HomeMy Public PortalAbout1998 Centerpiece For Traffic Calming.tifOBM
June 9, 1998
C. Samuel Kissinger
Village Manager
Village of Key Biscayne
85 West McIntyre Street
Key Biscayne, Florida 33149
Re: Centerpiece for Traffic Calming Circles.
Dear Sam,
As the completion of the traffic calming devices on Harbor Drive draws
nearer the following are my thoughts on our options for landscaping. The
decision should be made as soon as possible to avoid a long period of time
between completion of the redesign and installation of the aesthetic
improvements. As you know the landscaping components (which act to reduce
the drivers apparent sight distance and therefore cause a reduction in speeds) are
essential elements of the traffic calming devices.
I am not happy with the scale or the quality of the Alexander palms
installed on West Mashta Drive, and I feel that repeating the same landscape will
be even less desirable on the much wider right-of-way on Harbor Drive. For this
reason, I recommend re -consideration of our original recommendation of the
"Zahedi Date Palms". I am attaching the original recommendation and cost
information.
The Harbor Mashta Circle is currently completed and will shortly be
open to full traffic. The scale and location of this Circle requires a unique
treatment as it's focal point. The initial design presented to Council, as part of the
Traffic Calming Master Plan, contained a sculpture fountain as its centerpiece.
Another option is a large flowering specimen tree, such as a Royal Ponciana that
will compliment the existing improvements. We will present concepts and cost
for each option so that Council may discuss.
Sincerely,
OBM Miami, Inc.
Lit
Raul A. Lastra
Principal
C. Samuel Idissmger, Village Manager
RAL/nmp Approved:
OBM Miami Inc.
Architecture
Resort Design &
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TRAFFIC CALMING AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE
July 1998
OBM
TRAFFIC CALMING AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
WEST HEATHER DRIVE AND WEST WOOD DRIVE
Introduction
• Many motorist, neighborhood residents as well as "cut through traffic", drive too fast on local streets. The majority of
speeding is done by normally responsible drives who find themselves "invited" to speed by the street's design features. These
features include excessively wide pavement, long straight sections of road and absence of vegetation. In addition to vehicular
safety issues, speeding vehicles are a hazard to all other forms of travel and degrade the quality of the street for all other users.
Speeding vehicles imparts a feeling that the street is devoted to moving traffic and that things are "not right" in the
neighborhood.
• Excessive speeds are a threat to neighborhood security, causing residents to retreat into their homes and abandoning the street.
Where speeding vehicles are present, parents become fearful of any use of the street by their children. Reducing traffic speeds
through traffic calming is a powerful way for residents to reclaim the streets for their own needs.
• Wide expanses of pavement devoted solely to vehicular traffic degrade the appearance of the community. Traffic calming
measures attack this problem directly, and create aesthetically pleasing focal points for the community.
• As the major east -west connection through the interior residential section of the Village, West Heather Drive and West Wood
Drive are primary consideration for the extension to the existing sidewalk program. The importance of these streets as
pedestrian linkages will be increased by the continued improvements to our public parks and the addition of the two beach
access promenades on East Heather Drive and East Enid Drive.
• The location of traffic calming devices on West Heather Drive and West Wood Drive will calm the remaining major east -west
connections. In addition, the location of these devices, and the location of the already constructed devices on West Mashta
Drive, Fernwood Road and the devices currently being installed on Harbor Drive, will also result in traffic calming for the
major north —south connections. The implementation of these devices will augment and finalize phase one of the Traffic
Calming Master Plan.
TRAFFIC CALMING AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
WEST HEATHER DRIVE AND WEST WOOD DRIVE
Traffic Calming on West Wood Drive
• Traffic Circles:
- Curtiswood Drive
- WoodCrest Road
• Median Divider:
- Between Warren Lane and Hampton Lane
TRAFFIC CALMING AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
WEST HEATHER DRIVE AND WEST WOOD DRIVE
Traffic Calming on West Heather Drive
• Traffic Circles:
- Hampton Lane
- WoodCrest Road
• Elevated "T" Intersection:
- Heather Lane
• Median Divider:
- Between Warren Lane and Allendale Road
MATC1 LINE
OVERVIEW
OF WEST HEATHER
DRIVE
OBM MIAMI In
TRAFFIC CALMING AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
WEST HEATHER DRIVE AND WEST WOOD DRIVE
Traffic Circles/ Roundabouts work by:
• Deflecting the path of motorists, resulting in an increased level of attention to driving and a corresponding reduction in
speed.
• Reducing the apparent sight distance along the road, thus further contributing to reduction in speed.
• Serving as effective traffic control devices for these streets that are most important for internal access.
• Introducing textured pavement on the approach to each traffic calming device will "advertise" their presence to the vehicle
drive.
• Providing major areas for plantings, within and around the circles, thus further contributing to the reduction in apparent
sight distance and therefore a reduction in speed.
RESIDENTIAL
TRAFFIC CIRCLE
WEST HEATHER
DRIVE * HEATHER
LANE
OHM MIAMI Inc.
TRAFFIC CALMING AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
WEST HEATHER DRIVE AND WEST WOOD DRIVE
Elevated "T" Intersections work by:
• Introducing textured pavement on the approach to each traffic calming device to "advertise" their presence to the vehicle
driver.
• Reducing vehicle speeds by causing a slight change in profile of the street, a different pavement texture and a differing
appearance.
• Serving as an important pedestrian crossing point for sidewalk access.
• Reducing the turning radius from 40' to 15', thus eliminating high speed turns.
ELEVATED T
INTERSECTION
@ WEST 11 EATh ER
DRIVE * HEATHER
LANE
OBM
OBM MIAMI Inc.
TRAFFIC CALMING AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
WEST HEATHER DRIVE AND WEST WOOD DRIVE
Median Dividers/ Splitter Islands work by:
• Reducing the apparent sight distance, causing vehicle speeds to decrease.
• Reducing the street's width, either real or perceived.
• Introducing curvature into the vehicle path, which causes motorists to drive with more care and more slowly.
• Altering the pavement texture and elevation, alerting the driver to their presence.
MEDIAN DIVERTER
@ WEST HEATHER
DRIVE
OBM
08M MIAMI Inc.