p la c e fo r a b o u t tw o y e a rs a s p a rt o f th e M O T p la n fo r th e co n stru ctio n o f th e C ity's In d ia n C re e k
D riv e F lo o d M itig a tio n p ro je c t. T h e te m p o ra ry co n fi g u ra tio n e n ta ils clo sin g th e w e stb o u n d la n e
o n 4 1 S tre e t fr o m C o ll in s A v e n u e to In d ia n C re e k D riv e to a v o id c o n flic tin g m o v e m e n ts be tw e e n
w e s tb o u n d v e h ic le tra ff ic co m in g fr o m C o llin s A ve n u e a n d so u th b o u n d rig h t tu rn in g ve h ic le s
u s in g th e re q u e s te d a d d itio n a l rig h t tu rn la n e a t In d ia n C re e k D riv e to tra v e l w e stb o u n d o n 4 1
S tre e t. U n d e r th is in te rim co n fi g u ra tio n , n o rt h b o u n d C o llin s A ve n u e tra ff ic w is h in g to m a k e a le ft
tu rn to tra v e l w e s tb o u n d o n 4 1 S tre e t w ill n e e d to tra v e l no rt h to C o llin s A ve n u e /4 4 S tre e t, m a k e
a le ft tu rn a t In d ia n C re e k D riv e /4 4 S tre e t, tra ve l so u th b o u n d o n In d ia n C re e k D riv e b a c k d o w n
to 4 1 S tre e t, a n d m a k e a rig h t tu rn u s in g th e d u a l so u th b o u n d rig h t tu rn la n e s . A lth o u g h m o re
c irc u ito u s , th is te m p o ra ry tra v e l p a tt e rn w o rk e d w e ll d u rin g th e In d ia n C re e k D riv e re co n stru c tio n
p ro je c t.
O n F e b ru a ry 3 , 2 0 2 3 , m e m b e rs o f th e C ity A d m in istra ti o n m e t w ith F O O T D istric t S ix S e c re ta ry
S ta c y L. Miller and other FOOT staff members to further discuss a potential implementation of
an interim solution. During the meeting, FOOT expressed that a temporary configuration as
described above would not be feasible as a short-term solution for a variety of reasons and that
FOOT would only support a permanent reconfiguration of the intersection in order to achieve the
desired dual southbound right turn lanes at the intersection of Indian Creek Drive and 41 Street.
In addition, FOOT advised that it is currently conducting a comprehensive traffic study to
determine the feasibility of the proposed dual southbound right turn lanes and impacts to adjacent
intersections and expects to complete the traffic study in March 2023. If the traffic study finds that
the improvement is warranted and feasible, FOOT would include it as part of a planned project
(FM # 443931-1) currently in the design phase and further described below.
FOOT is finalizing the design of a roadway improvement project on Indian Creek Drive from 44
Street to 41 Street. As part of the project, FOOT is amenable to accommodating an additional
southbound right turn lane (i.e. creating dual southbound right turn lanes) at the intersection of
Indian Creek Drive and 41 Street. The FOOT project would include new signalization
improvements at the intersection of Indian Creek Drive/41 Street to accommodate the additional
southbound right turn lane while not adversely affecting westbound 41 Street traffic from Collins
Avenue. Some on-street parking spaces on the east side of Indian Creek Drive would be
impacted. FOOT anticipates project construction beginning in July 2024 and ending by March
2025.
41 STREET CORRIDOR
There are various factors that affect traffic flow and contribute to congestion along this principal
corridor, including:
• Signal Spacing - The existing intersections and signalized mid-block pedestrian
crossings are very closely spaced; the vast majority do not meet FDOT's signal spacing
requirements. Closely spaced intersections require very precise coordination between
signals; and the high frequency of pedestrians triggering a walk phase at mid-block
crossings adversely impacts signal coordination and can give drivers the perception that
the traffic signals are not coordinated.
• Extended School Zones - The majority of the corridor is within a school zone, which
affects progression and travel time when school zones are active. The afternoon school
zone is in effect until 3:30 p.m. which often transitions into the afternoon peak traffic
period, thus exacerbating congestion along the corridor.
• Proximity to the Causeway -- The progression along 41 Street is heavily affected by the
Julia Tuttle Causeway. When the causeway is congested in the westbound direction,
vehicles are not able to clear 41 Street. In the eastbound direction, progression is
in te r r u p te d a s v e h icl e s e x it th e c a u s e w a y (a lim ite d a c c e s s fa c ility w ith n o tra ff ic s ig n a ls )
a n d e n te r 41 Street (a heavily signalized corridor) with frequent interruptions.
