Traffic Safety and Updates
By Commissioner Gerry Goodman

Traffic Safety
There has been a lot of comment recently about the traffic in Sunny Isles Beach. Our one main road, A1A (Collins Avenue), is a state road and under the care of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). All changes to the flow of traffic or lane changes, though discussed and decided by our commission, must gain final approval from FDOT.

Besides our own residents and visitors using Collins Avenue, travelers from other areas – such as Broward County – often use A1A instead of Interstate 95 or U.S. 1 to get to Miami Beach and South Beach.

Since Sunny Isles Beach has approximately two miles of beautiful beaches, we attract visitors. The bridges into the City are state roads also under FDOT jurisdiction. These bridges – at 163 St. and the Wm. Lehman Causeway – are used by visitors and residents from surrounding communities as ways to “get to the beach.” This usage impacts the traffic flow in our City.

The flow of traffic is also impacted by the high volume of construction currently underway in Sunny Isles Beach and all of the utility work.

All other streets in Sunny Isles Beach are under the care of our City. Heavy traffic and tie-ups do not occur on these streets. However, at times the flow of traffic on these side streets appears to much faster than that posted limit, which is 20 m.p.h. It is important to the health, welfare, and safety of all our citizens that the speed limit be observed.

Our police do an excellent job of enforcing the speeding limits; however drivers need to follow the laws at all times, not just when they “feel like it.” Drive the speed limit and stop at the stop signs. Following rules helps to prevent accidents.

Updates
Since becoming a resident in 1985, due to the interest of concerned citizens and the federal government, our beach has been renourished three times. Presently we have about 15 beach accesses some that are parks, Pier Park and Samson Oceanfront Park. Some of the accesses include bathrooms and showers such as the 192 Street Beach Access. Some showers have been added, which is an amenity we never had when the hotels were here. By the time the east side of Collins it fully constructed we will have approximately 30 beach accesses for all the citizens of Sunny Isles Beach.

As fast as new residences are built, they are being sold out. Sunny Isles Beach is in demand and in the future it will continue to be the Jewel of Miami-Dade County and one of the most desirable places to live. The elected officials of Sunny Isles Beach are working to provide a better quality of life for all its citizens.

City Hall is open in its new location at the Sunny Isles Beach Government Center, 18070 Collins Ave. Your elected officials are available to citizens to discuss issues at 305.947.0606.

I wish all citizens and visitors to Sunny Isle Beach a happy, healthy, and safe summer.

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