Grassroots push for better Alton Road seeks community input tonight, Tuesday, Wednesday

The Alton Road Reconstruction Coalition — a grassroots group pushing for more of a mixed-use rebuild of Alton Road by the Florida Department of Transportation– starts a series of community meetings tonight (Monday) at 6 p.m. at the Police Athletic League offices, 999 11th St.

There also is a discussion Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at David’s Cafe, 1058 Collins Ave.

And Wednesday at 5 p.m., Alton Road’s design is on the City Commission agenda. That’s in the city of Miami Beach Commission Chambers, third floor, 1700 Convention Center Dr.

Work on rebuilding Alton began fittingly on April 1 by FDOT. They embarked on a 28-month, $32 million project that includes the construction of new pumping stations at Fifth, 10th and 14th Streets to battle chronic flooding in the Alton Road-West Avenue area. It wil also bring new signage, stoplights and street lights.

What it doesn’t do is make Alton Road work better for pedestrians or bicyclists, and that’s and important part of the transportation equation on South Beach.

The Alton Road coalition, which includes several neighborhood associations, advocates for wider sidewalks, a hike and bike trail on the west side of Alton, a lower Alton Road speed limit and narrower lanes to slow traffic, more shade trees and a center median.

From its latest newsletter:

10 Things you should know about FDOT’s plan for Alton Road

1. The project boundaries are between 5th Street and Michigan Avenue
2. The project is supposed to stop the flooding but it may not.  Some city of Miami Beach engineers think the pumps will not meet demand.
3. The new roadway will be 81′ wide compared to the current 72′.
4. The new design speed is 40 MPH compared to the City’s requested speed of 30 MPH.
5. Cyclists will be sandwiched between 40 MPH traffic and parked cars in a 14′ shared lane.
6. Sidewalks will be reduced to 9′ wide compared to the current 14′
7. Approximately 90 on-street parking spaces will be lost
8. Turn restrictions at 6th,  7th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th Place will inhibit ease of access for residents and to local businesses
9. Landscaping will be limited because of the narrow sidewalks.
10. Pedestrians will not have crosswalks or on-demand walk signals at 9th, 13th, and 14th Streets.

A look at what could be on Alton Road

Yes, the $32 million, 28-month reconstruction of Alton Road has begun.

And yes, getting the Florida Department of Transportation to change direction on a plan bid and begun may be impossible.

A quick look at the Coalition plan.

But….a group called the Alton Road Reconstruction Coalition has assembled a thoughtful ploposal for rebuilding Alton Road to accommodate pedestrians, bikers and commuters with a concept that promotes good air and green space.

The folks behind the plan, led by a group of neighborhood associations, advocate for wider sidewalks, a hike and bike trail on the west side of Alton, a lower Alton Road speed limit and narrower lanes to slow traffic, more shade trees and a center median.

The coalition  Facebook page lists a series of public meetings to make the case, including a May 22 Miami Beach Land Use meeting where a lower speed limit (30mph  instead of 35) will be pitched. There’s also a coalition meeting Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania.

The coalition website outlines the plan in detail — what looks right in the FDOT plan and what doesn’t.

So yes, construction has begun. Can the course of action be changed?