South Florida Transportation Part II

[Songoten2554]

no i am not really crying this out 24/7 its just i feel cheated you know how many of you felt like you were cheated so thats why i didn't know this happened till now, oh and don't worry guys i am just feeling shocked because of this.

i am just sad about this but i am not crying about it 24/7 its just that you know they betrayed their trust thats no good, espically if its a promise they made to the public you never back down from a promise.

i never knew government officials and i mean business people, the high on top people that we are very below of can be lieing, backstabbing SOBs, thank you Spellbound and Dshoot for making me realise about this.

but a question i want to ask is this why all this lie why not say the truth before that expansions wouldn't happen which is sad because Gas Prices are really up and driving can be a pain because of it, this is making me do a youtube video about this scandral that the MDTA did thanks Spellbound and Dshoot be on the lookout on my video about this.

i am sorry if i seem to take it personal about this but man the gas prices going up and cutting buses which is no good at all, espically the people who can't afford a car and espically those people that depend on these bus routes hopefully they don't cut the 83 bus because i depend on that bus route.

also why the MDTA chooses to do this scandral never heard of a transit attority be so low and i mean as a government company be that low, never not even in transit attoruties around the world are like that, is the NYC MTA unresponsible no, is the London Transport attourity bad no, is The paris metro bad no, is the Tokyo Metro and Toei Metro bad not.

this is what i want to know why does the US transit attounties does this like they don't care and yet other Transit attoutires around the world takes pride of their systems and so forth they take care of it they embrace it yet MDTA chooses to say oh whatever we suck come on MDTA where is your pride?

anyways i am sorry Spellbound and Dshoot if i ever was like that seriously i deeply apaloguise to all of you here.

[thetallerthebetter]

truly shocking post Songoten

[southfloridamiamian]

Miami-Dade commissioner suggests private transit system

A Miami-Dade County Commissioner has raised the idea of privatizing the transit system.

In an open letter, Commissioner Javier D. Souto said the move could make the system profitable.

"We can get a European company to come in and run the entire rail and bus system for a fraction of our cost, because they don't have to deal with government employees or government unions," he said. "They don't have to deal with delivering service to serve every segment of the community, whether the route is a dog - as some transit employees call them - or whether you may be providing service to some of our neediest residents." He went on to say that a private company could run the service for less money and make a profit by reducing maintenance, operating, overtime, marketing and administrative costs.

"Believe me: With the euro as strong as it is, if we put out a request for proposals, like the administration did with the infamous and questionable tunnel project, you will have dozens of European and multinational companies vying to take over our transit department," Souto said. "Maybe then we will have an efficient system."

In the letter, Souto referenced the 2002 approval of the People's Transportation Plan, which requested a .5 of a percent sales tax hike to build rapid transit lines, expand bus service, improve traffic signalization and fund road and transportation projects. Souto, who opposed the referendum, said the voters were also promised five new Metrorail corridors. He said the plans relied too heavily on funds from the state and federal governments.

"The only Metrorail project currently being advanced for federal funding does not even meet the federal standards for ridership, and thus has been rejected for funding," he said. "This is the 9.5-mile extension of the Metrorail system along Northwest 27th Avenue, which will allow Broward County residents to board Metrorail at a new Northwest 215th Street station and commute to work in downtown Miami."

In order to fund this Metrorail expansion, the Miami-Dade County Transit Department is proposing to raise the fare on the existing bus and Metrorail system by 50 cents, effective Oct. 1.

"Even if these federal funding programs are restored and Miami-Dade County is allowed to compete for these funds, you are looking at a process that would take dozens of years to see the fruits, between actually receiving the federal funds, acquiring the corridor through eminent domain, design and actual construction," Souto said. "Meanwhile, our bus system will continue to decline into one of the worst systems in the world, congestion on our streets will continue to get worse and gas prices will continue to escalate well into the next decade, while we wait for the promised trains."

Souto proposed that the county ask the voters if they would prefer to use the .5 of a percent sales tax to improve the bus transit system and improve the road and highway system to reduce traffic congestion, and improve safety through road calming features and other road safety features or improve the Metrorail service by expanding the existing system along Northwest 27th Avenue, north to the Broward County line at Northwest 215th Street, as well as expand the corridor west along State Road 836 to Northwest 117th Avenue.

[kevinkagy]

Interesting, but from what I have understood, private companies don't want to deal with public transit, because it is very hard to make it profitable. Thoughts?

