M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Members of the Town Council
From: Mayor Peggy R. Bell
Date: February 21, 2018
Re: Supporting Senate Bill 688 and House Bill 243
REQUEST
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING STATE SENATE BILL NUMBER 688 AND STATE HOUSE BILL NUMBER 243 WHICH WILL REQUIRE COUNTIES TO USE SURTAX PROCEEDS ONLY FOR SPECIFIED PURPOSES AND PROHIBIT THE USE OF SUCH PROCEEDS FOR NON-TRANSIT PURPOSES; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
As population continues to increase in the southern part of Miami-Dade County, there has been an increase in traffic. A lack of mass transit forces residents to drive a single-occupancy vehicle, which contribute to the worsening traffic congestion. Town residents continue to express their concerns regarding the lack of mass transit and increasing traffic within our community.
In 2002, Miami-Dade County voters approved a half penny sales tax to implement the People's Transportation Plan ("PTP"). PTP includes plans to build rapid transit lines, and expand bus services, to the western part of Miami-Dade County, Kendall, Florida City, Miami Beach, and the northern part of Miami-Dade County. The PTP shortfalls can be attributed to the use of capital funding to pay for operations and maintenance costs of the transportation system and not its improvement or expansion.
State Senate Bill 688 and State House Bill 243 would hold counties accountable by requiring that surtax proceeds for county and regional transportation systems be used for capital transportation projects, including the acquisition of right-of-ways for rapid transit or bus systems. The Town supports both bills in hopes that Miami-Dade County will implement the will of the voters in 2002, which is to use the funding for capital improvements and the expansion of Miami-Dade County's transit system as originally intended.
RECOMMENDATION
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