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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPre-LegislationRESOLUTION NO. q 1 _ 667 A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENT, MAKING FINDINGS, AND DIRECTING THE PERMANENT PROHIBITION OF VEHICULAR ACCESS TO CERTAIN STREETS AND URGING METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY TO TAKE STEPS WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNS IN THE MORNINGSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLQ/RIDA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH AMENDED PLAN "B" , PROVIDED THAT THE CONDITIONS CONTAINED WITHIN THIS RESOLUTION ARE MET; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ADVERTISE FOR FORMAL COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT BARRICADES AND. AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT(S) TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE BIDDER OR TO DIRECT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FORCES AND PERSONNEL TO CONSTRUCT THE PERMANENT BARRICADES UPON RECEIPT OF THE THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR ($38,600) CASHIER'S CHECK FROM THE RESIDENTS OF THE MORNINGSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEREAS, a group of property owners has requested that the City restrict vehicular access to certaln streets within the Morningside neighborhood; and WHEREAS, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 90-486 on June 28, 1990, authorizing, for a ninety (90) day trial period, temporary barricades and traffic regulatory signs across certain streets in the Morningside neighborhood In the City of Miaml, Florida, In accordance with Plan "B subject to certain' conditions which have been met; and WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works has monitored the effects of -traffic control Plan "B" and, with the consensus ofa majority, of. the eight (8) designated representatives of the Morningside neighborhood, has modified traffic control Plan "B", hereinafter called. "Amended Plan B" if, to control undesirable traffic intrusion and provide adequate access- into the neighborhood; and WHEREAS, the Police Department, .Fire, Rescue and Inspection Services Department, General Services Administration/Solid Waste Department and Metropolitan Dade County Public Works Department have evaluated the effects of the vehicular access restriction upon their respective operations during the trial perlod and have expressed no substantial objections to the permanent restriction of vehicular access to the aforesaid streets provided that access for emergency vehlcies be allowed at all times; and n ATT A CHMpNTT,�y ad Plan "I " Is ett r re erellc. uAINCD AS, Section 64-17 of the Code of the Clty of Mlaml, de, gives the C$ty Commission the power, after a properly advertised pubilo hearinQ, to require that vehicular access to a particular street be prohibited where such prohlbltlon Is found to be In the best Interest of the public; and WHEREAS, pursuant to due public notice, a pub lc hearing was held before the City Commission on September 11, 1991 as to any objections to the permanent prohlbltlon of vehicular access to the streets, according to Amended Plan "B", and no objections of substance were sustained by the Commission, and, the City Commission has approved the prohibition of vehicular access to the streets, according to Amended Plan "B", to be implemented on a permanent basis, provided that specific requirements set forth herein are met; and WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the herein Prohibition Is In the best Interest of the public; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Preamble to this Resolution are hereby adopted by reference and Incorporated herein as If fully set forth In this Section. Section 2. • certain streets Miami, Florida, It Is hereby directed that vehicular access to In the Morningside neighborhood In the City of In accordance with Amended Plan permanently prohibited In accordance w forth In Section 1 hereof, provided that the following condlt occur: (a) the residents shall secure and post a cashier's - check, drawn on a local bank, with the Public Works Department within one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of this resolution for the mon I es needed to design and construct the aforementioned barricades In the amount of thirty eight thousand six hundred dollars ($38,800). IOW W111 be r IGade d .