Bring up the word traffic in Miami and you’re likely to illicit a very strong reaction. With fingers being pointed in multiple directions and everyone thinking they have the best solution, finding answers can be as difficult as crossing Biscayne Boulevard.
There are no shortage of big ideas floating around – Baylink connecting the beach to the mainland, six new MetroRail lines and a tunnel in Downtown Miami to name a few. Grandiose ideas are important but all of them will take time – something we don’t have a lot of. Perhaps in transit, just like in life, the solution isn’t so complicated.
We take a look at three simple changes that require little to no tax-payer money and can make a big difference:
Stronger enforcement and stricter restrictions on the Brickell Bridge openings:
It’s become an all too common picture in Downtown Miami: dozens of cars snarled for nearly a mile in either direction as the bridge lifts and yet another private yacht sails through. Waiting behind the wheel for the Brickell Bridge at the mouth of the Miami River has become part of the daily commute for those who live and work in downtown.
But following two record building booms and a daytime population around 220,000, the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is requesting better enforcement of the current regulations and for a study exploring extended rush hour restrictions to be commissioned. They have enlisted the support of U.S. Senator Nelson to advocate for stricter enforcement. According to the DDA’s investigation, more than 100 illegal drawbridge openings have occurred in the past year alone.
Creating complete streets:
Complete Streets focuses on transforming urban thoroughfares into vibrant and safe public spaces for pedestrians, cyclists and others. The increased connectivity has served as a catalyst for economic development in cities across the U.S. In April, the DDA hosted a public workshop to create a ‘Complete Streets’ makeover on one of the most trafficked corridors in the city – SE/SW 1st Street, between Biscayne Boulevard and SW 2nd Avenue.
The workshop concluded with recommendations that are being presented to elected officials for approval and implementation. Solutions in other cities have included painting polka dots on the street to create a safe zone for pedestrians and transforming on-streeet parking into outdoor dining space.
Utilizing existing alternatives:
The best way to get out of traffic is to avoid it. Downtown Miami ranks fifth among the most walkable cities in the U.S. and boasts one of only three downtown people movers in the country. Alternative transit options that can be found in the urban core include three MetroRail stations, dozens of CitiBike locations, multiple Miami Trolley routes, car sharing services and the 21-station free Metromover system.
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