The historic and economic epicenter of our region is the Downtown core.  Encompassing an area that includes Brickell, from Coral Way to the Miami River, the Central Business District, Park West and the Art & Entertainment District, Downtown represents the greatest intensity of housing, transit infrastructure, and economic investment in South Florida. The Downtown Development Authority is one of the main agencies responsible for guiding growth and public investment in Downtown.

“The Miami Downtown Development Authority is a quasi-independent public agency of the City of Miami charged with making Downtown Miami the most livable urban center in the nation and strengthening its position as the Epicenter of the Americas…an international center for commerce, culture and tourism. “

The DDA is one of the most progressive agencies in Miami-Dade County, understanding the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists and businesses alike. The DDA recently approved its 2025 Masterplan, a visionary yet practical document that brings together a wealth of planning and urban design studies that relate to downtown, and synthesizes them into “specific action-oriented implementation” projects. Transit Miami sat down with DDA Urban Planning and Transportation Manager Javier Betancourt to discuss the DDA, transit in downtown, and the future of our region.

Transit Miami: The 2025 Masterplan sets targets for specific projects, especially in the area of transit. Promoting Bay link, premium transit along Flagler, the Streetcar, metromover expansions, the SFEC Corridor, and trolley service are all included as goals.  What role will if any will the DDA have in advancing these projects?

Javier:  The Masterplan sets the vision and goals for the way we want Downtown to develop, and where we think investments should be made. It is a blueprint for what we want and how to get there. We can implement the changes sought by the plan in part by championing projects that match our goals and vision in addition to seeking partners to help accomplish these goals.  Obviously, the cost of this type of infrastructure goes beyond what we are able to fund, but as a regional stakeholder our voice represents the interests of several hundred thousand people.

Transit Miami: One proposal made by the Masterplan is revising the DDA’s subdistrict designations by dividing Park West, combining half with the area to the north of I395 making an Arts and Entertainment district, and the other half united with the CBD.  How does this take into account the plans for I395 and what do you think about the ‘preffered alternative’ for I395?

Javier: Part of what we hope to accomplish with the redistricting is the removal of I-395 as a barrier when considering these two neighborhoods. The World Center Development will naturally extend the borders of the CBD. The area around the PAC and the current Arts and Entertainment District share common cultural connections, making them a natural fit in defining districts. I395 is a physical barrier. We would have preferred the cut and fill boulevard option for the removal of I395.  We have expressed some concerns with the preferred option (for example, it’s potential impact to the Arsht Center), but haven’t taken an official stand as an agency beyond that at this point.

Transit Miami: You have spoken out vocally against moving the UDB. What role do you see the UDB playing in the development of our region and how does that affect Downtown?

Javier:  I like to think of the UDB as the ‘lid’ on a pressure cooker. It constrains growth, thereby pressuring that growth to occur where we want it to at a much faster pace than it would without that ‘lid’. The UDB is extraordinarily important, if not essential, to promoting smart growth and investment in our urban centers.

The DDA is not without its critics, however. Some around the Park West area feel neglected by the DDA, joking that their reach seems to stop at 5^th street.  Others contend that the document approved by the Board of the DDA (headed by the Chair of the City of Miami Commission) lacks teeth and authority. Still, the spirit of the document and the goals that it aspires to are in keeping with best planning practices. Promoting walkability and smart growth are some of its basic principles, and for that they are to be commended. I for one look forward to seeing the implementation of the Masterplan in the coming years, and hope that County and regional leaders will look to the DDA as a model for how smart growth and walkability can become ingrained in our civic institutions.

A little more information on the project: The map shown above, from page 2 of this PDF flyer, is not necessarily the most current plan; but it provides a general layout of the proposed route. The streetcar, shown in yellow, will connect to future FEC corridor transit (purple on the map) and East-West transit on Broward Blvd. (green) at the location of the current Broward Central Bus Terminal. The terminal will turn into a multimodal transit hub for all these systems. Also on the PDF map is existing Tri-Rail in dashed red, the FEC corridor in purple, and the Sunport people mover (Airport to Seaport) in orange. The likely deviation from the route on the map is that the streetcar will probably detour down NW 1st Ave. before crossing Broward Blvd. so it can stop at the Central Terminal.

Contrary to what bloggers like Len Degroot or Alesh Houdek might be inclined to believe, Fort Lauderdale is neither dreaming nor out of touch with reality. With gas prices skyrocketing, people want alternatives to cars. Transit has never looked better.

With all the talk about Miami’s streetcar here, one would never have guessed that Fort Lauderdale is also planning one. The Sun-Sentinel today featured a detailed write-up and even a demonstration video on the project. They used the term “light rail” and “streetcar” interchangeably in the article, but the proposed system, called “The Wave”, sounds more like a streetcar. The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority’s website includes some basic information on this project that has eluded the radar screen for seven years. This PDF flyer offers more detailed info, including maps of the proposed route alternatives that run from NE 6th St. to SE 17th St. The cost is expected to be $150 million for a 2.7 mile project.

Tuesday at noon, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the city commission will meet in City Hall to discuss funding. The Sun-Sentinel seems to be the only source of information on this meeting. If I didn’t have to work I would be there.

Perhaps it’s worth noting that there is at least one representative from a car dealership on the DDA Board, Gale Butler from AutoNation. Since the DDA is responsible for this project, it looks like the auto dealerships are more inclined to see this project happen than Miami’s streetcar. Let’s do The Wave!