Study Cites 12 Million Cost For Marlins Stadium Roadwork

By Risa Polansky
As funding for a Florida Marlins stadium falls into place, a draft traffic study identifies more than $12 million more needed to ease arterial traffic congestion should the stadium be built at the Orange Bowl site.

A Miami-Dade County bond advisory panel Monday approved using $50 million in bond money formerly earmarked for renovating the Orange Bowl to build a new ballpark for the Marlins.

A day later, county commissioners passed a resolution encouraging county administration to use any available funds to lure the team to the Orange Bowl site.

They voted in March on broad terms for a construction deal, calling for $145 million from the county, $108 million from the city and $30 million in special tax breaks from the state. The Marlins would pay $45 million and $162 million in rent.

Tack about $12 million on to that bill, consulting firm HNTB Corporation told Miami and Marlins officials in a draft traffic study.

It identifies four problem intersections: Northwest 12th Avenue at Northwest 12th Street; Northwest 12th Avenue at Northwest Seventh Street; Northwest 12th Avenue at West Flagler Street; and Northwest 17th Avenue at Northwest Seventh Street.

A $7.8 million reversible one-way lane system around the site managed by "special event electronic lane control" is the firm’s "keystone" recommendation for easing expected traffic.

"The system would operate counterclockwise during game arrival times and in a mixed pattern after the end of games to provide maximum capacity to key highway ramps and arterials," the report said.

It names parking as the site’s main downfall, calling for further study to determine where to accommodate the additional 5,000-6,000 spaces needed. Advertisement