House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #2548 City Traffic Calming Implementation
Requester:	Raul Valdez-Fauli		Organization:		City of Coral Gables
Project Title:	City Traffic Calming Implementation		Date Submitted:		01/31/2000 10:13:09 AM
District Member:	Carlos Lacasa		Service Area:		City/Town
Counties Affected:	Dade
Recipient:	City of Coral Gables		Contact:		Alberto Delgado Public Works Directo
	405 Biltmore Way		Contact Phone:		(305) 460-5001
	Coral Gables 33134
Project Description:
The purpose of this project was to analyze the traffic problems withing the City of Coral Gables, prioitize the problem areas, and recommend traffic calming solutions. The project also defines guidelines, selection methodology and funding strategies for city-wide traffic calming and mitigation projects. The project addresses traffic problems in selected locations with public concerns related to speeding, high volume and traffic intrusion in residential areas. Also, it provided the City with a methodology to warrant and prioritize traffic calming projects. The recommended traffic calming devices include traffic circles, right-in right out diverters, semi-diverters,speed humps, roadway narrowings, and landscaped medians. As this project focus on residents concerns, it was imperative to bring in the residents of the City as a partner in most of the project stages, 16 public workshops, 2 public meetings and several meetings with street captains were held to determine the residents'concerns and problems. Accordingly, more than 200 locations all over the City wer studied to determine their eligibility for traffic calming measures. The final analysis recommends 100 traffic calming devices to be designed and installed in areas with residents concerns to reduce speed, traffic volume and traffic intrusion in local residential streets. The project also includes the design and implementation of traffic capacity improvements to increase the traffic flow and the level of service and to reduce the travel time on Coral Way and Bird Road which are considered as the two major east-west corridors withing the City limits, as well as improvments at Cartagena Cirlce on Sunset Drive.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
Public involvements has been a continous source of input to this project to provide the most adequate service to the community. A methodology and a selection criteria have been developed and applied to analyze the public concerns and to determine the possibilities of installing traffic calming devices. The analysis resulted in a list of streets that are qualified for traffic calming implementation. The overall analysis recommended the installation of different types of traffic calming devices within the City. Pilot projects with traffic calming devices are already in place in different locations across the City to measure their effectiveness, as well as the residents' perception to these devices. In order to reduce traffic intrusion to local residential streets it was important to improve the traffic flow on major arterials within the City limits. Thus, corridor analyses were performed for Coral Way and Bird Road. The results of the analysis showed that the level of service on these two corridors can be improved in many cases from a level of service "F" to a level of service "C". Also, the travel time along these corridors will be reduced during the peak hour without exceeding the posted travel speed limits.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Safety has been a key element in the development of this study. Several intersection improvements were recommended to improve the safety of the drivers, as well as the pedestrians and bicyclists in the local residential streets. The project recommendations will provide A safer enviroment for residents by reducing speed in neighborhood streets and decreasing cut-through traffic and truck movements through residential areas. Therefore, neighborhood impacts will be reduced with the implementation of this project. The plan is a solution to mitigate not only excessive speed and traffic flow through residential streets but also to promote a safer community.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$1,000,000
Total cost of the project:		$3,000,000

Request has been made to fund:			Construction
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?				Yes
	Cash Amount:	$2,000,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?				No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?				No
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?				No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?				No
Is there a documented need for this project?				Yes
	Documentation:	City of Coral Gables Traffic Calming Study
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?				Yes
	Hearing Body:	City Commission
	Meeting Date:	12/14/1999