Comments on: Action Alert: Venetian Causeway Bridge To Close In May

By: JM Palacios

JM Palacios — Fri, 01 May 2009 02:19:00 +0000

Is there a minimum speed on the MacArthur? Scooters going 30+mph on the shoulder will make it more dangerous for cyclists going 15mph. Legally I don’t think scooters are allowed to drive on the shoulder on a normal basis.

By: John the Artist

John the Artist — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:19:15 +0000

After some phone bouncing, I contacted the office of Michael Bauman, 305 854 2468. Call was returned in five minutes. I suggested to at least keep shoulders clean on both larger causeways. I was told they are working on giving all yearly pass holders a credit for perhaps a month next year. Not cast in stone.
All alternative travelers (scooter, bike, walkers, etc) … please be safe and take extra precautions if indeed using the larger causeways! And if u (scooter/moped users) can’t travel the given MPH (55+ MPH) on them, stay on the shoulder! Good luck! John

By: Mike Lydon

Mike Lydon — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:51:41 +0000

Agreed, that Miami-Dade PWD should initiate the issue. But we know they don’t. So now that we have bombarded PWD, it is time to take it responsibility ourselves and fill FDOTs email inboxes and answering machines with requests.

By: Felipe A

Felipe A — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:18:37 +0000

It is FDOTs responsibility to accommodate the cyclists and pedestrians, but it is PWDs responsibility to make them aware of the fact that they need to be accommodated. Apparently PWD has yet to do that. There is no communication or coordination between these two departments, and there lies is a huge problem. I hold the PWD and FDOT accountable. Both need to catch heat for this, and both departments should hear from us…

By: Mike Lydon

Mike Lydon — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:01:01 +0000

Felipe, the larger issue here is that Miami-Dade PW can’t help us on the MacArthur. It has to come from FDOT…

By: Felipe A

Felipe A — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:40:34 +0000

Esther Calas is the director of the PWD. Her contact info is below.
Her department is notorious for “passing-the-buck” and “reacting” to problems, rather then being proactive about avoiding problems.

Esther Calas, P.E., Director
Public Works Department
111 NW First Street, Suite 1610
Miami , Florida 33128
Phone: (305) 375-2960
Fax: (305) 375-3070
ecalas@miamidade.gov
“Delivering Excellence Every Day”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:56:00 +0000

Found it: Miami-Dade County Public Works Director

http://www.miamidade.gov/pubworks/contact.asp
http://www.miamidade.gov/biographies/Pubworks.asp
Ecalas@miamidade.gov

She should know about this issue and also that her office should take cyclists into account on any future projects:

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:47:38 +0000

I’m not comfortable with Delfin or Monica or anyone else claiming that the McArthur is someone else’s issue. The fact is, the city will close down an entire roadway for a month without making alternate arrangesments for a significant number of users.

Does anyone know who runs the M-D County Public Works and/or who ran this project? That’s who should be contacted and who should be making the arrangements with the state to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians.

By: Mike Lydon

Mike Lydon — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:56:36 +0000

Will revise this evening…

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:34:30 +0000

Please revise your original blog post with the FDOT’s Public Information Office phone number.

No reason to alienate the folks at the County when it simply is not in their jursidiction.