HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Miami Dade 03-24-11Carlos Alvarez, Mayor
February 9, 2011
Honorable Marc Sarnoff
Commissioner District 2
City of Miami
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, Florida 33133
Re: Belle Meade Neighborhood
Dear Commissioner Sarnoff,
Public Works
1 I NW 1st Street • Suite 1610
Miami, Florida 33128-1970
•T 305-375-2960 F 305-375-3070
miamidade.gov
In response to your inquiry to Miami Dade County Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson
regarding the closing of pedestrian access to the Belle Meade neighborhood, please be advised
that the Miami -Dade County Public Works Department (PWD) reviewed the proposal and offers
the following comments:
The Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for
Streets and Highways ("Florida Greenbook"), developed by the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT), provides minimum standards for the design and maintenance of County
and municipal roadway systems, including pedestrian facilities such as sidewalks. Chapter 8 of
the Greenbook, provides that "All new highways, except limited access highways, should be
designed and constructed under the assumption they will be used by pedestrians." Chapter 15
of the Greenbook provides that if traffic diverters are being installed to redirect vehicular traffic,
such as a street closure, as has been in the Belle Meade neighborhood, "Bicyclists and
pedestrians should be provided access through traffic diverters." (see pages 8-1 and 15-11 of
the attached Greenbook).
The Greenbook provisions are consistent with the Miami -Dade County Comprehensive
Development Master Plan (CDMP), which provides that pedestrian and vehicular networks
should serve as connectors between neighborhoods, while the walling off of a neighborhood
from arterial roadways should be avoided. It further states that pedestrian circulation shall be
provided between public places through connectivity of sidewalks and supplemented by
pedestrian paths (see page 1-27 of the attached CDMP Land Use Element).
Furthermore, the Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System, published by
the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, states,that if a.street
closure is implemented, it should always allow for the free through movement of all pedestrians,
including wheelchair users, and bicyclists. Moreover, emergency vehicles should,be,able to
access the barricaded streets. Additionally, street closures must be implemented so AS "not to
adversely affect access to destinations in the community by pedestrians and bicyclists" (see
page 94 of the attached Countermeasures Chapter 5).
Honorable Marc Sarnoff
Belle Meade
Page 2 of 2
Therefore, based on the attached local, state, and federal provisions and as stated by our
Assistant County Attorney's e-mail (see also attached), the modification of the existing
barricaded streets to include blocking pedestrian access along the sidewalks in the Belle Meade
neighborhood cannot be allowed. However, as an option pedestrian free movement may be
provided through th'e installation of concrete pipe bollards.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact my office.
Sincere)
Esther L. Calas, P.E., Director
Miami -Dade County
Public Works Department
Attachments
cc: Honorable Audrey M. Edmonson
Miami -Dade County Commissioner, District 3
Marta Martinez-Aleman, Commission Aide
District 3
Joan Shen, Ph.D., P.E., PTOE
Assistant Chief, Traffic Engineering Division