It’s time to make a decision and stop kicking the can down the road. For over two years, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has been planning a crucial roadway improvement project for North Beach along the heavily urbanized Collins Avenue, from 63rd to 75th Streets. This project aims to increase safety for all road users by improving pedestrian crosswalks, fixing deficiencies on sidewalks, rehabilitating the asphalt pavement, and potentially adding a bicycle lane.
According to documents we’ve obtained, inter-agency communications started as early as September 2022, possibly earlier. FDOT staff and consultants identified the possibility of extending planned (44th – 63rd Streets) and under-construction (26th – 44th Streets) bike lanes on Collins Avenue and reached out to the City of Miami Beach for a resolution of support. This proposal is part of the city’s adopted Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan and presents an opportunity for Miami Beach to enhance safety and mobility for all residents and visitors, by building a network of connected bicycle lanes throughout the city.
Data from FDOT’s own report highlights the need. With a design speed of 45 MPH, a speed limit of 30 MPH, and a target speed of 25 MPH on Collins Avenue, the current conditions pose significant risks for bicyclists and micromobility riders who must share the road with fast-moving traffic. The proposed bicycle lane would provide a safer alternative, particularly for commuters and residents who are currently restricted from using micromobility on the Beachwalk.
This proposal has already undergone significant deliberation. It was referred to the Public Safety and Neighborhoods Quality of Life Committee in September 2023 and heard by the Committee in May 2024. A virtual public meeting, with over 25 attendees, also took place. At the PSNQLC, committee member Commissioner David Suarez expressed his full support, while Vice-Mayor Fernandez, the item’s sponsor, called it a “tremendous opportunity.” Despite this positive reception, the committee ultimately punted on making a decision. Instead, they gave city staff an impossible task: to find a way to keep the parking along the west side of the street, add a bicycle lane, and preserve all three existing travel lanes.
According to the staff memo, after the Committee meeting, city staff met with FDOT to discuss redesign options. FDOT reaffirmed that only two options were viable for adding a bicycle lane: removing parking on the west side of the street or eliminating a travel lane. Of the 75 parking spaces affected, this averages just over six per block. Most of these spaces are concentrated between 73rd and 75th Streets, a walkable area with many businesses and restaurants, where special design considerations could be made
These 75 spaces generate only $55,000 in yearly parking revenue, a spectacularly low amount.
This opportunity, which comes at no cost to the City of Miami Beach, must not be lost. FDOT has been planning this project for nearly two years, and it will move forward with or without the bike lanes. City staff recommend including a bicycle lane. We urge our elected leaders to be forward-thinking and take advantage of this tremendous opportunity to advance mobility choice before it passes.