Archive for the 'Kendall' Category

In the News…

Published
by
Gabriel Lopez-Bernal
on November 29, 2006
in CSX, Coconut Grove, Island Gardens, Kendall, Miami, NIMBY, Traffic, Transit, Transit Oriented Development and Tri-Rail
. 0 Comments
  • Today at 9 am, Miami-Dade Transit will be determining just how large a proposed Transit Oriented Development may be at the Coconut Grove Metrorail station. Grove Nimby’s have promised to be out in force fool heartedly opposing any significant density in from the proposed project. A decrease in density would be a severe detriment to all Miami-Dade residents not just the people who would benefit from the transit development. The site needs to be built to maximize its potential and provide the greatest benefit to the greatest amount of people within in the county rather than the special needs of a vocal minority group. The local community cites traffic issues as their main concern along the intersection; however, they fail to realize that any development which occurs on the site will likely adversely impact traffic. The development would not only be able to maximize the use of our only urban transit system, but would begin to add some much needed density along two major corridors; US-1 and 27th Ave.
  • Kendall residents are at a virtual standstill in traffic deciding what transit options to pursue for their neighborhood. As development continues westward (like the bright idea of building homes west of Tamiami Airport) area traffic will only continue to get worse. Fearing that trains will only “exacerbate” the commutes of many drivers, the CSX rail corridor isn’t seen as a great alternative by many (who likely live along the corridor and fear a decrease in their home’s value.) Here’s a bright idea: Ride the train along the CSX corridor and you too won’t be exacerbated. Residents are also pulling for a proposed rail link down Kendall drive; however, they insist that the train must not remove any lanes of traffic. So, going by the mentality of the majority of Miami residents, they too would like transit in their areas so that other people may use it, while freeing up space for their own vehicular commutes. Good Luck. A train down Kendall drive would be disastrous unless we quickly change the way we develop the major thoroughfare. An elevated train down the median would prove to be a gigantic failure, leaving would-be passengers with at least three hectic lanes of traffic to cross before traversing the parking lots of an assortment of strip shopping centers.
  • Traffic cameras are coming to a city residential community near you. That’s right; the commuter village of Pembroke Pines in Broward is going forward with plans to install a network of intersection cameras to catch red light runners. Need I remind them though, that entering an intersection on a yellow light is legal in the state of Florida and that the driver may complete his maneuver even if the light has turned red so long as it did so after the vehicle completely passed the white markings of the intersection. As long as they cite people for the right thing and don’t abuse the camera policy, I’m all for the eyes in the sky.
  • Miami-Dade Commissioners unanimously approved the final step in the Island Gardens debacle. Flagstone development has now been given the green light by the county to begin dredging along Watson island to support the city’s first mega yacht marina.
  • Keep an eye on Transit Miami for all the latest news on Transit/Development issues in the Greater Miami area. I will be changing up the site soon as I switch to a better blogging software. As always, If you have any stories, news, or information you would like to share, please e-mail TransitMiami at MoveMiami@gmail.com…

Bird Rd. Train Accident

Published
by
Gabriel Lopez-Bernal
on November 2, 2006
in Kendall, Miami and Train
. 0 Comments

Good luck if you are trying to get anywhere from west Kendall this morning. At 3:15 this morning a car collided with a train on Bird Rd. and 72nd Avenue. It isn’t certain what occurred that would cause this car to go careening into the locomotive of the 9 car train, causing the train to derail. I can safely assume however, that this is another instance of a Miami driver not knowing how railroad crossings work…

Image from Miami Herald

Video Link…

Intelligent Gowth

Published
by
Gabriel Lopez-Bernal
on June 13, 2006
in Dadeland, Datran, Kendall, NIMBY, Pedestrian, Pinecrest and Transit Oriented Development
. 0 Comments

Hey! Pinecrest Nimby’s! Here are some more developments going up in your backyard (Ah, yes, it’s sad that you have no control over them either) in the newly emerging skyline of the south; Downtown Kendall. This latest cluster will build out the remaining lots east of the Palmetto expressway. It never ceases to amaze me what some Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) can potentially lead to. It all started with the Datran Complex (Which is currently building the fifth of five buildings) built on county owned Transit Land. Excellent way to spur development and require more transit use, we’ll be seeing much more of this type of development along other rail stops including: South Miami, Coconut Grove, Overtown, and Allapatah…

Town Center One Homepage (Town Center is such a stupid euphemism for downtown)