Pinecrest hosts US 1 Express Lanes Community Forum - get informed.

Our neighbors in the Village of Pinecrest are hosting a US1 Express Lane Community Forum for residents and businesses owners.  You should take some time to attend.

Pinecrest officials have invited MDX to provide a general presentation geared to Pinecrest residents and business owners from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 20, 2014 at the Pinecrest Community Center, 5855 Killian Drive, Pinecrest, Florida. Come to learn more about this project and the impact on South Dade residents and businesses. Now is the time to hear the current status of this project.  CLICK HERE for a prior post on this issue.The study, led by MDX in cooperation with Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), analyzes potential enhancements to the South Miami-Dade Busway that could maximize use of existing roadway capacity, reduce congestion along the US 1 Corridor, enhance transit service and improve traffic operations.

The study considers the viability of a variably-priced tolled roadway that would permit motorists to travel without traffic from approximately SW 232nd Street in Cutler Bay to SW 98th Street in Pinecrest connecting to the Palmetto Expressway.

If the study shows viability, it will be constructed within the current South Miami-Dade Busway right-of-way. Bridges would carry the express lanes over intersections which would increase traffic flow as buses and cars could bypass traffic signals.

The Village Council has voted in favor of two resolutions regarding the project. The first resolution, passed September 11, 2012, expressed the Village Council's opposition to the proposed project and asked the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to suspend the current study, remove the project from the 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan and redirect its focus to extending the Metrorail south.  The second resolution, passed on the same date, urged MDX to hold formal presentations for area homeowners, business groups and other interested groups.

CLICK HERE to view the full Village of Pinecrest e-news blast regarding this event.
You can CLICK HERE to view the MDX official future projects page.

MDX US1 Express Lanes Public Workshops to be held locally. Your opportunity to obtain information and ask questions.

US 1 Express Lanes Public Workshop  August 13th & 14th in South Miami-Dade

Get engaged. There are two opportunities to attend a Miami-Dade Express Authority (MDX) public workshop regarding the US 1 Express Lanes Project (Tier 2 Alternatives).  The public will have an opportunity to obtain information and ask questions.  Tuesday, August 13, 2013 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Cutler Bay Town Hall/Council Chambers 10720 Caribbean Boulevard Cutler Bay, Florida or Wednesday, August 14, 2013 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Coral Reef Branch Library 9211 Southwest 152 Street Miami, Florida MDX, in coordination with Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is conducting a study that will evaluate the concept of express or managed lanes on the South Miami-Dade Busway including the use of the Busway be private vehicles paying a toll. The Tier 2 process is the next step in identifying alternatives for improving mobility on the US 1 corridor resulting from the improvements within the Busway right-of-way. Information from the meetings will be posted at www.mdxway.com after the public workshops.  For additional information, please contact Public Information Officer Tere Garcia at US1Express@mdxway.com or 786-277-9299. This is an important issue for neighborhood protection in Palmetto Bay, but it is not receiving the attention in required from its elected officials. Then Dist 2 Councilman Howard Tendrich attempted to bring discussion and action forward (seconded by Councilman Fiore) at a council meeting (CLICK HERE the official minutes page 4 of 9) but was denied 2 – 3 by Stanczyk, (former Vice Mayor) Pariser and Lindsay. This is not the time to sit idle, but to get involved and get active. There is both the possibility of a tax applied for use of US1 special lanes as well as potential impact for the US1 business corridor. Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner had previously expressed hope that Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay would join her in this effort.This issue needs to be an ongoing leadership effort, not holding back to see which way the political winds are blowing, then a brief two-minute personal presentation. It is best to be involved from onset and try to guide a project rather than try a last-minute fight if the project turns unfavorable. "If this passes, instead of living in a suburb, we are going to be living by I-95"  Cutler Bay Mayor Ed MacDougall, as well as south dade business/civic groups Chamber South and Economic Development Council are engaged, but only Howard Tendrich for Palmetto Bay, who is no longer in office.

Cutler Bay Mayor Ed MacDougall takes a stand: MDX tolls keep rising: Let your voice be heard - Other Views - MiamiHerald.com

MDX tolls keep rising: Let your voice be heard - Other Views - MiamiHerald.com
Thank you to the reader who pointed out Cutler Bay Mayor Ed MacDougall's article posted in the opinion section of the Tuesday, June 18, 2013, Miami Herald: MDX tolls keep rising: Let your voice be heard

Mayor MacDougall is showing great leadership on this issue. Take a stand! Mayor MacDougall's actions are in stark contrast to what is NOT happening in Palmetto Bay.

Mayor MacDougall states that he has attended the last two MDX board meetings and was so disappointed by the lack of attendance by our elected officials at these critical hearings. Incredibly, he was the only elected official to watch the MDX board actions.
 
He is asking for you, the taxpayers to get involved in the MDX process, that (a)lthough these important hearings are public there is a sparse audience and the board seems to act in a bubble without any thought to the people who travel these roads daily.

I personally join Mayor MacDougall in thanking the efforts of the grassroots group, RollBackTolls.com, these MDX issues are getting the attention they deserve.

Thank you Mayor MacDougall.  Be sure to let your neighboring counterpart know when it is safe to surface and take part in issues of regional importance. She has been strangely silent on this issue as well.

Note that this is not the first complaint I have issued regarding a strange lack of leadership within Palmetto Bay's current electeds.  See:
A great example of action, follow through, by the Village of Pinecrest on Neighborhood Protection; and
Update on the 3/19 MDX South MIami-Dade meeting. Toll hike on state roads 836 and 112 might not be final - MiamiHerald.com

Public Hearing - MDX - Public meetings including online Webinar regarding proposed toll rate change

MIAMI-DADE EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY PUBLIC REVIEW - ONLINE MEETINGS
PUBLIC HEARING
The Board of Directors for the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) will be considering a toll rate change for SR 836/Dolphin Expressway. The MDX Board approved a toll rate for SR 836 of 70 cents per gantry at NW 97thAvenue, NW 57th Avenue and NW 17th Avenue in both eastbound and westbound directions. The Board is seeking public input on a potential lower rate of 60 cents for these locations. This change will impact the revenue that will be collected and the future projects that MDX can deliver in Miami-Dade County. MDX will conduct the following meetings to provide information to the public prior to this important decision. locations indicated below. Parking is free at all locations.

ONLINE WEBINAR 

Monday, June 10, 2013
6 pm - 7 pm (English) / 8 pm - 9 pm (Español) Deadline for registration, June 6, 2013 via the following link
For English: https://mdx.webex.com/mdx/onstage/g.php?d=668543355&t=a
Fecha final para inscribirse, 6 de junio, 2013 en la siguiente conexión
En Español: https://mdx.webex.com/mdx/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=662777846
 
PUBLIC REVIEW MEETING / REUNION INFORMATIVA
Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 6 pm - 9 pm / Martes, 11 de junio, 2013 de 6 pm - 9 pm
MDX Headquarters - Main Board Room / Oficinas de MDX - Sala Principal de Conferencias
3790 NW 21st Street / Miami, Florida 33142
The Metrorail Airport/MIC Station is located on NW 21 Street, across from MDX. / REUNION INFORMATIVA
Acceso por Metrorail por la Estación del Aeropuerto localizada
en la Calle NW 21, en frente de MDX Free parking available / Estacionamiento gratis
 
PUBLIC HEARING /AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 4 pm / Martes, 18 de junio, 2013 a las 4 pm
MDX Headquarters - Main Board Room / Oficinas de MDX - Sala Principal de Conferencias
3790 NW 21st Street / Miami, Florida 33142