One-Way Traffic Postponed Along Ocean Drive

MIAMI BEACH, FL — After a string of violent incidents that left two people dead and at least three others injured over Memorial Day weekend, city officials have begun testing traffic changes to iconic Ocean Drive that could help minimize such incidents over Labor Day weekend. Ocean Drive was to be one way only from Fifth to 11 Streets during the overnight hours between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. from Friday to Tuesday. But officials later decided to save the one-way traffic experiment for another weekend..

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"This Labor Day weekend, traffic will remain two-way, but parking along the eastbound side will be reduced for pedestrian use from Fifth to 11 streets on Saturday, Sunday and Monday evening starting at 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. the following morning," city officials said on Saturday. "During these weekend evening hours, residents and visitors are encouraged to park at the 7 Street, 13 Street or 16 Street parking garages on Collins Avenue."

Officials had planned to test one-way traffic in a south direction to slow traffic over the holiday weekend. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Beach Patch.)

"During this pilot, the city will be trying various traffic flow options to determine the best measure for this iconic corridor," officials added. "We will keep you updated on any traffic pattern changes."

The Memorial Day incidents have proven divisive among the city's elected officials and led Mayor Philip Levine to propose a limitation on alcohol sales along Ocean Drive. The outdoor cafes that line the 10-block strip serve alcohol until 5 a.m. but would be forced to stop serving at 2 a.m. under the proposal, which will be put to a voter referendum. The restriction would not affect indoor hotel bars.

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"Cars are expected to naturally travel slowly and continually due to these restrictions," explained city officials in announcing the traffic experiment. "The success of the pilot will be evaluated on a weekly basis and modified as necessary."

Commissioner Michael Grieco and Levine have been at odds over how best to deal with the spike in crime that the city has experienced over holiday weekends, particularly during the unsanctioned Urban Beach Week that takes place over Memorial Day weekend. Grieco was a driving force in bringing the Miami Beach Air and Sea Show to the city during this past holiday while publicly calling for an end to the predominantly African-American Urban Beach Week.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Miami area chapter of the NAACP insist that only a small percentage of the estimated 250,000 people who attend the event cause problems and it would be wrong to treat the event differently from any other large gathering in Miami Beach.

Levine appeared at a recent meeting to be in favor of keeping Urban Beach Week but adding more structure to the event and possibly even adding participation by the city in some fashion. The mayor, on the other hand, indicated that he might favor moving the Miami Beach Air and Sea Show to another weekend at a recent public meeting. Commissioners narrowly voted to retain the same air program for 2018 as it had this year.

The one-way traffic changes planned for Ocean Drive may have the added benefit of reducing violent incidents in the area, or at least moving them away from one of the most visible tourist destinations in the city. The change would make it virtually impossible for carloads of rivals to pass by one another in opposite directions along one of the busiest areas of South Beach.

Officials said that the experiment will also lead to a better pedestrian experience.

“This pilot aims to add an additional five feet of extended walkway for pedestrians to enjoy, and provides a safer experience along this portion,” explained the city's Ocean Drive redevelopment specialist, Amy Mehu. “This was one of the many recommendations of the mayor’s Ocean Drive Task force.”

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Iconic Ocean Drive will be one way over Labor Day weekend. Photo by Paul Scicchitano.