HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #81 - Discussion Itemk)
T.)
.luseph P. Cirassie
City Manager
;,.ore, . Ag,encla Item 7
Richard L. Fusnloetl I)irector City Commission Meeting 12/15•/77
Planning 1)epartWet)t -)�� a{tcs ..t5 Public Hearing
j/4-l� erg 4,4r_._
,' I S i r t `i r
William E. -e�'.se
CITY C)F MIAMI F
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
()art. t.)t tuber 26, 1977
aes
Public e,1'e)rk.s I)epartnlent
Per the Commission's request of May IS, 1977, Florida Avenue, between
Matilda Street and :`,It Donald Street, was converted to one-way \ve!stbouncl
operation for a six -week. trial period t olt me,t)(ing :\u Ust 26, 1977 and
ending C)(tobcr F), 1977. II•,Ieerida A\onue presently Continued in one-
way operation) Other riOht-of-way impro\eme fits were also blade tree Map).
The attached report Iron, the Dade ('aunty Department of 'l raffle and '1 rans-
portation recommends that this segment of Florida Avenue continue tt) operate
as a one-way westbound street, t itint; -1 percent reduction in 2-1- hour traffic
volumes: smoother traffic Clow: !le) tl-ailk- congestion dIUI1' Matilda Street U1' at
the Matilda/Florida interse•t tion and increased pedestrian safety. However,
there has been a certain amount of int o;lvenient e to residents along Florida
A venue.
Both the 1'lannint, Department and Public \Vorl:s I)epartrllent support this recom-
mendation.
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MEM
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FONDA AVENUE GETI;LEf MATILt STREET WO MCDOi+lit 11 STREET
REPORT OF EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE-WAY t.:EETSUUND OPERATION
E3ackyround :
On May 18, 1977, the City of Miami City Commission, following a puhlic hearing,
directed that Florida Avenue between Matilda Street and McDonald Street be con-
verted to one-way westbound ('pe•ration for a six week trial period. Because the
primary reason for converting Florida Avenue to one-way westbound was to improve
traffic flow and safety in the vicinity of Coconut Grove Elementary School, it
was determined that the six week trill period should begin Friday, August.
1977, in order to correspond with the beginHinq of the nt'w school year. This
Departuernt was requested to prepare d report .it the end of the six week trial
period regarding the effectiveness of the one-way operation.,
Observations:
The six week trial period ended October O, 1977. On October 6, 1977, a machine
count was conducted to detorr.;ine the voluwe of traffic now using Flor•ida'Avenue.
The total volume of traffic during a 24-hour period was found to be 347 vehicles.
Prior to impiement pit iron of the one-1:.ry pattern, the tutdl voltnHie of tr,rf t is
cduring a 74-hour period o-.is 747 vehit les consisting of 360 eastbound vehicles
and 387 we thouud vehicles. the before c.oi:nt was tdken on April 12, 1977. The
reduction in thu volume of traffic according to the machine counts is 5; percent.
Traffic t lcl'o in t Ile vicinity c' the ¶.chool 1, as t:1 served by a r eprc'sent,, t. 1ve of
this Department on Friday, October 14, 1977, between 7:5!:, Ay. and 8:30 A.M. when
students were en their way to `,chool . Traffic was observed to flow smoother now
than when Florida Avenue was operating as a two -ray street. There was no traffic
congestion along Mdfilda Street or at the into -section of !Thtilda Street. and
Florida f''ve'nle, Mete was li,ltilr'ur: c(irlfl1(t. between Students and vehicle`..
Several students were observed „alklr;l: akin the portion of Florida Avenue where
there are no sidewalks. They were able to !du So with minimum hazard because of
the one -Way operation. Traffic flow Was also checked at a dismissal tinny and
similar improvements were ut;served.
The enrollment of Coconut Grove Elementary School this school year is slightly
less than last year, however, not enough to significantly alter conditions.
The principal advises that the enrollr.ent this year i5 3P students whereas last
year it. was (WO students. The principal also, advises that there are approximately
the same number of University of ltianii education students visiting the school
this year dS last year.
Comments Regarding (j)eratian:
Only one resident has called t.his Department to cuo,ment, pro or con, on the
effectiveness of the one-way operation. The one caller advised that, in her
orinioh5 the one-way operation is cau5int3 considerable inconvenience, increased
fuel consumption, and delay, especially to people 1 ivinr at the west rind of
Florida Avenue near l:cUona l d St rot . r,t,f a 1 sr: ,1d', i sed that she his observed
motorists violatin(1 the "b0 NOT [NTH'" ,it.irl`_, and proceeding east.huund along
the street. 110 violations have, however, been observed l y repr'esentativei
of this Department.
The Principal of Coconut Grove ti ra_ntary rchorlt advises that, in her opinion,
there is nu lnn(1er a traffic problem it the vicinity of the school and that
she is very pleased with the one-way street Gperation.
The PTA `.,ittety Chairr,an for uecrinlit h:ro.e 1.l(_rt.nt,ir'y Y►-ool advises that, in
her opin1Gn, the one-way o ':r tt.ieri fur, t. rlilv,rt trt:l''t_'rlduusly on traffic and
has mode conditions much safer tor the ,cho t children.
Effectiveness:
The conversion of Florida h vrr1Ue between i''.at i lda treet and rc[i'nald Street to
one-way westbound operation has achieved its 1!ric,ary purpose, n,irir?1y to llaprove
traffic_ t low and ;rtf et; in tt t 'v 1Clnit y ut Ln(unut Grove flcrient,lr'y School. It
has also caused it suLst.int lril reduction in the volui-e of traffic using 1 1(?rlda
Avenue which is of genetit, to the residents living along 11(Irirl:i Avenue. It
has, tl(iwever, e.a1J`.ed o .ertaln c:11.r111nt of i (crlveriit''HLe to ',te.I(? residents. lile
residt'rlt`' -t((E'{';t,tiic of this ir(onv fierce CAP i;r'Cterthly test he Cett'r'I:tined by
conducting a public hearing.
Recul;,r;'endat ion :
It is this ilt.'j.,•,ir;.t'ieritrs reco" t;r:;i. tinrt thrat a public hearing be arranged to
deterciirie resident, re:iC1.i)n tri the ove-way ('bi.ratiou. Fruit ,3 tr'affic flow and
safety standpoint, this bepar'tierit recoi ends that Florida Avenue continue to
operate as a one-way 'WestLound street.
Ceparti;ent of Traffic and Transportation
Operations Division
October 25, 1977