If you think new Busway planning went that-a-way, think again.Miami-Dade Expressway Authority holds its first Citizen’s Advisory Committee meeting at the Coral Reef Branch Library April 3 at 6 p.m. to continue studying managed lanes on the express bus route adjoining US1 south of Dadeland.
MDX is reviewing installation of tolls to create speed lanes similar to those on I-95 for hyper-travelers preferring “managed lanes when their time is more valuable than the toll,” sez the press release.
At this point, no one knows what kind of busway vehicle tolls they’re talking about but if the highly-praised project on I-95 is any indication, plenty of drivers would appear willing to pay a buck or two to commute around Useless One backups.
The problem really lies where I-95 terminates at SW 26 St. Just ask drivers who have logged all those hours watching back ends of other cars who hit gridlocks anywhere south of the Rickenbacker or north of Dadeland.
Compared to Broward, Miami-Dade has pretty much kept ahead of building or rebuilding expressways but the biggest missing link is an extension of I-95 south to Dadeland, a project now in FDOT’s shouldabeen file. Land-taking at today’s costs would be prohibitive to consider such a route and double-decking US1 from “The Roads” to South Miami would probably incur astronomical costs, as well, even if it would create a design impossibility by shutting off cross streets like SW 27, SW 37 and SW 42 Avenues. Any ideas welcome!
Speaking of highways, Travel Agent Doug Kostowski says now that the Killian Drive/Shula SR Expressway Interchange comes to completion, “traffic appears to be moving smoothly.” Witnessing dozens of accidents first-hand during reconstruction just outside his office window that overlooks the SW 107 Avenue at SW 104 Street intersection, Doug adds:
“The area is littered with forgotten signs (one outside my window), along with piles of debris and clogged storm drains.”
With the Kendale neighborhood “blighted” by No U-Turn signs, barrels and cones, Kostowski suggests permitting U-turns at 104 Street (east) and Kendale (Blvd.).
“Many do so as is,” he emails. “There is sufficient room and the precedent exists throughout the area…let’s wrap up this project!”
An email reply from Co-Chair Carlos Garcia of RollBackTolls, the anti-Sunpass group: “If there was a toll gantry on the interchange, this all would have been done a long time ago.”
Robert Csanalosi who zips around Continental Park in his Viper during volunteer patrolling predicts “we’ll see more of this type of three-wheeler” in use, if only to avoid astronomical fuel costs. He claims his sooper-dooper machine gets up to 180 miles on just two and one-half gallons of gas!
Baptist Hospital is revising planning off Kendall Drive to centralize its Cardiac and Vascular Institute services by having development areas approved for relocations that comply with zoning granted in 2005. The project only involves the existing Baptist Hospital campus, not the recently-acquired land parcels between SW 90 and 92 Avenues, reports Jason Berelli, corporate executive who heads a planning team. For information, call 305-375-2640.
From March 30 through April 4, Florida State Highway troopers are on the lookout for drivers who commit violations attributed to aggressive driving, including following too closely, unsafe lane changes and speeding. It’s all part of a campaign to discourage tail-enders and wrongside vehicle passing, as well as DWI’s (Driving With Insensitivity).
Miami-Dade Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Division will host a free clinic from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 12 at Homestead City Hall, 790 North Homestead Boulevard, offering hands-on help to file a Small Claims Court case. County Consumer Advocate Leonard Elias will explain how the court system works and answer questions about resolving disputes involving $5,000 or less without assistance of an attorney.
Don’t forget: West Kendall’s Relay for Life at West Kendall Baptist Hospital on SW 162 Avenue, Saturday, April 21, with the Suvivor Lap at 12 noon and a Luminaria Ceremony at 9 p.m. For signup and details, call Wendy Viciana at 305-779-2853 or visit <www.RelayForLife.org/WKFL>.
Thought for the Day:
Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book. — Cicero, 106 BC – 43 BC
Richard Yager contributed to this column.
Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669- 7355, ext. 249, or send emails to <michael@communitynewspapers.com>.
