On January 27, at 4:30 p.m., the Miami Beach City Commission will hold another workshop on the feasibility of installing a “bay link” system in South Beach. It’s a meeting that anyone interested in future public transportation projects for Miami Beach—and perhaps the rest of the county—shouldn’t miss.

Following the passing of the half-penny tax by voters, Miami-Dade county is moving full speed ahead in implementing the “People’s Transportation Plan.” In South Beach’s case this means establishing a transportation “link” between Miami and SoBe south of Dade Boulevard. What form that will take is up to the voters. It could be an enhanced bus system running through the streets of SoBe and perhaps the rest of Miami-Dade. The leading contender, though, is a looped $400 million light-rail system, a sort of modern day trolley system that will start at the Government Center Metro-Rail station in Miami, head east across MacArthur Causeway, turn right on Alton Road, proceed through South Pointe Drive to Washington Avenue, move north to 17^th Street or perhaps Dade Boulevard, west to Alton Road and then south on Alton Road. It will take 18 months to build. Some residents are nervous that the project may take away lanes of traffic or parking spaces. But proponents are fairly confident that the “loop” plan will have less of an impact than a bus system. (According to some estimates an enhanced bus route between SoBe and Miami could take 9 months to install.) It might even ease congestion—if commuters can actually be persuaded to forgo driving within Miami Beach and hop on a bay link trolley.

If. The concept didn’t work with the Electro Wave. Those without automobiles—or bikes--usually use the electric bus system, when it does run efficiently. For everyone else, it seems, leaping into a car is still the preferred means of moving from say 17^th and Meridian to 10^th and Washington. The Electro Wave took far too long. Will the bay link work?

More importantly, will it be accepted?  While the concept has already been embraced in Miami, Miami Beach still hasn’t given its official blessing. Mayor David Dermer has even toyed with the idea of putting the bay link on the ballot. And then there are the other communities. Already the Metropolitan Planning Organization, an autonomous organization tasked with overseeing transportation projects, has backed the idea of a heavy rail (Metro-Rail) extension—likely costing billions—from Downtown Miami through Opa-Locka and on to Pro Player Stadium. A proposal is also being tossed around to have a light-rail track constructed from Miami to Aventura. 

Maybe these are good ideas that will finally reduce traffic congestion and empower those without automobiles to travel more conveniently throughout Miami-Dade County. Or maybe they will amount to the beginning of a multi-billion dollar boondoggle.

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