[spellbound]

The more I read about Javier Souto the more I'm convinced his I.Q. stops in the double digits. Know what this is all about? He's pissed that the Herald exposed his stupid pet project "bus to nowhere" that costs the taxpayers 30 bucks per rider. The route IS a "dog," moron.

Earth to Javier: Stop with the petulant whining and do the job you were elected to do. No private interest is going to take over the entire transit system. If there was money to be made doing that you would already see it in countless places. Get your OWN house in order, fool.

Honestly, anybody wondering why the feds have taken such a dim view of the situation down there need look no further than "leadership" like this. What I wouldn't give to see actual competent people in those positions.

[Songoten2554]

well if a private company can pick up what MDTA is on about and such then maybe it could happen.

after all private companies have made and built mass transit before so why not now?

[xerxesjc28]

BTW, although I agree the route Souto made (route 82) was underused, I do have to say I will miss it. Since it passes right behind my house and goes from FIU to the local library to the strip mall (Westchester's shopping plaza) and then to tropical park. By not taking this bus I would have to take 3 busses to go to Tropical Park for instance. So it did make sense as a local route in a way.

If only it did not pass once per hour only 6 hours a day 5 days a week. Would have been nice if it went to the Kendall regional hospital though.

OH WELL.

Just wanted to point out even a terribly underused bus has its users.

[knas167]

Originally Posted by kevinkagy

Interesting, but from what I have understood, private companies don't want to deal with public transit, because it is very hard to make it profitable. Thoughts?

I think it's a great idea. Orlando uses a private system for it's highways since the government would never supply the funds for highway expansions. Hence al the tolls roads everytime you visit Orlando. Sounds like apublic authority but it's private--Orange County Expressway Authority. I actually remember mentioning this idea like 6 months ago on the forum....see page 73.

[kevinkagy]

Random question, but anyone know the fastest way to get to FIU from MIA using transit? I was thinking taking either the 57, J, 32, or 7 and transferring from one of these onto the 8 on 8th St to FIU. Are these my only options? If so, which of these is the quickest? Also, do college students qualify for Metrobus discounts? Thanks guys.

[xerxesjc28]

By discounts you mean student discounts? Like instead of paying $1.50 you would pay less? I believe no.That is only for students like high school, Middle school etc.

However, you can buy discount monthly bus passes which are sold in quite some places (Most colleges seem to sell them). They are for students and cost I think $38.50.

[brickell]

Originally Posted by knas167

I think it's a great idea. Orlando uses a private system for it's highways since the government would never supply the funds for highway expansions. Hence al the tolls roads everytime you visit Orlando. Sounds like apublic authority but it's private--Orange County Expressway Authority. I actually remember mentioning this idea like 6 months ago on the forum....see page 73.

We have the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority who's makeup is similar.
http://www.mdx-way.com/

[brickell]

Originally Posted by kevinkagy

Random question, but anyone know the fastest way to get to FIU from MIA using transit? I was thinking taking either the 57, J, 32, or 7 and transferring from one of these onto the 8 on 8th St to FIU. Are these my only options? If so, which of these is the quickest? Also, do college students qualify for Metrobus discounts? Thanks guys.

http://sfrtp.cinrtosfl.com or http://go.miamidade.gov has the link

Looks like taking the J and transferring at 8th street is the quickest, but it probably depends on what time you're leaving. Check out the planner.

[AddictedToSpace]

Question for those who use public transit and the trip planner on-line.

Is the trip planner's estimated times accurate and does it actually give you the best route to get to your destination?

I have looked in using public transportation but according to the planner it would take me 2 hours to get to work when I can get to work in 15 minutes using my car.

Thanks!

[brickell]

When I've used it in the past, it's been relatively accurate. It gets worse when you use busses and have multiple transfers. A late bus arriving can throw off the whole schedule further down the line. I always double check the routes manually just to be sure but I can't recall a time where it didn't give me the best (ie quickest) route.

[kevinkagy]

The bus estimates seem a bit off though, it says it takes two hours to get from MIA to FIU taking the J and the 8. That seems really wrong. I've taken the 8 to Downtown from FIU and it takes a little less than an hour, so how could it take that long from MIA?

Also, transferring from Tri-Rail to Miami buses and yet to another bus, gets a bit expensive and exhausting.

[Songoten2554]

i don't know if i am repeating myself but i keep wondering about certain things and if i am i am sorry to say this.

i don't know but it seems to me the metrorail portion of the MIC should be relooked i maybe right or wrong about this? could be wrong but i don't know?

what i am saying is they have it right but it seems to me it won't work with the future expansions that will happen somehow once Obama wins the election then the massive metrorail and other transport expansions will happen?

