County OKs straw ballot on support for more rapid transit
Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert III, with six rapid transit projects already in the works, wants to ask voters whether the county should expand its rapid mass transit system.
A non-binding straw proposal will be on the Aug. 20 primary ballot. The commission unanimously approved the measure Tuesday.
In 2016, the commission endorsed the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (Smart) Plan as approved by the Transportation Planning Organization, which calls for expanding the central metropolitan transit system with six rapid transit corridors: Beach Corridor, East-West Corridor, Kendall Corridor, North Corridor, Northeast Corridor, and South Dade Transitway.
Two years later, in February 2018, the commission created the Miami-Dade County Transportation Infrastructure Improvement District and a corresponding trust fund to use tax increment financing for the development, construction, maintenance, and operation of the Smart Plan rapid transit corridor projects. The half percent sales tax that voters approved in 2002 to fund transportation projects is the primary funding source for all Smart Plan projects.
Olis Buchanan
December 13, 2023 at 2:03 pm
The problem with asking for money for transit is the money that was approved for Metro Rail Expansion was not spent on Metro Rail. The money was spent on maintenance and a new bus system that saves 4 minutes on an hour and half route.
If momey is to be approved it must be specific on what the money is to be used for with no exceptions
Gerwyn Flax
December 14, 2023 at 5:09 pm
I concur. Furthermore, Before anything else, the project that was promised, thus leading to voters approval in 2002, must be first and foremost on the list. We know County government will dance around this issue as they have for years to avoid providing the service residents have payed for.
Keith Buchanan
December 16, 2023 at 8:41 pm
Let’s be clear, after decades of study, 100s of millions of dollars spent t there are currently no plans to bring consistent rapid transit to south dade.
Not one more dollar should be approved for rapid transit until county commissioners fulfill their promise to bring metro rail south.
Why is it that south dade always falls victim to Penny pinching?
Where was that fiscal responsibility when commissioners approved 600 Million for Brightline to Aventura with lower ridership.
Where was that concern for the tax payers when they approved funds for the Underline? A purely ascetic project through some of the most expensive neighborhoods in the county.
And surely they most be concerned with the billow dollar price tag for rail to South Beach, to Hard Rock and West Dade?
Suddenly commissioners have gone silent now that their lies have been exposed.
I emailed the mayor and commissioners for an explanation as to why they broke their promise on rapid transit none have responded.
Dt
December 19, 2023 at 5:08 pm
A lot of meetings and votes and studies for years and nothing has been done.