File #: Item # 2015-053    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 4/7/2015 In control: Town Council
On agenda: 4/15/2015 Final action: 4/15/2015
Title: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, URGING THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION TO UNDERTAKE A NEW STUDY OF THE SOUTH DADE BUSWAY TO DETERMINE THE NEED AND PLANS FOR FUTURE EXPANSION OF MASS TRANSIT ALONG THE EXISTING SOUTH DADE BUSWAY; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Attachments: 1. Mayors Council Memo - Support for Mass Transit in South Dade Region, 2. Mayors Council Memo - Attachment A - Village of Pinecrest Resolution 2015-17, 3. Mayors Council Memo - Attachment B - Village of Palmetto Bay Resolution 2015-35, 4. Resolution - Support for Mass Transit in South Dade Region
 
 
 
M E M O R A N D U M
 
To:            Honorable Members of the Town Council
 
From:            Mayor Peggy R. Bell
 
Date:            April 15, 2015
 
Re:       Mass Transit along the Existing South Dade Busway
 
REQUESTTitle
 
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, URGING THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION TO UNDERTAKE A NEW STUDY OF THE SOUTH DADE BUSWAY TO DETERMINE THE NEED AND PLANS FOR FUTURE EXPANSION OF MASS TRANSIT ALONG THE EXISTING SOUTH DADE BUSWAY; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Body
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
 
On March 5, 2015, I, along with my colleagues Mayor Jeff Porter - City of Homestead and Mayor Otis T. Wallace - City of Florida City participated in a Virtual Town Hall Meeting, which was co-hosted by Congressman Carlos Curbelo and State Representative Kionne L. McGhee, and facilitated at our Town Hall.  The meeting also included several community leaders that expressed their concern of the lack of mass transit servicing the South Dade communities. Included in the discussion were both Miami-Dade County Transit Director and Florida Department of Transportation Region 6 Director, who listened to the frustration of the South Dade community leaders and elected officials of the need for mass transit to our rapidly growing South Dade communities.
 
Recently, the Village of Pinecrest adopted Resolution No. 2015-17 urging the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to undertake a new study of the South Dade Busway. (Attachment "A") Additionally, the Village of Palmetto Bay adopted Resolution No. 2015-35 expressing their support for the expansion of MetroRail South to Florida City. (Attachment "B")
 
The expansion of mass transit along the Busway corridor will have a significant impact on social, environmental, and economic conditions within the South Dade Region of Miami-Dade County.
 
RECOMMENDATION
 
It is recommended that the Town Council join the Village of Pinecrest and the Village of Palmetto Bay in urging the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, and the Miami-Dade Citizen's Independent Transportation Trust to study the use of South Dade Busway for future mass transit within the South Dade Community.