AS PUBLISHED IN THE MIAMI HERALD 

 

THEY MISSED THE POINT

OF THE 836 EXTENSION

   RE: 836 Parkway Ruling (Apr 1, 2020)

   In 2005 when the late David Lyons and I, as founders of Citizens Against Nonconcurrency Task Force, Inc., suggested to MDX the extension of SR 836 south toward SW 136 Street we had some specific reasons in mind.  As victims, even then, of major traffic congestion east of 97 Ave and south of Bird Road we conceptualized the roadway as a way of reducing the congestion in our area by allowing traffic from West Kendall to go west to it in the A.M.and east from it in the P.M. The judge focused on time, not necessarily the most important variable. The roadway would provide an additional route. It would create a ring road; Miami is one of the only major cities in the world which does not have one. Wikipedia lists hundreds of cities which do have one.
     The planned roadway would specifically be designed to facilitate bus rapid transit further relieving traffic in the area. We proposed depots without
parking facilities where circulator vehicles could drop off passengers to be picked up by those buses. The goal of all transit should be to get people out of their cars; this roadway would contribute to that.
    Reading the judge’s ruling it appears that both sides have more work to do. The petitioners, including one who wants to build a new city there, must more closely assess the actual impact of the roadway on the environment and agriculture. The judge did not seem to think it was onerous but rather focused on technicalities. And the SFWMD is remiss in not actually completing its plans on what they will be doing in the area. The defendants are also at fault in not providing specific measures which will assure that building beyond the UDB will not occur except for agricultural use.
     From here on a lot of politics will determine the outcome of what should be a major improvement in our traffic and transit systems. And, we the people, are still stuck in our cars with roads which are always behind the need and transit which does not provide first and last mile service, and is seamless, clean, safe, convenient and dependable.

Barry J. White
President
Citizens Against Nonconcurrency Task Force, Inc./CANT
Miami