HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Neisen Kasdin-Kimley Horn LetterKirnley »>> Horn
November 15, 2021
Mr. Nelsen Kasdin, Esq.
Akerman LLP
Three Bricke[I City Centre
98 Southeast Seventh Street
Suite 1100
Miami, Florida 33131
Submitted into the public
record for i rn(s) a- 4
on 11 lig 73 City C erk
Re: NE 38th Street Conceptual Improvement Plan/Traffic Evaluation
Review and Findings
Dear Mr. Kasdin:
Per your request, we performed review of the Traffic Summary for the NE 38th Street improvements
prepared for Magnolia Holdings, LLC by TrafTech Engineering, Inc. dated November 10, 2021. The
traffic evaluation examines both the potential traffic impacts associated with the development and the
improvements planned to mitigate these impacts. We noted numerous concerns with the analysis
provided. However, we have identified the following critical issues in the documentation:
1. The report states that the improvements will create reserve capacity (i.e., public benefits) at
the intersection of SR 5/US 1/Biscayne Boulevard and NE 38th Street by 213 a.m. and 361
p.m. peak hour trips. However, the proposed improvements provide nominal operational
improvement to the westbound approach, the most critical approach. The average delay per
vehicle on the westbound approach provides a more accurate metric in the determination of an
actual public benefit. The report indicates that the westbound approach delay will be reduced
by less than 2 percent in the a.m. peak hour as a result of the improvements and the approach
will continue to fail (LOS F) during the p.m. peak hour even with the improvements
implemented. Therefore, the public benefit appears nominal as the project is expected to utilize
the majority of the additional capacity created by the improvements.
2. The proposed improvement plan maintains the existing crosswalk on the north side of the
signalized intersection at SR 5/US 1/Biscayne Boulevard and NE 38th Street. However, the
analysis fails to account for the appropriate exclusive pedestrian phase required for this
crosswalk in order to provide for safe operations given the proposed westbound geometry and
Miami -Dade County Traffic Signs and Signal Division's standard practice. Revising the
analysis to address this issue may drastically impact the results reported in the study.
3. Based on the analysis data provided in the appendix of the report, changes to existing signal
timings are proposed. There is no mention of this in the body of the report. These timing
changes will require review and approval from both Miami -Dade County and FOOT. No
evidence of this coordination is provided in the analysis. Additionally, timing changes will affect
the intersection of Federal Highway and NE 38th Street due to their close coordination, which
was not analyzed.
kimley-horn.com
8201 Peters Road, Suite 2200, Plantation, FL 33324
954-535-5100
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Mr_ Nelsen Kasdin, Esq.. November 15, 2021. Page 2
4. The proposed change in circulation of NE 38th Street/NE 6th Avenue directly affects the access
to the Point Bay North Condominium. The change in circulation will force all exiting traffic to
travel westbound on NE 38th Street and potentially eliminate on -street parking spaces directly
in front of the site. There is no mention in the report of the change in access and whether it has
been coordinated with the appropriate stakeholders.
5. The proposed plan appears to propose the vacation of the east -west alley located between NE
38ih Street and NE 37th Street. Vacation of public right-of-way requires approval from Miami -
Dade County's Traffic Engineering Division (TED). It is unclear of the applicant has submitted
this vacation request to TED for review and approval.
6. The proposed development and associated improvements require approvals from the Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) and potentially the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) as the improvement limits include both on- and off -ramps to an interstate facility (SR
112/1-195) and connects to US 1/SR 5/Biscayne Boulevard. Coordination and preliminary
approval of the concept should be obtained to confirm feasibility. Given that the study was
completed in November 2021, it is unlikely that FOOT has provided any feedback on the traffic
impact analysis at this time. As such, it may be premature for any action to occur prior to
obtaining official comments from FDOT to confirm that the proposed improvements are not
fatally flawed.
If you have any questions regarding our review, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
9�-
John J. McWilliams, P.E.
K:IFTL_TPT01043505008 - MOD SAP 20211correspondence11tr111 15 21 kasdin Ilr.docx
kimley-horn.com
8201 Peters Road, Suite 2200, Plantation, FL 33324
954-535-5100