FDOT Presentation of Alton Road Redevelopment Program raises great conceern

FDOT Alton Road Redevelopment
Public Information / Input Meetings 

Scheduled and Confirmed:
FDOT Public Information Meeting
Thursday, June 23, 2011, 7 to 9 pm
Miami Beach PAL -- 999 Eleventh Street
Flamingo Park, Miami Beach

*Tentatively Scheduled

Planning Board Presentation*
Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 1:30 pm
City Commission Chambers

Presentation to the City Commission*
Wednesday, July 13, 2011

REPORT FROM BEN BATCHELDER
on previous presentation held on Wed, June 8th

Hi FPNers,


I just wanted to give my quick read of FDOT’s presentation on Alton Road last Wednesday at the Commission chambers.
Meeting Notes

First, Denis very helpfully provided a printout of FPNA’s priorities, including a nice visual of a bike boulevard going down Alton.


1) Among FPNers, Denis spoke first, gently pressing the FDOT presenter on the bike lane issue, as he had apparently never heard of a bike boulevard before. Denis also supported reducing the speed limit from 35 to 30 and raised the possibility (seconded later by our City Manager) of upgrading the area to a Livable Community, which apparently could facilitate achieving a number of these goals. Over a half dozen public comments subsequently demonstrated how crazy bike lanes on Alton would be: no sane biker would use them, all European experience and research shows bike lanes between parked cars and moving traffic to be the most dangerous (contradicting the speaker’s assertion bike lanes are the safest solution), having bikes compete with buses every other bus-stop block is ludicrous, and so on. When the concept of bike boulevard was made clear to the presenter, he asserted that it would take too many curves (perhaps he thinks it has to follow the curb line) and due to bicyclists crossing in/near pedestrian crosswalks, particularly against traffic, be a hazard to turning cars.


2) Another subject which elicited public outrage was the fact that FDOT plans to cut 113 trees and presently has no idea how many will be planted according to spec. A landscape architect, who worked on Wash. Ave’s upgrade, pointed out that due to required ‘cone of vision’ studies very few shade trees are likely (he mentioned perhaps only one per block).


3) The next FPNer to speak was Adam, who probed FDOT on their assertion new laws ‘require’ bike lanes, rather than ‘mandate consideration.’ The incomplete reply was, besides reiterating that a bike frequency study supported bike lanes, that the more space available there is available for bike lanes, the more required they are. Adam also lamented the loss of 90+ parking spaces. He then expressed the room’s growing feeling: if the proposed design is so contrary to residents’ wishes, why bother wasting $20+ million on it? FDOT asserted that due to the storm drain work (Alton at 5th, 10th and 14th) slated for 4/2013, the surface design must be completed prior – which the landscape architect contradicted.


4) My questions centered on pedestrian safety, after I introduced myself as a member of a local neighborhood association that is working on a pedestrian safety initiative and commented that Alton Rd. is generally considered South Beach’s most dangerous road for pedestrians. As the presentation lacked any detail on each intersection’s treatment, I asked a) would all intersections receive pedestrian crosswalk stripes, and b) would all have on-demand pedestrian signals? Contradicting in their own Project Notification fact sheet which promises "installing bush button countdown signals at all intersections along project limits", FDOT replied that the first was impossible (fast cars vs. pedestrians’ right of way) and that a 2008 warrant study did not justify any other pedestrian crossings. At this point the French Urban Design professor (whom Denis had introduced me to) went ballistic, suggesting that FDOT should stop the presentation it was so pathetic. When a break allowed me to return to my questioning, I respectfully requested that FDOT perform a new pedestrian study, having already highlighted the 75% increase in auto on pedestrian accidents in South Beach. When the presenter couldn’t commit, I implied that without reconsidering such a pedestrian-unfriendly design, pedestrian accidents will only increase. (Although I had it with me, I resisted showing a chart which ranks Florida as the worst state in the nation in pedestrian fatalities, or faulting FDOT’s irrational warrant process for some of the responsibility.)

Tentative Conclusions

A) It appears as if the Livable Communities designation is the only way to meaningfully impact FDOT’s design. It was suggested that it would facilitate narrower lanes (from 11' to 10' at least), the speed limit reduction, and reduce the ‘cone of vision’ problems. My feeling is that FDOT performs studies when it believes they will support their preferred design.


B) FDOT’s design appears based on such outdated standards and is so car-centric that any project delay should be encouraged. The landscape architect’s suggestion to allow storm drain work to be done independently of surface design agreement appears compelling.

C) Lastly, Adam’s suggestion that the $20+ million project be cancelled (just repave, repaint, and leave street layout as is) would be a less bad solution than the current 60% design and, if need be, I’d gladly support that outcome with organized civil disobedience.

It will be very important to attend subsequent FDOT presentations.

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association will meet on Mon, Juen 6th, at 5:30pm

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association

Monday, June 6, 2011, 5:30 pm
at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Ave

AGENDA


1. Flamingo Park Project Implementation – Matti Reyes


2. Project Introduction – 600 block of Washington Ave – Wayne Pathman


3. Discussion of Memorial Day Urban Beach Party Weekend


4. Other Matters


     4.1. Status Report: Enforcement of Short Term Rental


     4.2. Status Report: Becoming Florida’s Most Pedestrian Friendly Neighborhood


     4.3. Discussion of Recurring Odor at 11th and Meridian Ave



All residents of the neighborhood are invited to attend and participate.



Recurring Agenda Highlights --

Preservation and Planning Programs
Flamingo Park Masterplan and Project Implementation
Flamingo Park Neighborhood Capital Improvement Projects
Flamingo Family Priorities
Crime Prevention and Safety
Communications and Outreach

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association will meet this Mon, June 6th, 5:30pm

FLAMINGO Meeting Notice

Monday, June 6th, 5:30pm

at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Avenue

 

Recurring Agenda Highlights --

• Preservation and Planning Programs
• Flamingo Park Masterplan and Project Implementation
• Flamingo Park Neighborhood Capital Improvement Projects
• Flamingo Family Priorities
• Crime Prevention and Safety
• Communications and Outreach

All restidents of the Neighborhood are invited to attend and participate

NOTICE OF TREE TRIMMING, AND TEMPORARY DETOURS AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON MERIDIAN AVENUE

June 1, 2011 -- Tree Trimming
Dear Miami Beach Resident:

As the result of cold damage in January 2010, the large trees lining Meridian Avenue between 2nd St. and 15th St. have numerous dead branches that need to be removed for public safety and tree health.


The trimming of these trees is scheduled to start on Monday, June 13, 2011 and will continue for approximately three weeks, although bad weather could extend the required time. During this period, it will be necessary to implement vehicle detours and designate “No Parking” areas for the block(s) where tree trimming is taking place. It is expected that:

- Only one or two blocks of Meridian Avenue will be affected by detours and parking closures on any specific day.


- Individual blocks will be affected for only one to three days, depending on how long it takes to trim the block’s trees.


- The detours and parking closures will be in effect from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

During the tree trimming, heavy branches will be dropping to the ground. The parking closures are necessary to prevent damage to parked vehicles and to provide the trimming crew with access to the trees.


Tree trimming will start on June 13 at 15th Street, and will move southwards along Meridian Avenue to 2nd Street. Notices will be posted on the day before parking closures are implemented. When your block is scheduled for tree trimming and parking closures, please relocate your vehicle from the “No Parking” area before 8:00 AM.


We thank you for your patience and cooperation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Chris Latt at 305-673-7000 extension 6391.


Best regards,   Chris Latt
CMB Parks & Recreation Department