The Miami-Dade Long Range Transportation Plan is the document that guides funding for transportation projects in Dade County. Because transportation dollars are limited, competition for funding is intense. Sadly, the history in Dade county is that transit and non-motorized projects lose out to highway and roadway expansion projects.

From the MPO:

The Miami-Dade Long Range Transportation Plan Update to the Year 2030 has been developed to guide transportation investments in Miami-Dade County through the next twenty years with the purpose of achieving the best possible mobility connections in the transportation system of Miami-Dade. The proposed 2030 Plan is comprehensive in nature and includes improvements to roadways, transit, bicycle, pedestrian facilities, and greenways and trails. The plan is updated every five years to meet legal requirements and to identify needed changes to the previously adopted plan.

The current update began in May 2003. The plan was developed using the latest planning assumptions. Taking into account the 2000 Census data and the Miami-Dade People’s Transportation Plan (PTP) adopted by referendum in November 2002, this effort has resulted in a comprehensive reassessment of the future capital and operational needs of the metropolitan area multimodal transportation network.

The way it works is that projects are prioritized into several different categories of priority, based on ‘need’, cost, and federal and state regulation. Despite increased pressure on the MPO from the public and from the federal and state governemnts, it looks like the latest update to the LRTP will again choose to focus priority on motorized transport rather than provide more transit opportunities.

This from the LRTP 2035 update site:

One of the major emphases of this Plan Update will be the consideration of the projects in the People’s Transportation Plan (PTP) that are currently unfunded in the budget and what priority these remaining projects should have in to the LRTP. Despite the availability of transportation revenue from the half-penny sales tax, there will continue to be an emphasis on increasing the efficiency of the current infrastructure, particularly in light of the soaring construction costs. [emphasis added]

Read: PTP projects will continue to be unfunded. The BS continues…

This emphasis will include more in-depth consideration of intermodal improvement opportunities, freight movement, Intelligent Transportation System technologies, and Congestion Management Process (per SAFETEA-LU – Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users Transportation, 23 CFR 450.320 and accompanying regulations)techniques than in previous updates.

Innovative ways to enhance mobility throughout the county will be sought. Additionally there will continue to be an increased emphasis on operations and management of both the highway and transit systems. Further, quality-of-life issues and non-motorized modes of transportation will continue to be given increased attention as a part of the Plan Update. Review and comply with provisions in SAFETEA-LU regulations, 23 CFR 450 and the eight planning factors found in 23 CFR 450.306.