11-18-08 Item 8South Miami
Ai 4uftaw
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI 111111
INTER - OFFICE MEMORANDUM
2001
To: Honorable Mayor Feliu, and Members of the City Commission
From: Ajibola Balogun, City Manager
Date: November 18, 2008 Agenda Item No.
Subject: Asking Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to adjust and implement alternative
procedure and design standards to mitigate traffic impacts and promote safe and convenient
travel for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Resolution: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA SUPPORTING THE DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO
DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ADJUST
AND IMPLEMENT ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES AND DESIGN STANDARDS TO
MITIGATE TRAFFIC IMPACTS AND PROMOTE SAFE AND CONVENIENT
TRAVEL FOR VEHICLES, PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS; URGING OTHER
COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO SUPPORT THE LIMITED DELEGATION OF
AUTHORITY TO THE DOT DISTRICT OFFICES IN ORDER TO BETTER RESPOND
TO LOCAL NEEDS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO FORWARD THIS
RESOLUTION TO THE FDOT SECRETARY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE
Request: Authorizing the City Manager to work with FDOT on the adjustment and implementation of
alternative procedure and design standards to mitigate traffic impacts and promote safe and
convenient travel for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Reason/Need: In light of recent traffic fatalities involving children and University of Miami students
attempting to cross US -1, this proposed resolution urges the FDOT to authorize its district
offices (in our case, District VI) to modify current FDOT design and management
standards for cross walks, traffic lane widths and medians where necessary to fit the
specific needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, children, adults and seniors in
communities such as the City of South Miami. As you know, in recent days, we have
received complaints from residents about the aggressive driving conditions which typically
occur along the section of US -1 that divides our downtown (east and west of US -1) often
conflicts with bicycle and pedestrian activities, thereby leading to unsafe conditions. As a
result, we will benefit from design standards aimed at traffic calming and pedestrian safety
along the US corridor. I recommend approval of this resolution.
Cost: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
Backup Documentation: Proposed Resolution
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RESOLUTION NO.:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA SUPPORTING THE DELEGATION OF
AUTHORITY TO DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO ADJUST AND IMPLEMENT ALTERNATIVE
PROCEDURES AND DESIGN STANDARDS TO MITIGATE TRAFFIC
IMPACTS AND PROMOTE SAFE AND CONVENIENT TRAVEL FOR
VEHICLES, PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS; URGING OTHER
COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO SUPPORT THE LIMITED
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO THE DOT DISTRICT OFFICES IN
ORDER TO BETTER RESPOND TO LOCAL NEEDS; AUTHORIZING THE
CITY CLERK TO FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION TO THE FDOT
SECRETARY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has jurisdiction over all
state roads and maintains traffic control devises and roadway standards associated with the
regulation of traffic pursuant to the Florida Uniform Traffic Control Law (Chapter 316, F.S.);
and,
WHEREAS, the FDOT Roadway Design Office develops and provides policies,
procedures and standards for the design of all roadways; and,
WHEREAS, the standards and criteria for the design, construction, and maintenance of
all public streets and highways, including pedestrian cross walks, traffic lane widths medians are
uniformly applied throughout the State of Florida; and,
WHEREAS, under Florida law (section 316.0745, F.S.), the FDOT is required to adopt a
uniform system of traffic control devices for streets and highways; and,
WHEREAS, County and local governments, along with the FDOT all share the same
responsibility to find ways for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists to coexist conveniently and
safely; and,
WHEREAS, population densities, accounting for uncontrolled crosswalks (mid - block)
locations, unconventional intersections and locations, accommodating large numbers of
pedestrians, including pedestrians with disabilities, and integrating adequate traffic control
devises to safely and efficiently guide people across wide and busy state roads necessitates that
the local offices of the FDOT provide certain flexibility when designing and implementing traffic
control devises and roadway standards; and,
WHEREAS, the City of South Miami recognizes the need to develop, implement, and
manage a data -driven comprehensive traffic safety program aimed at saving lives, preventing
injuries, and reducing related cost associated with traffic crashes; and,
WHEREAS, the City of South Miami would benefit from a design standards aimed at
traffic calming and pedestrian safety along the U.S. Highway 1 (hereinafter "US 1 ") corridor;
and,
Additions shown by underlining and deletions shown by over-striking.
I WHEREAS, the City of South Miami desires to promote safe and convenient travel by
2 the public across U.S. 1; and,
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4 WHEREAS, in light of recent traffic fatalities involving children attempting to cross
5 U.S. 1, the City of South Miami urges the FDOT to authorize its district offices to modify current
6 FDOT design and management standards for cross walks, traffic lane widths and medians where
7 necessary to fit the specific needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, children, adults and seniors
8 in particular communities; and,
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10 WHEREAS, the aggressive driving conditions which typically occur along the section
11 of U.S. 1 that divides the City of South Miami often conflicts with bicycle and pedestrian activity,
12 thereby leading to unsafe conditions; and,
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14 WHEREAS, children are subject to disproportionately higher levels of pedestrian
15 injuries and fatalities; and,
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17 WHEREAS, the Miami -Dade Metrorail transports large numbers of school children on a
18 daily basis that cross US 1 in order to travel to the downtown area; and,
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20 WHEREAS, the City of South Miami believes that the median widths are insufficient to
21 safely accommodate the numbers of children attempting to cross US 1 during peak hours; and
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23 WHEREAS, the City of South Miami believes that it is crucial for the FDOT to work
24 closely with the City of South Miami to design, develop and manage options that respond to the
25 city's specific needs and consequently raise the quality and civility of our shared public spaces
26 and further enhance pedestrian safety and make South Miami a more walkable city.
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28 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
29 THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA;
30 Section 1: The Mayor and City Commission support the delegation of authority to DOT
31 district offices in order to encourage and facilitate design and road way management
32 improvements including but not limited to:
33 (i) adjusting speed limits through the city;
34 (ii) developing practices in pedestrian safety such as wider medians in the
35 areas adjacent to cross walks, flashing lights at crosswalks, road
36 re- channelization;
37 (iii) adjusting traffic land widths to accommodate larger medians.
38 Section 2: The City will periodically meet with representatives from Miami -Dade
39 County, the cities of Coral Gables and Pinecrest, the University of Miami, Pedestrian users of US
40 1, FDOT representatives, an organization representing senior citizens, Public Schools
41 representatives, a representative of bicycling advocates of Miami -Dade County, representatives
42 from pedestrian advocacy groups, representatives of safe - driving- oriented organizations, and
43 members of the disabled community to work on pedestrian safety standards and concerns relating
44 to crossing US Highway 1.
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Section 3: The City of South Miami urges Miami -Dade County, and other counties,
municipalities and the organizations such as the Florida League of Cities to adopt resolutions
which support the limited delegation of authority to FDOT district offices to enable them to better
respond to local traffic issues.
Section 4: That this resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval.
. Section 5: This resolution shall be distributed by the City Clerk to neighboring
communities for their support, including but not limited to the Village of Pinecrest, the City of
Coral Gables, the Village of Palmetto Bay, to Miami -Dade County, and the Florida League of
Cities. The City of South Miami urges other communities to support the recommendation to
FDOT to provide the local offices more discretion in dealing with traffic and safety issues,
particularly along the US Highway 1 corridor.
Section 6: The City Clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to FDOT.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of November, 2008.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM
Luis R. Figueredo,
Office Of City Attorney,
Nagin, Gallop & Figueredo, P.A.
APPROVED:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Feliu:
Vice Mayor Beasley:
Commissioner Wiscombe:
Commissioner Palmer:
Commissioner Beckman:
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