Miami-Dade MPO revives LRT proposal
Written by Douglas John BowenPlans for a light rail transit line linking Miami and Miami Beach, first floated a decade ago, have been revived by the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The MPO unanimously approved funds for a study Thursday, July 18, 2013, after Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez offered support for the idea as an alternative to growing traffic congestion between the two municipalities.
“If we don’t do something about traffic in Miami Beach, it’s going to kill the tourism industry,” Gimenez told MPO members, according to local media.
The $325,000 study will be funded by contributions from the MPO, the Florida Department of Transportation, Miami-Dade Transit, the city of Miami, the city of Miami Beach, and the Downtown Development Authority.
The study reportedly will review numerous rail options, including dual-mode LRT alternatives involving operation over areas without overhead wires.
North of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fla, is proceeding with its own streetcar project which, if implemented according to plan, would be Florida’s first modern streetcar or light rail transit operation.