� 1gn Of the ar Department an deS Works ".hep0110 and theheycue comPI1ghetl by the F1re asc 1 beapproved by tmeht and the Police YJ s nspectlon Services Degar Department; by be installed shall installed by the ail of the barricadesretained by (c) contractors Department by public Works Dep ar ic licensed of the Works. Department Cr after posting forces end Personnel cash t forth In Paragraph (a) fi ler's check, as ge nts not utilized above; osted by the reside of the ` i monies P construction al dig al and d to In the design entloned barrlcades shall be returns atcrem urged to 'tP r,esld,enYs County 1s hereby {f1c itan Dade teb u ed Metropolitan Installation Section 3 In Permanent "BM, In the i result Plan Which W11 ended With � take steps in accordance Miami, Florida• u1a slflns. the City °f authorized to regulatory in Florida. nel9hborh0od 1s hereby side Manager the construction Mornln9 The C%tY bids for tIP� led to c the Sec. ei competitive sea the contract(s) form award 110 advertise for barricades and awa or to direct Pub of the Permanent bidder permanent. onslva t the t ¢fa resP. slb,le i construct dyed to nun lowegt.:resp9n and personnel thousand so( Works Department forces thirty eight the the residents of t of the Upon receipt from barricades up Gashler's checK ($38,600) t post the: -,dp 1.1 >a� d . no Neiflnbprh°o the residents do days; 1nflelda that (120) r n the event twenty In hundred and tAn. Section 6 • 1 n one and per ss. cheek within the authQrlty required cashier's s 1on. Ong r oqu this Resq 1 ut su*tenet 1�ta 1 1 y of rescinded Om the date *hall 00 qY this Reso 1 ut 1 on 1 ee ��" granted Ion DY the City ta+ •f fI0t q0 , wlncut further sat �., flesplutlQ+ steal! Section (f� This on ►nfM1451i %Y yppn I to the barricades will be accompllehed by the Publlc Works Department and hall be approved by the Fire, Rescue and Inspection Services Department and the P0ll0e Department; (c) all of the barricades shall be Installed by licensed contractors retained by the Public Works Department or by Public Works Department ores _ and_ personnel after posting of the cashier's check, as set forth In Paragraph (a) above; (d) all monies posted by the residents not utilized In the design and construction of the -aforementioned barricades shall be returned to the residents. Section-3- Metropolitan Dade County Is hereby urged to take steps which will result in permanent Installatlon of traffic regulatory signs, In accordance with Amended Plan "B", Morningside neighborhood In the City of Miaml, Florida. The City Manager Is hereby authorized competitive sealed bids for the construction of the permanent barricades and award the contract(s) to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder or to direct Publlc Works` Department: forces 'and personnel to construct the permanent barricadesupon receipt of the thirty eight thousand six hundred. dollar: ($38,600) cashier's- check from the residents Morningslde Neighborhood. Section 6. In the event that the residents do not cos required cashier's check within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date of this Resolution, the authority and permission. granted by this Resolution shall be rescinded automatically and without further action by the City Commission. Section 8. This Resolution shall become MMedrately upon Its adoption. AVIER AREZ, MAYOR ATTEST A PRIETO-PORTAR, Ph.D., P.E. IRECTOR Or -PUBLIC: WORKS , G: M1RIPM,,MAER,,, ,, CHIEF, ASSISTANT CITY.ATTORNEY APPROVED; AS. TO- FORM :;AND -CORRECTNESS ; A: �QtIINN JONEWIALI-1 4?7/v.. CITY ATTORNEY MORNINGSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD PROPOSED VEHICULAR ACCESS RESTRICTIONS -AMENDED PLAN •. .0 • 7 7., 7,7,. the*r J et., on the opejlatfon*1 .ehtt i'aFd the" riOsi ee- area .str.44: a r.: .0 re. ; ',Ofip have been made : .• 4 o The intersections intertm rt- iTriTdat :h7 .7, = below LOS B under any o siral i zed int Boulevard does n Th nter will opera. southbound. e study o All remain movements) RECOMMENDATIONS t- stud:y onal characte n s.i.de area streets ollowing 'ob internal to the neighborhood` do: rt+- operate any system of closures ►;tersecti nn at M.P. snth Terrace ani*. Biscayne not operate be1 ow -LOS C u'nde.r any system of' ese, i nt.ersecti ors =m o a qu r one at N . E :61's.t. Street. an roorly in any system that turn opportunities in t pe'I WOEC Las 0. E )`L H scayne out evar. oea not al 1'owb=; fo northern half o All remaining movements (right turns in and out and through movements) operate at middle to high levels of service. FCOMMENDATIONS CITY OF MIAMI,`P4ra1F4Ii5A IN1`ER•OFFICE MEMORANDUM to: Honorable Mayor and Members Of the`Clty Commlsslon FROM Cesar He Odl City Manager DAtE AUG 2 01991 FILE suBJECT Vehicular Access RbatrlctIons;' to the Morningside Nelghborhooi REFERENCES : ENCLOSURES: esoiUt ton, LOO tt li}n Ma'. nd Trdff to Ahalysi'3' RECOMMENDATION: It Is respectfully recommended that the City Commission adopt the'attached resolution authorizing the permanent restriction of vehicular access to streets within the Morningslde Neighborhood and identifying a method of funding their installation. BACKGROUND On July 21, 1989 a group of .citizens from the Morningslde neighborhood, bounded by N.E. 50 Terrace, N.E. 60 Street, Biscayne Boulevard and Biscayne Bay, submitted a petition to the City Manager .and Department of Public Works requesting that vehicular access be restricted to many of the streets serving the `Morningslde neighborhood from Biscayne Boulevard. The citizens' request for.. vehicular access restrictions at these locations Is :in response to the .increasing need to control and prevent undesirable activities adjacent to and within their neighborhood and a desire to maintain the "character of the neighborhood. At ,the October 26, 1989 meeting, the Clty. Commission adopted Motion 89-995 instructing. the Public Works, Department to meet wlah eight(8) representatim.ves frothe Morningside neighborhood to.develop.