Understanding the Speed Limit Interlocal Agreement

Published on April 01, 2025

The City of Sunny Isles Beach is working with Miami-Dade County to enter into an Interlocal Agreement that would grant the City more authority over traffic management on interior streets. This agreement would not apply to major roads such as Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Boulevard, and the William Lehman Causeway, which are managed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), nor to private roads in communities such as Poinciana Island, Arlen House, and the Ocean Reserve/Oceanview complex.

Currently, the County’s standard speed limit is 30 mph, with allowances for reductions to 25 mph. However, the City has historically posted a 20 mph limit on interior roads without formal County approval. To align with County regulations, the City submitted a speed study requesting to maintain the 20 mph limit. The County denied the request but agreed to a reduction to 25 mph.

In a recent Town Hall meeting with Miami-Dade County, residents voiced their concerns and advocated for retaining the 20 mph speed limit. As a result, the County has requested the City conduct an updated traffic study and consider additional traffic calming measures, such as speed humps, traffic circles, and other engineered solutions.

“Even if you’re posting at 20 [mph], people are going at 25 – 27 [mph], we need to incorporate traffic calming measures to slow the traffic down,” said Miguel Soria of the Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works Department.

Beyond speed limits, the City is also seeking approval to use decorative street poles and signage, rather than the County’s standard aluminum U-channel signs, to enhance the character of local streets. Any proposed traffic calming measures will require engineering design and County approval before implementation.