• On-going I-395 Construction - Drivers are likely avoiding the MacArthur Causeway and
opting to utilize 41 Street and the Julia Tuttle Causeway due to the on-going construction
along 1-395. Major roadway construction projects can alter traffic patterns and increase
volumes on adjacent corridors.
• On-Street Parking - Vehicles conducting parking maneuvers often influence vehicle
progression and can create friction among vehicles in adjacent travel lanes.
• Side Street Traffic - The corridor receives heavy vehicular volumes from the north/south
avenues, which adds to the congestion along 41 Street and often results in vehicles
blocking the intersections, particularly during peak traffic periods.
The Administration is working closely with Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and
Public Works and FOOT and taking action to improve traffic flow to the extent possible, including:
• Removal of Automatic Pedestrian Phases - In coordination with the County, the
automatic pedestrian phases have been removed at all signalized intersections on 41
Street (except during the Sabbath) and pedestrians must currently push the walk button
to cross 41 Street.
• Reduced Pedestrian Walking Time - In an effort to maximize green time for east/west
traffic along the corridor, the durations of the pedestrian walk phases to cross 41 Street
at all signalized intersections along the corridor were recently reduced by the County to
the County standard of 3.5 feet per second. This change has resulted in a few additional
seconds of green time that could be allocated to east/west 41 Street traffic.
• Independent Review - The City's traffic engineering consultant conducted an
independent review of the current signal timing plans along the corridor to identify
opportunities to improve coordination and progression along 41 Street. Travel time runs
were conducted during the AM and PM peak periods during the week of January 23, 2023
and the observations and data will be used to develop recommendations for signal timing
improvements, if feasible. The consultant's assessment concluded that while the traffic
signals along the corridor appear to be coordinated, a comprehensive signal retiming
effort should be pursued to ensure optimization.
Utilizing the additional time resulting from the removal of automatic pedestrian phases and
reduced pedestrian walking times along the corridor, staff will explore a collaboration with FOOT
over the coming months to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of two corridor retiming
approaches to determine the more advantageous option:
• Progression Analysis - Progression along the corridor can be reviewed to confirm off-
sets (the time lapse between green time at adjacent intersections) are appropriate.
o Cycle lengths would be maintained.
o Tweaks to existing off-sets would be based on and utilizing travel speed in lieu of
posted speed with the goal of improving progression.
• Pre-timed (Fixed-Time) Approach - Predetermined timing settings with fixed cycle
length.
o This approach provides a more controlled environment as the signal would not be
responding to demand.
The Transportation and Mobility Department will continue to work with its traffic signal support
consultant, FOOT, and Miami-Dade County to advance a signal retiming analysis for optimization
of traffic signals along the 41 Street corridor.
4 1 S T R E E T C O R R ID O R T RA F F IC E N F O R C E M E N T
Police is actively conducting traffic enforcement along 41 Street every weekday afternoon from
4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The effort focuses on enforcing no blocking of the box at the following
intersections, and other intersections as needed:
• 41 Street/Collins Avenue
• 41 Street/Indian Creek Drive
• 41 Street/Pine Tree Drive
Since January 12, 2023, the Police Department has issued a total of 205 citations for blocking
the box during afternoon peak periods on 41 Street. It is important to note that Florida law
currently prohibits the use of cameras to enforce blocking the box violations, thus law
enforcement officers are currently performing this function.
INCREASED CONGESTION ALONG 63 STREET/AL TON ROAD
Given the ongoing lane closures on Collins Avenue from 58 to 63 streets due to the FPL work,
more drivers are using Pine Tree Drive as an alternate route. This change of travel patterns has
increased volumes on 63 Street and exacerbated congestion along the corridor, particularly
during bridge openings. Pursuant to recently adopted City Commission Resolution No. 2022-
32232, the Administration has communicated with the U.S. Coast Guard ("USCG") to request
additional bridge weekend schedule restrictions to the 63 Street drawbridge. In order to evaluate
this request, the USCG is requiring that the City conduct a comprehensive traffic study for the
area surrounding the bridge, the scope, cost, and timeline of which is being considered. The
traffic study may also include an analysis of potential additional restrictions to the weekday bridge
schedule, including whether reducing the frequency of bridge openings from every 30 minutes to
once an hour during weekdays could potentially reduce traffic congestion in the area. If the USCG
determines that, based on the findings of the traffic study, a schedule change would be beneficial,
the federal rule making process would be initiated and can take one to two years to complete.