-a traffic control plan to control undes,lrable traff.lc intrusion Into —the: Morningslde neighborhood. The eight (8) neighborhood: representatives selected 'for the trafflc. study committee represent the neighborhood groups both for andagalnst barricades. In addition, the Public Works Department retained the services of a professional traffic engineering consuitant`to prepare a traffic analysis of all vehicular access restriction proposals. Page 1 of 2 Honorable Mayor and Members of'the Clty CommissIon After ' extensively studying the traffic patterns of the neighborhood, consulting the various traffic counts and conslderIng the recommendations contained In the traffic engineering consultant report, a neighborhood traffic control plan was prepared by the Public Works Department and the neighborhood traffic study committee. Resolution No. 90..488 approving the Implementation Of traffic control Plan "B" on`a trial basis was adopted by the Clty Commission oh June 28, 1990. During the trial period, the neighborhood traffic study committee, working with the Public Works Department and neighborhood residents further refined the .temporary traffic control Plan "B" In accordance with the professional traffic analysts. The Public Works Department conducted a neighborhood meeting on June 13, 1991 to Inform all residents of the Morningslde neighborhood of the Committee's proposed plan and ' sollclted each residents opinion of the final plan by mailing a postage pald, self addressed post card ballot to each resident. The results of the ballot are as follows (as of August 6, 1991): 186 In Favor of Amended Plan "e" 88 Against Amended Plan "B" 5 No Opinion 152 Did Not Respond The Fire Department's, Police Department's and Solid Division's recommendations of the Amended Plan "B" wi presented at the September 11, 1991 meeting as well as a tally of the ballots. In accordance with recent Commisslon policy,' the Clty of Miami will not fund closures for neighborhood streets. If any traffic control measures are adopted by the Clty Commission, a method of financing their construction and maintenance must be identified, which could Include voluntary contributions by Interested property -'owners. The total cost of permanent barricade north of N.E. 55 Terrace Is estimated to be $4,600 each and south of N.E. 55 Terrace Is estimated to be S3,900 each for a total of $38,600. Page 2 of 2 TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS MORNINGSIDE RESIDENTIAL AREA AC 'T` ANALYSXS ORNINOSIDE RESIDENTIAL AREA FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI APRIL, 1990 PROJECT NO. 13366.10 PREPARED BY: KEITH AND SCHNARS, P.A. 8880 N.W. 20TH STREET, SUITE A MIAMI, FLORIDA 33172 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PROCSOU RE METHODOLOGY - a a'. a a a 4 a i• i• a a a a i i i• Y 66 6 i i i 66 a Y a• t a• i i a a a w a a ANALYSIS R COMMENDATIONS CONCLUSIONS INTRODUCTION The City of Miami has retained Keith and Schners to perform a Traffic Study to determine the feasibility and "impact of several patterns of side street closures along Biscayne Boulevard (U.S.i) in the Morningside area The study area is bounded by Northeast 50th Terrace on the south, Northeast 61st Street on the north, Biscayne Boulevard on the west and Biscayne Bay on the east. 'The focus of this study is primarily on the traffic issues and the effect of street closures on the operation of Biscayne Boulevard. It does not address issues concerning access for public services and emergency services. PROCEDURE Traffic counts for several of the side streets were acquired from the Dade County Department of Public Works. These data were collected in September and December 1989. From these data, it was determined that the heaviest traffic is during the PM peak. To establish PM peak hour travel patterns, turning movement counts were taken at selected _side streets and at each signalized 'side street along Biscayne Boulevard in the study area. These data were collected in February 1990. Information about the operation of the signals was obtained from the Dade County Traffic Control System computer. Intersection geometrics and sign control were noted in the field. All of this count and system information was used to analyze the various alternative networks. METHODOLOGY To determine the operating characteristics, each alternative net- work was simulated using the Transyt-7F Release '6 model (T7F).