Venetian Causeway Streetscape Improvements Meeting Notes

Irene Sperber's Notes From:

VENETIAN CAUSEWAY STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS
MEETING FEB 1, 2007 @ 1000 VENETIAN WAY

The Venetian Causeway Beautification Project is in it's final stages.
Bidding is to go out March "08 and Construction should start September "08
on this one year project.

The Miami-Dade County Public Works Department Community kick-off meeting was
held at 1000 Venetian Way on the evening of February 1st. Ms Lana Moorey
Project Manager was in attendance along with Mr. Leandro Ona, Assistant
Chief, Highway Division.

The project boundaries for the Master Plan are from Bayshore Drive in Miami
to Alton Road in Miami Beach. The project limits for design include
Venetian Causeway from Biscayne Island in Miami to Belle Isle except the
bridges. This area is approximately two miles. Expanded sidewalks, curb &
gutter, raised landscaped median, continuous bike lanes, parallel parking,
drainage improvements, pavement markings and signing, traffic mast arms,
decorative roadway lighting, tree planting, entrance features, and
decorative crosswalks are some of the improvements the city has targeted.
Many alternatives were discussed.


Traffic calming devices were a big topic with city planners and concern
among residents.
Bike lanes are to be generally 4' wide and sidewalks 6' wide. One island
may have a bike lane in the middle of the street. All streets will be
narrow: 11' instead of the usual 12'. There is concern about street
narrowing as a traffic calming plan as it could also create a dangerous
situation because the Causeway has such an active population: walkers,
joggers, bladers & bikers.

1) The Median strip plantings to be placed in the center of the street were
not received well, as they would create a barrier to left turn lanes and eat
up much needed space that could be better utilized.
2) Sidewalks would have plantings between the street and the sidewalk in
many instances.
3) Guardrails would be eliminated except where necessary near bridges.
Bridge revamping is another project.
4) Round-a-bouts for street calming were brought up. Pine Tree Drive
currently has them in place.

There was talk of making left hand turns into only one of the east/west
circle entrances to island streets to stop people from pleasure-cruising
around one half of each island, crossing the street, then continuing around
the second ½ of the circle.

They discussed taking away parking on the grass (swales) across from 1000
Venetian Way. There was a lot of objection, as this would severely cut down
the number of accessible parking places for that neighborhood.

Attendance and participation in future planning meetings are imperative as
most of these issues were not warmly received by residents. Let's make sure
we make our voices heard before the plans are finalized.