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Streetcar Named Desire — for Some
City Officials and
Consultants Present $200 Million Transit Project — Again
 A
streetcar will be traveling through Miami’s streets by 2010,
consultants and officials promise.
by
Ivonne Rivera
The proposed
10.13-mile, $200 million Miami Streetcar Project — which is to run
from Government Center, through the Design District and to the Civic
Center/Health District — was presented at a public hearing last week
on the Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus.
Representatives
from HDR Engineering, the firm providing the city with project
management as well as conducting assessments for the environmental,
public involvement and operational issues raised by the streetcar,
were present along with members of the Office of the City Manager to
discuss their findings and to hear the public’s concerns.
“This is a
new idea for many people; it’s easier, more desirable, it’s not
noisy,” said Marcus Arnold, an assistant transportation project
manager from HDR Engineering, about the three overlapping rail loops
the streetcar would use.
“This kind of
expenditure without being voted on by the entire city, when it will
be beneficial for a dismal number of people, is horrendous,” said
Larry Latrell, a resident of Northeast 50th Street.
According to Lilia
Medina, assistant transportation coordinator for the city of Miami,
this is the 55th meeting open to the public since November 2005.
“Overall it’s been well received,” she said.
The streetcar is estimated to take away 80-100 parking spots
in the proposed routing area.
The streetcar
project has been under discussion since February 2004.
“The primary reason
[for the streetcar] is that it’s been proven to be a great inner
city mover,” Medina said.
“Construction
should take three years. Each sectional track will be [excavated]
three blocks at a time, taking from six to eight weeks at the time,”
said Arnold.
The streetcar is
estimated to take away 80-100 parking spots in the proposed routing
area. It is set to begin operations in July 2010, Miami officials
said.
The project will go
before the Miami City Commission for approval on November 9.
Medina said taxes
would not be raised to fund construction of the project. “We are
looking at several sources from both the private and public sector,
including a state infrastructure loan and the federal Department of
Transportation,” she said.
With a 10 percent
population increase since 2001, Miami is predicted to grow as much
as 30 percent by decade’s end. The project is modeled after similar
streetcars in Portland, Ore. and Tacoma, Wash.
“Make this into a
metropolis; link as many sources,” suggested Jeffrey Bradley, a
Miami Beach resident, during the open floor session of the meeting.
(Bradley is an advocate of the Bay Link, a proposed light rail that
would link Miami with South Beach. Bay Link’s future is in doubt
since the county Metropolitan Planning Organization opted not to
make it a priority for federal matching funds.)
“I’m a big believer
in public transportation, but I don’t think this is the kind of
project that will benefit this area,” countered Miami resident Henry
Courtney. “I know that contracts, jobs and influence [are] hanging
on this but we need to look into what is best for the city.”
“We are striving to
be a world-class city; we cannot rely on the single-occupancy car,”
replied Medina.
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letters@miamisunpost.com.
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