Transit Miami recently sent out a list of questions to City of Miami District 2 Commission candidates to get their views on the issues facing District 2. Representing one of the most important economic and urban centers in our region, the District 2 commission seat plays a central role in supporting regional and local transit, and ensuring walkable, pedestrian friendly streets for city residents. The area included in District 2 includes those parts of the city that are best poised to take advantage of existing premium transit and walkable urbanism. We’ve posted the answers in the order they were received – so far only Michelle Niemeyer and Marc Sarnoff have responded.
How will you work toward the goal of expanding transit in District
I would determine where we stand, where we have the most urgent needs, and where we should have improvements into the future, and then I would work with private resident and stakeholder organizations, the City, the County, State and Federal agencies together to be sure to get the greatest impact without duplication of effort.
Do you support the South Florida East Coast Corridor project to expand local and express rail service to downtown? Do you support a Tri-Rail option or a Metro-Rail option?
Yes, we badly need public transit that goes into downtown. This should be a priority rather than over spending on public projects that are not needed.
Do you support a MetroRail Baylink connection?
Absolutely. I think its crazy we don’t have a connection from the airport to downtown to Miami Beach.
How will you ensure that upcoming mega developments, like the Genting casino, contribute to pedestrian friendly street frontage?
Special area plans need to be approved by the commission, and the commission needs to strongly negotiate that they are outward facing community oriented properties as oppposed to the inward facing business model which is typical of desitination resorts and casinos.
The Transit Miami led coalition to improve pedestrian and cyclist conditions on Brickell led to the temporary lowering of the speed limit by the Florida Department of Transportation, but only a change in the design of the street toward a true pedestrian boulevard will impact driving habits. TM sent the FDOT a list of over 20 missing crosswalks and recommendations for travel lanes that will encourage lower travel speeds, which have been ignored to date. Will you join our coalition and fight with us to ensure that Brickell is reconstructed with narrowed lanes, permanently reduced speeds, and more abundant crosswalks?
Yes. Every community in this district has a road which bisects its neighboood and is treated by the county and the state as a commuter highway. These roads include Main Highway, South Bayshore, Brickell, and Biscayne Boulevard. In order for us to have healthy outdoor environment and pedestrian friendly walking communities we need to place a heavy emphasis on creating public transportation which will decrease the volume of cars beig pushed through our neighborhoods because the existing infrastructure is already overburdened.
In the ongoing planning for the I395 reconstruction, the Florida Department of Transportation is pushing an elevated highway through Overtown that will dwarf the existing expressway that decimated the once vibrant Overtown community. Other alternatives include a tunnel option that will open up over 40 acres of prime downtown land, as well as an at grade boulevard option. Which alternative would you support as District 2 commissioner?
If we could afford it, I support the tunnel.
2 Responses to Miami Candidate Survey: Michelle Niemeyer On Traffic Calming and Public Transit
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I think FEC Tri-Rail will hinder any future Metrorail corridors proposed along the east coast, biscayne or not. Tri-Rail already acts too much like a substitute subway.
Couldn’t disagree with you more Daniel. Tri-Rail runs a regional commuter rail service that is very different from a metrorail level of service. they operate different services at different scales. Metrorail is not being considered for this corridor now, and will not be ready for metrorail for another 30 years.