`. T7F is a computer program that can be used to determine how well a system of intersections works. Its output gives several measures of effectiveness (MOE's) about the system. The MOE of interest.. in 1 this study is the v/c ratio. Thla is the ratio of volume (v) of vehicles on the mad to the actual capacity (c) of the road. purposes of this study a v/c above 0.9 indicated a critical inter section. The critical intersections were studied further using Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) techniques. The HCM presents .a method of analyzing intersections independently, and it attaches a qualitative measure of effectiveness called level of sery (LOS) to the various movements at the intersection. This LOS based on delay and v/c ratios: A high level of service LOS A o B, indicates very little delay and low v/c ratios. A low level service LOS F, indicates poor operation with long delays and v/c ratios sometimes exceeding 1.0. Typically, the lowest acceptable level of service is LOS D. However, due to the constrained right- of-way and high density development along Biscayne Boulevard, the LOS E is considered acceptable by local planning agencies. ANALYSIS Alternate 1 - Existing Network Description The existing network is one in which all side streets are open. There are traffic signals at N.E. 50th Terrace, N.E. 54th Street and N.E. 61st Street on Biscayne Boulevard. At N.E. 55th Street, N.E. 55th Terrace and N.E. 56th Street vehicles are permitted to turn right off of and on to Biscayne Boulevard but. not left. This network is depicted in Figure 1. Results` Internal to the neighborhood, all intersections operate at LOS A or_B. The only drivers that experience difficulty are those turning left on to Biscayne Boulevard from the side streets. The heavy tratfic on Biscayne Boulevard provides few opportunities for vehicles to turn left. The long delays experienced by the left turning traffic correspond to LOS E. This is a low level of ser- vice, but it is acceptable. Also, the intersections are fairly insensitive to the number of left turns. According to analysis using HCM methods any number of left turns from 1 to'40 experiences nt_ hsl-�� 571h st 14. Rt ai RI Figure 1. Alternative 1: Existing Network (No Closures`). LEGEND iIgnaIized n erseotlon3 Alternate 2 - Maximum Closures ration A network with maximum closures allows the two existing signalized intersections providing access to the neighbors hood, N.E. 50th Terrace at Biscayne Boulevard and N.E. 61st Street at Biscayne Boulevard, to remain open. All other side streets are closed with full closures. This network is depicted in Figure 2. Results Under this scenario, all internal intersections operat high level of service (LOS A or B), and the intersection N.E. 50th Terrace and Biscayne Boulevard is not significantly impacted. However, this scenario causes the southbound left turns at the intersection of N.E. 61st Street and Biscayne Boulevard to fail. The left turns experience LOS F because there are not enough opportunities for the traffic to turn left across the heavy north- bound traffic. This problem can be avoided to some extent if left turn arrow is provided, but the green time it "steals" from other movements forces them to operate at LOS E/F. However., another type of capacity problemexists that the left turn arrow does not help; the left turn lane is too short to accommodate the increased traffic. This can cause cars to block the southbound through lane forcing it to operate at LOS F. The lack of queue storage is the critical factor at this inter section. The storage bay cannot be lengthened because of the intersection's proximity to the intersection at N.E. 62nd Street and Biscayne Boulevard. This means that to relieve problems that develop with the southbound lefts, more opportunities to access the network must be provided in the north portion of the study area. No additional left turn openings are required along Biscayne Boulevard south of N.E. 56th Street. Alternate 3 - One Unsignalized Opening Description In this scenario all side streets are, closed except one in the northern half of the study area and the two existing signalized openings. N.E. 5th Avenue is chosen because it can 4 NE 55th Terr %sigh at )rn $t 7.1111 Carr LT" n St ells As gore 2. Alternative 2;` All Side Streets Closed MornII II 7/1 i (152.01 152 0 i19I DI 191 D NE 6Ist Street 181: 0 174 D1 ,�-�-- 52 0 t 34.01 18i E {74 D Figure. 