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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO PREPARE A REPORT IDENTIFYING THE ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE PROACTIVE APPROVAL, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST WITHIN URBAN AREAS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, INCLUDING ANY RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO STAFFING ALLOCATION AND POTENTIAL REORGANIZATION, EXPEDITED PROCESSES, DESIGN MANUAL UPDATES, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPLETE STREETS AND VISION ZERO MEASURES INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF CROSSWALKS AND PROTECTED BICYCLE LANES, REPROGRAMMING OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAY STREETS

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WHEREAS, according to the 2019 �Dangerous by Design� report from Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolis ranked the 14th least safe metro area in the country for pedestrians, with 1,549 pedestrian deaths between 2008-2017; and
WHEREAS, this Board, on April 8, 2014, adopted Resolution No. R-347-14, supporting the creation of a �Downtown Pedestrian Priority Zone� in Downtown Miami, and directing the County Mayor to set up a process in coordination with the City of Miami to implement the �Downtown Pedestrian Priority Zone�, and directing the County Mayor to explore possible ways to implement similar pedestrian-friendly zones in the County�s �Urban Center Districts�; and
WHEREAS, to date only one of the 10 recommendations of the �Downtown Pedestrian Priority Zone� has been completed, which was the implementation of a 25 mile per hour speed limit; and
WHEREAS this Board adopted Resolution No. R-383-17, on April 4, 2017, which directed the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to prepare a feasibility report relating to the establishment of a comprehensive plan to reduce pedestrian fatalities by incorporating components of Los Angeles� Vision Zero campaign; and
WHEREAS, this Board, on June 6, 2017, adopted Resolution No. R-627-17, establishing County policy that Miami-Dade County�s streets should be designed in accordance with Complete Streets guidelines; directing the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to incorporate, whenever feasible, the Complete Streets guidelines into the operations of any County department responsible for the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of County roads; and directing the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to prepare a written report on the implementation of the directives set forth in this resolution; and
WHEREAS, this Board, on October 23, 2018, adopted Resolution No. R-1099-18, requesting the administration prepare a report within 180 days on scramble crosswalks, a traffic signal movement that stops all vehicular traffic and prioritizes pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, this same Resolution No. R-1099-18, requested the administration analyze signage and communication needs for existing scrambles to pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, this Board, on November 19, 2019, adopted Resolution No. R-1255-19, directing the County Administration to prepare a report identifying locations for the installation of pedestrian crosswalk features; and
WHEREAS, this Board, on May 5, 2020, adopted Resolution No. R-426-20, directing the County Administration to reprogram traffic signals to automatic pedestrian signal phasing at high pedestrian volume areas in Downtown Miami, Brickell, Little Havana, and Miami Beach and to submit a report on such installation; and
WHEREAS, to date, these reports have not been provided; and
WHEREAS, play streets which are closed to vehicular traffic officially designated as a place where children can play and socialize, have become a trend in various cities throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, the use of play streets for regular community activities, may assist in facilitating more walkable and livable urban neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, this Board has adopted numerous policies to promote transit-oriented development which requires pedestrian and bicycle safety; and
WHEREAS, municipalities have attempted to implement pedestrian friendly measures, such as a scramble crosswalk at Espa�ola Way and a raised crosswalk at Liberty Avenue and 23rd Street in Miami Beach; and
WHEREAS, similarly, organizations and municipalities have attempted to paint crosswalks, a national trend to promote pedestrianism by making crosswalks more attractive thereby creating a sense of placemaking and community building; and
WHEREAS, organizations and residents have advocated for protected bike lanes on the Venetian Causeway, one of the most highly trafficked bike routes in the County; and
WHEREAS, the above initiatives have been met with resistance from the County�s Department of Transportation and Public Works (the �Department�); and
WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, cities including Oakland, Denver, and Montreal moved quickly to open interconnecting networks of streets and bike lanes to allow for increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic while allowing for social distancing; and
WHEREAS, the Department continues to prioritize vehicular traffic at the expense of promoting pedestrianism and bicycle usage throughout the County and deters the implementation of pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly features, such as protected bike lanes, painted crosswalks, narrow vehicular lanes, pedestrian prioritization at crosswalks, scramble crosswalks, reduced speed limits, prohibition of right turns on red, and more; and
WHEREAS, a thorough review of the staffing needs and allocation and potential reorganization of the Department may assist in creating a more efficient and effective response to the needs within the County�s urban areas to ensure that the Department prioritizes pedestrianism, bicycle riding, and mass transit and is responsive to the issues affecting pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Approves the foregoing recitals, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2. Directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to prepare a report identifying the organizational needs to establish a comprehensive plan for the proactive approval, installation and maintenance of mobility improvements for pedestrian and cyclist within urban areas of Miami-Dade County, including any recommendations as to staffing allocation and potential reorganization, new expedited processes, design manual updates, and implementation of Complete Streets and Vision Zero measures, including installation of protected bicycle lanes and crosswalks, reprogramming of traffic signals, and implementation of play streets, painted crosswalks, reduced speed limits, and pedestrian prioritization at crosswalks.
Section 3. Directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to place a report within 90 days of the effective date of this resolution on an agenda of the Board in accordance with Ordinance No. 14-65.