Miami — Rail Decision Delayed
Rail Transit Online, July 2003
It now appears that Miami Beach City commissioners will be unable to make
a decision on whether to support the BayLink rail transit proposal at their
July 10 special meeting because consultant HDR Engineering, hired to make a
quick evaluation of the possible alternatives, will not have a report ready
in time for public distribution and comment. BayLink is to be a
$400-million light rail or streetcar connection between South Beach and
downtown Miami. It was proposed by the regional Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO), which must soon decide whether to continue with the
project. Alternatives include changing the route and building the line
without help from Miami Beach or canceling the scheme. Last Mar. 12 the MPO
gave Miami Beach a 120-day deadline to come up with a verdict, but the
commissioners won’t be hurried. “The July 10 meeting will be to discuss the
preliminary report and a decision will be made within a reasonable time,”
Mayor David Dermer told The Miami Herald. “There was the feeling that there
should be more time. I think it's safe to say that no community is thinking
and discussing and debating transit more than our city.” HDR Engineering is
looking at both light rail and buses for the BayLink route, which is
approximately five miles long. MPO staff director José Luis Mesa says he
hopes Miami Beach commissioners make a decision by the agency’s July 24
meeting, when BayLink is scheduled to be discussed. |
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