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Front Page » Transportation » Miami Beach raises red flags over county’s monorail push

Miami Beach raises red flags over county’s monorail push

Written by on October 14, 2020
  • www.miamitodayepaper.com
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Miami Beach raises red flags over county’s monorail push

Miami-Dade County officials may soon take the next step toward developing a “mass-transit solution” in Miami Beach, but city administrators have some concerns. 

According to a memo to be addressed by Miami Beach commissioners today (10/15), county commissioners will consider on Oct. 20 legislation that would approve a two-step interim agreement with a consortium of firms that hope to create a monorail system from Miami to Miami Beach. 

County administration, the item said, recommends that Miami-Dade commissioners approve the interim agreement for the “design, permitting, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of a turnkey rapid mass transit solution for the Beach Corridor Trunk Line of the County’s SMART Plan connecting the Downtown Miami/Overtown area and South Beach.”

“The Beach Corridor,” the document said, “is one of six rapid transit corridors identified in the Miami-Dade County Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) plan”

The consortium, which is known as the Miami Beach Monorail Partners and includes Asian casino developer Genting, sent the county an unsolicited proposal to develop the monorail project in 2019. Last July, the item says, the county requested proposals for such a project and was met with interest from four firms before receiving a singular proposal from the consortium. 

Shortly after, the item said, Miami Beach commissioners laid out a number of requests for the county regarding any proposed project. Now, city administrators are looking for commissioners to address a number of concerns regarding the potential agreement.

The concerns, the memo said, include:

■“Excessive 28- to 30-minute travel time with at least two transfers required from Government Center Station in Downtown Miami to the 5 Street Station in Miami Beach.”

■ “Lack of multimodal integration, accessibility, and connectivity at the proposed Miami

■ Beach station on 5 Street” including little consideration for bikers and pedestrians.

■ “Lack of transit connectivity to the Art Deco Cultural District and Miami Beach Convention Center/City Center area.”

■Lack of experience on the part of technical project team.

■No identification of “transit operator,” who will be part of the system for at least 30 years.

■Possibility of high fares for non-EASY Card passholders, who are already guaranteed free ridership. 

“The Project,” the item states, “includes an exchange of County-owned land located at the Omni Bus Terminal with private property (owned by Resorts World Miami LLC) located at NE 13 Street, between N. Bayshore Drive and Herald Plaza. The latter property will then serve as the location for a Downtown multimodal transit hub, providing access to the proposed monorail, the current Metromover system, and a new bus terminal.”

The agreement county commissioners will consider next week, the item said, will follow a two-step process. The first, it said, is “an Interim Agreement through which (the consortium) will perform pre-development activities and have the exclusive right to negotiate with the County for the delivery of the Project.” This phase would last 18 months, with the possibility of a six-month extension, and would cost the county around $8 million. 

The second step would be “a final project agreement  governing the finance, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the project, and the county’s obligation to make availability payments over a 30-year period beginning once it is operational.” Should the county not enter into this second agreement, it might owe developers up to $6 million.

The complete cost of the project, including direct and indirect costs, could total $586.5 million, according to the document. 

The proposed Miami Beach Station, the item said, would have eight bus lanes, ridesharing dropoff points, and “ancillary facilities” such as passenger waiting areas.

The proposed multimodal hub, it continues, would provide access to the current Metromover system and proposed monorail. It would also contain additional facilities such as waiting and concession areas.

4 Responses to Miami Beach raises red flags over county’s monorail push

  1. Gerwyn Flax

    October 14, 2020 at 9:52 pm

    We should all be skeptical of Asian companies, given China’s expansionist behavior, eg India and its threats to Australia. The idea of a monorail system is great, however connectivity is lacking. Ending at the Genting property is at best suspicious, it also necessitates a transfer to government center (Metrorail/Tri-Rail/Virgin Trains. The city should insist on service to the main hub.

  2. karen weiner

    October 16, 2020 at 2:40 pm

    If I recall correctly the study that was done recommended the Metromover which will cost less to maintain.All of the concerns listed say to me that this is unworkable and it’s ridiculous riders would have to change twice.

  3. K C

    October 16, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    The #CITT held special meeting (via zoom) yesterday 10/15/20, which I skimmed this morning https://miamidade.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=6436.

    These “trustees” – more like clowns – have officially cemented rubber-stamp status, begun with accepting mayor budget pillaging ~10 yrs ago. Should have deferred reco on the single RFP response for closer detailed review, given cities’ and staff concerns + major open project questions

  4. Johann Moore

    October 19, 2020 at 6:03 pm

    Genting is a Malaysian company and one should not tar all Asian companies because of the actions of those based in territory under the control of the Chinese Communist Party dictatorship. Genting does have business interests in the Chinese market though. Maybe more to the point as a half-year resident two and a half blocks from the proposed 5th St station, I’m not sure whether to be delighted as a non-driver who doesn’t do well with busses and might be able to get to the Arsht Center or galleries or Haitan cuisine more easily or to be alarmed by the cost(possibly considerable to others) and the eight bus lanes belching fumes. Might electric trolleys or busses not be better? Will we experience less private car-trip pollution and congestion though?

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