Guest Column

Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce: Streetcars Are The Way To Go 

The Miami Beach Chamber finds it necessary that an attractive and well traveled mass transit link exist between Miami Beach and Downtown Miami, which will alleviate increasing traffic congestion and bring a world class public transit system to this thriving international Miami area. 

By Bruce Singer
President/CEO
Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce 

After months of meetings, polls and studies on Miami Beach’s mass transit options, the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors overwhelmingly voted in early August to support streetcars as the preferred mode of mass transit, in accordance with the recommendations of HDR Engineering, Inc. The Board also supported HDR’s recommended routes linking Downtown Miami to Miami Beach via the MacArthur Causeway and offering local circulation within Miami Beach.

The Board has been careful to gather as much objective information as possible in the months leading up to this decision, to explore all points of view on the mass transit issue and encourage free and open discussion and debate. After exploring the options, the Board is confident that it has made an informed and responsible recommendation. The Board believes that streetcars will offer the greatest flexibility with the least disruption to the area’s businesses, residential community and environment.

The Miami Beach Chamber Board of Governors made an informed and objective decision on whether to support or oppose a proposed mass transit link between Miami Beach and Downtown Miami. The process began with a letter sent to the Federal Transit Administration requesting clarification on a number of crucial issues surrounding the proposed link. Once key questions of funding and timetable for implementation had been answered, The Chamber held a series of five meetings open to and attended by Chamber members and community residents encouraging discussion and debate by all concerned parties representing the entire spectrum of issues relative to the topic at hand. In April, The Chamber commissioned Washington, D.C.-based pollsters Schroth & Associates to conduct a Mass Transit Poll to ascertain public sentiment regarding the issue. The poll showed widespread support for the City of Miami Beach to continue to study different modes of transportation. On August 5th, the city’s consultant, HDR Engineering, Inc., presented its final report recommending Streetcars as the best option for Miami Beach.

The Miami Beach Chamber finds it necessary that an attractive and well traveled mass transit link exist between Miami Beach and Downtown Miami, which will alleviate increasing traffic congestion and bring a world class public transit system to this thriving international Miami area. The Chamber supports HDR Engineering, Inc.’s recommendation of the use of Streetcars as the best mode of transportation for the Miami Beach community as they are the correct size of vehicle, have low environmental impact, and will visually complement the surrounding area, and will have limited construction impact on the businesses located on the proposed routes.

The following members of the Board of Governors of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce voted yes to allow this project to enter Phase 2 and endorsed the recommendations of HDR Engineering, Inc. to support Streetcars as the preferred mode of transportation for the expansion of a world-class mass transit system linking Miami Beach to downtown Miami; and further recommend that the City Commission and City Manager take all actions necessary to ensure full funding for the implementation of the project: Jeffrey Abbaticchio, Loews Miami Beach Hotel; Eva Barreto, Ocean Bank; Tony Bello, Charter Communications; James Rocco Boucher, Boucher Brothers Management Inc.; Claire Callen, Holiday Inn South Beach Resort; Marlo Courtney, The Park Central Hotel; Simon Cruz, City of Miami Beach Commissioner; Roberto Datorre, Miami Beach Community Development Corporation; Randi Freedman, Logistics Management Group; Michael S. Goldberg, Colonial Bank; Sidney Goldin; Steven Haas, Tuscan Steak; Cathy Leff, The Wolfsonian; Jason Loeb, Sudsies Dry Cleaners; Leon A. Manne, Leon A. Manne Convention & Trade Show; Michael Milberg, Miami Metro Vending Corporation; A. Anthony Noboa, Beach Bank; Aaron Perry, Taglairino Advertising Group; Aletha Player, FPL; Alan G. Randolph, Mellon Bank; Alexander I. Tachmes, Alexander I. Tachmes, P.A.; Annette Taddeo, LanguageSpeak, Inc.; Doug Tober, SMG; Leonard A. Wien, Jr.; Eugene M. Woodard; and Bruce Singer, President/CEO of the Miami Beach Chamber.