MIC Central station for the metrorail portion has two tracks with a center platform at first i wanted to make the platform bigger but instead i relised that the for the other lines it will create too much traffic jams and so forth so i decided there is an easier way about this.

the Central Station (Metrorail Portion) should be 4 tracks with 2 platforms why is that traffic capacity that way the orange line will run on the side tracks and for the inner tracks will be the termiuns for the yellow line and the blue line and that way there wouldn't be delays.

North portion of the station there will be two tracks both of the orange line and then the tracks will set seperated and then you will see two tracks rising up those tracks are for the giant Maitance and control center for the metrorail, Tri Rail and other modes of transportation center one of the biggest in Miami to show the grandest of the grand, and then there will be many crossovers and then after that it will head into the station very decorated with airplane models and pictures of historical areas and so forth it will be like a Station musuem.

south portion on the station there will be some crossovers and the tracks will divide, the outer tracks will head west to FIU and then south and the inner tracks will make a turn east for Downtown (yellow line) and for Coral gables (blue line) and it will be a massive Flyover like the expressways ones but for Metrorail since it will be smaller in diameter.

anyways this is my thought of it the Miami Central Station for the Metrorail portion should be big and grand that Miami will embrace as the center of coming to Miami and Leaving from Miami you know it will feel like man i feel good to walk in a station to listen to the PA's and all that and listen to the music.

also the station should have music playing like Jazz or something thats in the airport you know to make it feel good, safe and interesting.

also if this will happen make another half cent tax and i hope the MDTA will do it right this time and start with the expansions already they need to why won't they look at other systems around the world and get the idea jeezes how hard is that.

[Songoten2554]

that was a prediction if the half cent tax wasn't a lie i hope the next one isn't a lie i hope the expansions will happen and so forth?

[spellbound]

After getting burned with the last half-cent tax you can be assured that the public will NOT approve another one...especially on a November ballot when the turnout will be high.

I'm not clear on what "expansions" you're still talking about, Songoten. The stuff from years ago (Aventura, Kendall, etc.) is all dead and gone. It's no longer even being planned---let alone in any kind of pipeline for funding. You may as well be talking about passenger shuttles to the Moon. Not happening.

Aside from the MIC link the only Metrorail line that might still advance is the route up 27th Avenue. Of course, that remains dependant on re-winning federal approval. As of now it remains in the "not eligible for funding" category because MDTA is so very bad at their job.

Look, friend, I've always supported your enthusiasm here (and share it) but at some point you really have to deal with the reality of the situation. The "Grand Expansion" stuff is over and gone. Frankly, it's a waste of time to even discuss it any longer. MDTA needs to get their house in order and start thinking about light-rail alternatives to improve the transit situation in Greater Miami. The Metrorail that you (and I) envisioned just is NOT going to happen.

Don't cry over it or make weepy youtube videos...start thinking about how to make lemonade from lemons.

[Exploratus]

Only when Americans realize how expensive and devastating cars are to our economy, personal welfare, communities, and social habits, will we able to move ahead. The average car costs the american 6,000 to 7,000 dollars a year, and with those kinds of expenses its not wonder that a family of four cant save any MONEY!!!!! The amount of money and time we put into highways is absurd. The cost for maintaining them is about to catch up to us and make things even worst. Rail cars and trains are much more affordable per passenger mile than the selfish, ego filled automobiles we drive today.

[Exploratus]

I think that anyone that posts messages supporting public transportation in this message board and still drives a car for most things, including grocery shopping and work, is a hypocrite and needs to take the lead. If people in these message boards, who seem very passionate abot fixing things, dont take a lead, who will?????

Personally, I have abandoned my car and now have 1 car for me and my girl... I have moved to brickell, and convinced (although it took me a while) for her to take the train and bus to work a few days a week. At first she resisted, but when I made her think of the environemnt and the Dubai, and how our money is over their building the cities of the future, she quickly saw why I was so disgusted with the state of things.

I cannot get in a car now withour visualizing the pollution comign out of the car. I cannot get into a traffic jam without thinking of the socially fearful society we live in which would rather sit in a car alone, in their bubble, rather than sit next to a stranger on the train. I cannot pump a gallon a gas without thinking where this money is going, and how I would rather put the money into the train to see the money stay at home, providing jobs and more infrastructure so desperately needed.