TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHEN INSTALLING BICYCLE LANES ON STATE ROADS; URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO AMEND APPLICABLE STATUTES TO REQUIRE SUCH COOPERATION AND PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RELATED TO BICYCLE LANES

BODY
WHEREAS, bicycles not only provide a good source of fitness and recreation, but also can serve as a viable means of transportation that saves money, does not use nonrenewable fuel and does not pollute the environment; and
WHEREAS, in 2001, the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization prepared a Bicycle Facilities Plan for 2025 to meet the needs of the increasing number of people in Miami-Dade who use bicycles; and
WHEREAS, as the cost of gasoline rises, the number of people using bicycles and other alternative means of transportation is expected to continue to increase; and
WHEREAS, section 335.065, Florida Statutes, provides that bicycles lanes shall be given full consideration in the planning and development of state roads by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT); and
WHEREAS, when FDOT undertakes a resurfacing project on a state road, FDOT generally installs bicycle lanes along the state road if there is room to accommodate such bicycle lanes; and


WHEREAS, in installing bicycle lanes as part of a resurfacing project, however, FDOT may not adequately consider whether a state road is suitable for bicycle lanes, because of a high speed limit on the road, for example, or whether there are better nearby alternatives for bicycle lanes; and
WHEREAS, FDOT has installed, or is in the process of planning or installing bicycle lanes along a number of state roads in Miami-Dade County that may not be particularly suitable for bicycle lanes, such as:
1. S.W. 57 Avenue/Red Road between S.W. 8 Street and S.W. 40 Street, where the bicycle lanes can only be constructed along certain segments of the road and there are many storefront businesses with parking that requires vehicles to back out onto Red Road;
2. S.W. 8 Street/Tamiami Trail between S.W. 152 Avenue and S.W. 177 Avenue, where vehicles travel at a high rate of speed, with a speed limit between 45 and 55 mph;
3. Alton Road in the City of Miami Beach, where there is curbside parking, limited space and considerable traffic; and
4. The MacArthur Causeway, where the speed limit is 50 mph; and

WHEREAS, in some cases, such bicycle lanes are not used very much because of the dangers associated with them; and
WHEREAS, simply constructing bicycle lanes along state roads that are being resurfaced without sufficient consideration for safety or use, is not the most effective use of public funds; and
WHEREAS, FDOT should take a more creative approach to the installation of bicycle lanes by considering, for example, alternate routes for bicycle lanes that run parallel to state roads as well as protected bicycle lanes that have barriers between vehicle traffic and bicycle lanes; and
WHEREAS, FDOT also should take a more comprehensive approach to the installation of bicycle lanes and work cooperatively with local governments related to bicycle lanes, with the goal of creating a viable and safe network of bicycle lanes for transportation throughout Miami-Dade County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Department of Transportation to work cooperatively with local governments related to bicycle lanes on state roads.
Section 2. Urges the Florida Legislature to amend applicable statutes to require such cooperation and provide greater flexibility to the Florida Department of Transportation related to the installation of bicycle lanes.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Florida Senate President, Florida House Speaker, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation and the Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation.
Section 4. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation and action set forth in Sections 1 and 2 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2013 State Legislative Package when it is presented to the Board.