The City underwent this process a few years ago when it successfully petitioned the USCG to
approve a lockdown of this drawbridge during weekday morning and afternoon peak periods (i.e.
7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 4 p.m.-7 p.m.), except for federal holidays, emergency vessels, and vessels
in distress. The 63 Street bridge schedule will be discussed at the upcoming February 28, 2023
Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee meeting.
VENETIAN CAUSEWAY
As a result of an active sewer line upgrade project being undertaken by the City along the
Venetian Causeway in the vicinity of Belle Isle, drivers are currently experiencing lane closures
on eastbound Venetian Way at Rivo Alto and Belle Isle. To help alleviate the westbound
congestion that results in the afternoon peak period, the Transportation and Mobility Department
worked with the County to extend the green time for the intersections of Purdy Avenue/Dade
Boulevard, Island Avenue West/Venetian Way, Island Avenue East/Venetian Way, Dade
Boulevard/17 Street, Dade Boulevard/West Avenue and West Avenue/17 Street. In addition, the
Public Works Department successfully petitioned the County and USCG to approve a temporary
deviation of the east drawbridge schedule whereby the bridge opens only on the hour from 7
a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays (except federal holidays, emergency
vessels, and vessels in distress) to help mitigate traffic congestion along the causeway. While
the temporary bridge restrictions currently in place expire on March 30, 2023 the Public Works
Department is working with the County to extend until the completion of the sewer line upgrade
project.
TRAFFIC MONITORING
Pursuant to recent City Commission direction, the Administration reinstated traffic monitoring
services during this high impact period (November 2022 - May 2023) for 14 hours/day, 7 days a
week. The traffic monitoring contractor utilizes existing cameras in the City and Waze mobile
application to identify incidents causing congestion. The contractor communicates with the Police
and Fire Communications Unit, the Transportation and Mobility Department, and the Marketing
a n d C o m m u n ic a tio n s D e p a rt m e n t a s n e c e s s a ry to c o n fi r m in c id e n ts , d is s e m in a te tra ffi c te x t
a le rt s , a n d p ro g r a m d ig ita l m e s s a g e s ig n s s tra te g ic a lly lo c a te d th ro u g h o u t th e C ity fo r th e b e n e fit
o f th e m o to rin g p u b lic . T h e C ity 's c o n tra c to r a ls o c o o rd in a te s w ith th e C o u n ty o n tra ff ic s ig n a l
m a lf u n c tio n s to e n s u r e e x p e d ite d re p a ir s a n d w ith F O O T o n in c id e n ts a ff e c tin g tra ffi c flo w o n th e
M a c A rt h u r a n d J u lia T u tt le c a u s e w a y s .
P A R KI N G EN F OR C E M E N T
The Parking Department has increased enforcement of freight loading zones and construction
management parking plans. Since November 2022, a total of 2,495 freight loading zone violations
have been issued and 984 vehicles have been towed. Additionally, Police officers have also been
enforcing freight loading zones.
C O N C L U S IO N
The Administration continues a multi-pronged approach to mitigate traffic congestion throughout
our city including cross departmental and multijurisdictional efforts. It is important to highlight that
our constrained roadways are operating at or over capacity during peak periods. When this
occurs, everyday events such as bridge openings, school zones, roadway construction,
emergency work/lane closures , disabled vehicles, accidents, or congestion outside of our city
exacerbate the already strained roadway. Signal timing tweaks and police presence provide only
minor relief and do not solve the capacity issue. Although the City's trolley and transit network
is robust, from a mid to long-term perspective, only meaningful and rapid mass transit solutions,
coupled with multimodal transportation improvements, can increase person-throughput (i.e.
capacity) of our roadways. Additionally, opportunities to increase affordable and workforce
housing inventory may have a positive impact on roadway congestion by encouraging Miami
Beach workers to live in the City.
As we prepare for upcoming major events which will increase the number of motorists and
pedestrians in our City, my Administration remains committed to managing traffic conditions,
exploring all available mitigation options and deploying solutions which are feasible and within
our purview as well as through collaboration with FOOT and Miami-Dade County.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Attachment: FOOT Level of Service Map
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Map Date: I Data Updated:
Sep. 12, 2022 I June 2022
Florida Department
of Transportation
Planning and Environmental
Management Office
Contact: (305) 470-5373
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM
2021 AADT LEVEL OF SERVICE
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