Overflow crowd takes look at SR 836 expansion plans

Carlos Garcia (left) and Marvin Stein trade views on the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836).

An overflow crowd studied proposed extension of the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) through West Kendall during a “Public Kickoff” meeting conducted by Miami-Dade

836 expansion
Carlos Garcia (left) and Marvin Stein trade views on the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836).

Expressway Authority (MDX) officials on Sept. 4.

Alternate routes were shown on displays that lined a meeting room at Miami Baptist Church, 14955 SW 88 St., drawing a constant flow of residents, organization representatives and officials for three hours beginning at 6 p.m.

The session was the first in a two phase project study to develop alternate routes for extending SR 836 from SW 137th Avenue into West Kendall by paralleling SW Eighth Street before descending south, parallel to SW 157th or SW 177th avenues.

Hundreds of residents filled out comment sheets that will be used during Phase I of an MDX Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study to help identify “reasonable alternative corridors.”

The first of two study phases continues during 2014-15 with MDX analysis of corridor and preliminary traffic reports, appointment of a Citizens Advisory Committee, an environmental forum and corridor workshop before MDX evaluations.

Phase II scheduled from 2015 to 2018 includes review by additional citizen committees, an environmental forum, engineering analyses and a workshop exploring alternative routes before MDX recommendations become final.

The $6.9 million five-year study to expand SR 836 has drawn Sierra Club and other environmental organization objections as both the need for expansion and preferences among alternative routes have become hot topics for discussion.

“We will oppose expansion for one main reason: it will bring development past the Urban Development Border and further endanger the Everglades and environmentally sensitive lands,” declared Carlos Garcia, chair of RollBackTolls, which has opposed MDX expansion and tolling for four years.

A more moderate view was expressed by CPA Marvin P. Stein, member of Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations, who said, “It’s too soon to decide” until MDX studies and analysis are completed.

Detailed planning in Phase II will take three years until 2018 when a route would be selected for public hearing and potential county commission action before a construction start, according to current MDX scheduling. For information, call 786-277-9292 or visit <mdxway.com> linked to Future Projects.


Connect To Your Customers & Grow Your Business

Click Here