Transit Miami

Larry L.’s Streetwise column this week was right on about the transportation improvements needed around the Orange Bowl. Maybe the PTP was overly ambitious, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to get the most out of our surtax dollars (along with more dedicated revenue from the general fund, gas tax, etc.). Maybe the Orange line is not heavy rail (unfortunately), but there is a cheaper and faster-to-construct-and-implement alternative: BRT. For the same money that the 27th Avenue Orange Line would cost as an elevated train, we could implement all legs of the Orange line (including the one that runs next to the Orange Bowl) as BRT lines. In terms of increasing ridership and growing the system, this ‘crawl before you walk’ philosophy may be the best way to use our money to get results. As time goes on, and ridership increases, we can consider the benefits of upgrading certain lines. The real key to expansion success lies in the land development regulations around transit stops, and how they accommodate higher densities and encourage pedestrian activity.