When are we
going to get serious about real mass transit – funding the solutions rather
than kicking the can down our residential streets and flood our neighborhoods with
more cut through traffic?
I'm very disappointed to report that our sister city stated an intent
to discuss the bridging of 87th Ave. at their next town Council meeting which
is set for Wednesday, May 17, 2017. This
was discussed at a multi city meeting held on Friday, May 12, 2017.
I need to obtain consensus from the Council, but it is my intention to defer
our Committee Of the Whole meeting for that same night, in order to allow all
council members to appear before the Cutler Bay Town Council to discuss our unified
position.
It is important to note that our staff has reviewed the potential
impact and for comparison I offer the following possibilities: that per county
numbers, 12, 500 vehicles travel 87th Ave. on a daily workday. It was estimated
that 40% of these vehicles would continue to cross the bridge, if constructed, placing
over 5,000 vehicles per day into a quiet neighborhood. There is no argument to
the contrary that this would have a profound detrimental impact on this community.
For comparison sake, our own staff has estimated that these 5,000 vehicles
would have the same impact as immediately adding 3,000 occupied units within
that same area.
Again, I am disappointed that a sister city may be considering to flush
their traffic impact into our neighborhoods. It is my desire that they do not take
any action that would force a bridge as this profoundly places at risk our South
Dade municipal coalition and well as implementation of rail.
This is another band aid to avoid real solutions; to reduce the number
of vehicles driving through our roads. This only encourages single car use: a
failed transportation plan. This is treating a symptom, but not the root of the
problem: US1, the lack of transit and the over development of South Dade. While overall transit ridership is down over
8% in the County, the South Dade Busway (renamed as the Transit way) has actually
increased by 30%. Don’t kill the success
through enabling single driver personal vehicles.
One of my major concerns is that the more we relieve traffic pressure
(through temporary band aids), the less need there is for County to look at
realistic and long-term traffic solutions such as light rail. This will also
bring down ridership numbers; actually placing more cars on the road. My position
remains consistent: that we need to get cars off the road, and not find more
routes through neighborhoods to get to workplaces farther north.
I respectfully request that you attend our special council meeting on
Monday, May 15, where we will discuss possible changes to our schedule to
accommodate us speaking before the May 17, 2017, Town of Cutler Bay meeting. I
strongly urge that those who feel strongly on this issue getting engaged and
actually plan on appearing and speaking at these meetings.
