I'm pretty sure if South Florida breaks away from the rest of Florida, they won't be the ONLY spanish speaking state. :lol:Agreed. Commonwealth shouldn't be an option. Commonwealth gives them their own identity and let's them mooch off of the wealth of the US. Either be a state or go on their own is my opinion. The only problem I see (and one we will have to live with) is the fact that they will be the only Spanish speaking state. The do teach English in school, but people continue to speak Spanish. Some families make it a rule in their households to speak English, but most still speak Spanish. You can't force people to speak English.
Here's the thing. They're already a country within a country. They have a flag. Well, so do the 50 states. During the last referrendum, the pro-statehood movement promised that Spanish would continue as the official language and they also promised that they can keep their team in the Olympics. That last promise kinda irks me because it sends a message that they are different from the rest of the nation. Maybe let them have it at first and gradually merge their Olympics team with the US team?I really wonder if most would vote for it. I can imagine it must not be easy to say "let's cease to be a country, burn our flag without any civil war.
That was my idea and no one here took me seriously!!!!!!!So, Steve Berke, Miami Beach's mayoral candidate is proposing a cable car to connect the mainland to the Beach, apparently running from Government Center, Dodge Island, and the pièce de resistance, running from Dodge Island to South Pointe Park, so high up that cruise ships can run under it.
I wonder how many days a year this thing would be closed for lightning storms, hurricanes, and tropical systems. But then again...
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2013/09/steve_berke_takes_a_serious_tu.php
:lol::nuts::lol: Spellbound, Our SSC Long Family Friend:banana:, I'm dying here laughing:nuts:, Great new Idea for Light Wheel Rail Trips to South Beach !!, Love it my SSC Family Friend, worth the tip , too.:cheers::lol:Of course, if either extension is never built AND nothing happens with light-rail there are still viable alternatives...:cheers:
Yeah, I just like it for the 'cool factor.' As a real transit option, though, no. The Roosevelt Island example isn't really applicable as that is a much shorter distance than Miami to Miami Beach.I think it would make a nifty tourist attraction, though it would be too slow to suffice as a commuter option. Rail to the beach is still needed.
What is a Quiet Zone?Quiet zones plans for FEC tracks get boost, as All Aboard Florida picks up costs for some safety upgrades
[...]
All Aboard Florida will upgrade crossings to safety levels needed for the passenger rail during its track upgrades, Gonzalez said, and not hold cities responsible for that work. Afterward, municipalities will resume responsibility for maintenance.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/business/all-aboard-florida-to-pay-for-safety-improvements-/nZ2jn/
LOL Spellbound, Our SSC Longtime Family Friend:banana:, Great Light High Ride to South Beach with the family :cheers: Can't Stop laughing, your killing me, :lol::nuts::lol:
Miami-Dade transit fares will increase Oct. 1
By Alfonso Chardy
achardy@elnuevoherald.com
Bus and Metrorail fares will increase 25 cents starting Oct.1, Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) has announced.
The increase, from $2 to $2.25, is the result of the recent approval by county commissioners of a new budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. This is the first transit fare increase since 2008 when fares went up from $1.50 to $2.
“This fare increase, the first in five years, is necessary to help defray operational costs,” an MDT statement said Friday. “Despite this necessary increase, it is important to note that taking transit is still a cost-effective transportation option.”
Transit officials said Metrobus and Metrorail service overall will continue operating without cutbacks. In the last months, rumors circulated in transportation circles that transit was contemplating the possibility of service cuts because of budgetary reasons.
Though the increase is smaller than the previous one in 2008, it will nevertheless disrupt the budgets of tens of thousands of riders – many of whom have limited resources. The bulk of the more than 340,000 people who use transit services on weekdays in Miami-Dade ride MDT’s fleet of 817 Metrobuses. MDT figures show at least 243,000 average weekday boardings on Metrobus vehicles.
Metrorail has two lines, including one to Miami International Airport which began operating in 2012. Transit officials said that in 2012, MTD services transported about 108 million passengers. Besides Metrorail and Metrobus, MDT also operates an elevated automatic train downtown known as Metromover, which will remain free.
The fare increase also will not affect riders who carry passes known as Golden and Patriot Passports. They will continue to ride free.
Golden Passport passes are issued to Miami-Dade residents who are 65-years-old or older. Patriot Passports are for Miami-Dade residents who are honorably discharged veterans and whose annual income is $22,000 or less.
Other MDT increases approved last week include the cost of paratransit trips, from $3 to $3.50, as well as the price of daily, weekly and monthly transit passes, MDT said in the statement. Currently, 1-day passes are $5. They’ll go up to $5.65. The cost of a 7-day pass, currently $26, will rise to $29.25; and the price of a one-month pass will go from $100 to $112.50.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/21/3641281/miami-dade-transit-fares-will.html#storylink=cpy
Notice, there's no talk in the article for grade separation. Granted, it would cost a lot more, but if you don't ask for federal funding, you don't get funded. It said they will ask for funding on the quiet zones. They could at least ask for funding for the most dangerous crossings to grade separate.What is a Quiet Zone?
A stretch of railway track at least a half-mile long where enhanced safety measures mean trains do not blow horns for each crossing. Crossings must have gates, flashing lights, a constant warning time and power-out indicators.
What the hell is this?Really, $112.50 month transit pass, to ride a mediocre system? They really need to do away with the free rides for the old, they should pay something at least 50 cents.
That's Me Miamipaintball, Our SSC Family Friend:banana:, I'm feeling the painhno: everyday here retiring waiting for the Bus:bash: here in the woods:lol::lol:, I wish I was back in Miami Now on the Free MetroMover:banana: at the Brickell CityCentre and Mary Brickell Station at Publix enjoying a Publix Ultimate Sub Now at the Station enjoying all 7 NOW Tower Construction Cranes Up and Running just at the Brickell CityCentre site , Its Great !!:cheers:i feel your pain, im young just turned 18 and this picture saddens me so much..knowing we could be a space faring civilization, but certain govts choose to spend money on other unimportant things... what makes it worse is when ill be older around 80 it will be cheap enough most likely for your average joe to go to space
Well, I don't know how many buy the monthly pass, but I believe many must. Unless you are lucky you will probably need to take more than one bus to get to your destination. I need to take two buses to arrive at my job at college, and two to go home. That is four buses a day 5 days (sometimes 6 days) a week. It makes sense for me to buy a monthly pass, however, I am even more lucky that the college offers a monthly buss pass that cost $50.Do people buy the 100$ monthly pass? the average commuter (2 trips, 5 days a week) spends 88$ a month by just reloading the Smartcard.
Those that park and ride get a sweet deal. Instead of spending 176$ a month, they pay 110$.
By the way, the Palmetto traction power substation is finally completed. A decade late, but still...