Please take some time to look over the plan and send your thoughts in an email to info@southmiamineighbors.com.
After the jump, the complete text of Kimley-Horn's Vision, Goals and Objectives document, along with drawings of proposed street configurations...
SMITP Vision, Goals and Objectives
SMITP VISION
The genesis of the South Miami Intermodal Transportation Plan (SMITP) began with the Green Task Force discussing a system of neighborhood greenways and trails for the City of South Miami. This idea was further galvanized on September 6, 2011 when the City Commission passed a resolution recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation and recreation for the betterment of the residents and for the environment. The SMITP is part of a continuing effort to enhance the transportation system and mobility choices for the residents andvisitors to the City of South Miami and aims to establish a network of sidewalks, trails, roadway improvements, neighborhood greenways, and bicycle lanes throughout the City, connecting residential areas with downtown shopping and dining, transit facilities (Metrorail and BRT) and M‐Path that are safe and comfortable for everyone:young and old; motorists and bicyclists; walker and wheelchair users; bus and Metrorail riders alike. Based on smart growth and complete streets principles, the Plan will focus on pedestrian and bicycle transportation projects, as well as enhancing access to public transportation through complete streets principles, which seek toprovide a comfortable transportation system for users of all ages and abilities.
Complete Streets is a relatively new term for an idea from decades past. Long before regulations and requirements promoting rapid automobile movement began dictating street design, streets were built and developed to serve the destinations surrounding them. Some of the greatest streets in America still maintain this century‐old character. New great streets built to evolving standards are being built throughout the country through Complete Streets programs. Complete Streets facilitate pedestrian street crossings, walkability, and biking. Furthermore, itimproves transit connectivity and safety for all users.
Sustainability in transportation is the ability to meet the needs of the present generation to provide for the movement of people and goods without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Transportation is the largest user of fossil fuels and one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The SMITP will help to fulfill the South Miami desire to be carbon‐neutral by following sustainability values:
People deserve viable mobility options to be able to drive less (walking, bicycling, access to public transit)
Enhancement of street rights of way and open spaces through good urban design and landscape techniques
Better multimodal connectivity will provide economic benefits to local merchants
A multimodal transportation system designed around people, not cars, will help promote the South Miami Hometown identity and reinforce its City of Pleasant Living identity
Educating users of the system improvements will encourage and promote sustainable transportation
The SMITP will try to balance cost, maintenance, and functionality, while focusing on solutions to reduceenvironmental impact. Some design options include:
Rain gardens and bioswales (to capture stormwater runoff)
Solar lighting for bus stops and sidewalks
LED lighting
Car share locations
Bike service kiosks
Pervious concrete and porous asphalt
Many of these features can be considered instead of extending infrastructure, creating a major costs savings.
SMITP GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the SMITP is to design streets that:
provide for multiple transportation modes ‐ pedestrian, bicycle, transit and automobile ‐ and include environmentally sustainable, context‐sensitive solutions
recognize the differences between the street types
support flexibility to accommodate future needs and allow change to occur incrementally within budgetary constraints
The following objectives will drive the development of the SMITP as a means towards achieving the above stated goals:
Establish a new street design process, policies, and standards that integrate Complete Streets and Integrated Stormwater Management (ISWM) principles
Provide effective and timely opportunities for community stakeholder input on the design priorities and cost/benefit of the proposed street improvements
Develop a strategy for systematic and phased implementation over time through both public and private improvements
BENEFITS OF COMPLETE STREETS
Embracing the Complete Streets principles would enhance the everyday qualify of life for South Miami residents. Complete Streets drive both infrastructure and cultural changes. Shifting demographic trends show more people are choosing to live in walkable urban areas and desire access to several modes of transportation. This gives an increasing number of people the option not to use automobiles for everyday travel. With over 40 percent of the trips made in the U.S. being less than two miles, and roadway congestion growing despite a continual investment in infrastructure, the demand for alternative ways to move around the City is increasing. In a random phone survey of South Miami citizens' perception and use of transportation, 54 percent of respondents expressed interest in using transit; 12 percent indicated they would be interested in walking or biking, if it was more convenient; 68percent of residents believed that being able to wall< or bike to destinations would be better for the economy; and 88 percent would accept a five‐minute longer drive time if it meant more convenient walking and biking. Given these responses from South Miami residents, it is obvious that providing safe and healthy alternatives to our current transportation system is critical. The Complete Streets design also encourages a shift in the City's modal split increasing the use of transit biking, and walking. By diversifying modes of transportation, like transit and rail, more people can move through a corridor other than by solely using motor vehicles. Another critical benefit is the incorporation of green features. These design elements can improve the visual impact of the roadway, assist in stormwater management, combat pollution from emissions, reduce exposed pavement and lead to a decrease in the City's heat island effect. Complete Streets benefit the city in the following ways:
Promote public safety
Create increased social, civic, and economic activity on streets
Increase the overall capacity of the transportation network while offering options to avoid traffic
Provide incentives for economic revitalization by reducing transportation costs and travel time while increasing property values and job growth
Reduce the demand on existing infrastructure by incorporating stormwater management into street designs
Improve the return on infrastructure investments by integrating sidewalks, bike lanes, transit amenities, and safe crossings into the initial design of a project sparing the expense of later retrofits
Improve the quality of place by creating vibrant livable centers through increased walking and bicycling,and by promoting suitable denser development patterns
Improve safety by designing and accommodating for all modes‐bicyclists, pedestrians, drivers, and transit users‐thus reducing the incidence of crashes
Create more walking and bicycling opportunities; streets that provide room for bicycling and walking can help encourage children to be more physically active and to gain independence
Provide environmental benefits from reduced congestion, alternative transportation options, and increased stormwater management