3 Operation of NE 61 s t `. Street and Biscayne Blvd,.. Existing vs Alternate 2." LEGEND anluneLOtvptil. under alter;= native�, xistln+ o�une 14 distribute traffic well in the neighborhood. Thie scenario is Shown in Figure 4. Results This scenario takes some left turning traffic away from N.E. 61st Street and Biscayne Boulevard, but the southbound left urn bay is still over capacity. Alternate 4 — Two Unsignalized Openings Description The fourth alternative leaves the existing signaliz .ntereections and two unsignalized intersections open. This ne work is shown in Figure 6. N.E. 5th Avenue and N.E. 6th Avenu are chosen because of their ability to collect and distribute traffic in the neighborhood. Results This scenario allows the network to operate near its existing levels of service. A few movements at the signalized" intersections drop by one level, but none drops below LOS D. For example, the southbound left turning movement at N.E. 61st Street and Biscayne Boulevard drops from LOS B to LOS C (see Figure 7` Alternative 6- An'Additional Signalized Opening Description This scenario closes all side streets except for the two existing signals and one additional signal at N.E. 5th Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard. Results The additional signalized intersection attracts more left turns from N.E. 61st Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard than one o'r•two unsignalized openings. It does allow the intersection at N.E. 61st Avenue to operate near existing levels of service, but it may not be necessary. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices' (MUTCD) lists 11 conditions under which signals may be required.'' The volumes of traffic' and operational characteristics in=, the Morningside area are such that only one of those conditions may be met.- Thisisa peak hour delay condition. While a; detailed analysis. is, beyond the scope of this study, based on available'da 7 Signal Ized In'ersect Ion Unsignali'zed Intersection Proposer! Closure Figure 4, Alternative 3; One 'Open ing (Sign Control! i NE 62nd Street 1152 DI 152 D t191 0T 191 D E Vo I une t vph) and LOS t un er alter native 3{ K: 0) ;EX is:ttng a une and Figure 5. Operation of NE 61st treet at 8isga ne Blvd. xsiting vs, Alternate 3. h5th Tarr OF 59th St MOrnln Par qt. ❑7ea Tarr - Two Openings (Sign Control) I9nal12ed n ff er s e, c t lon Unsignaltzed' Intersection t152 D1 152 D (191 D► ID) 0 set E Volune tvphi an_ s •_un er.alter- native: Figure: 7, Operation of ofNE61st Street at Biscayne Blvd. Existing vs. Alternate 4. it 1 doubtful that a signal CONCLUSIONS his location could be uatlfied. This report has examined several alternative patterns of sld street closures in the Morningside reaidentlal area to determin their impact on the operational characteristics of Siscayn Boulevard and the Morningaide area streets. The following obser vationa have been made: o Several side street closures can be accommodated without adversely affecting the operation of 'biseayne Boulevard. o The intersections internal to the neighborhood do not operate below LOS B under any system of closures. o The signalized intersection at N.S. 50th Terrace and Biscayne Boulevard does not operate below LOS C under any system of closures. o The southbound left turns into the neighborhood are the cri- tical factor. At least two intersections between N.E: 57th Street and W.E. 60th Street must remain open to allow for these movements, but these intersections do not require sig_ nalization. The intersection at N.E. 61st Street and Biscayne' Boulevard will operate poorly in any system that does not allow for southbound left turn opportunities in the northern half of the study area. Left turns out of the neighborhood experience a relatively low but acceptable level of service (LOS E) under any alternative with unsignalized openings. All remaining movements (right turns in and out and through movements) operate at middle to high levels of service. RECOMMENDATIONS To adequately provide access to the Morningsideneighborhood and maintain existing levels of service the following recommendationa. are made• 12 TIV o_ The existing signalized intersections should remain open At least two streets providing southbound left turns off of Biscayne Boulevard between N.E. 67th Street and N.S. 80th Street, inclusive, should remain open. An additional signalized intersection is not recommended. detailed engineering study of the proposed intersection location' would be required before a recommendation could be made. tt should be noted that preliminary date indicate that a signal cannot' be justified. In addition to the recommendations above, the following should be considered. Address issues'of emergency and public service access. Provide access to public land, i.e., Morningside Park via N:E. 55th Terrace. Certain streets if left open may require improvements to safely accommodate increased two way traffic. For example, increased traffic flow on N.E. 5th Avenue would require resur- facing, 'proper markings, and preferably pavement widening. These factors may have a stronger impact on the decision of which treets to close than the traffic issues. providing access to the north portion of the study area and ng the public access and service and emergency access, there a variety of patterns of closures and half closures that can be accommodated to suit the needs of the City and the citizens of the ornings i de'- Neighborhood.