Metrorail Expansion: Chairman Gilbert Talks Mass Transit Expansion
In an exclusive interview with The Culture, Miami-Dade Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III discusses transit expansion during his Roundtable Discussion with Influencers and Black Media Owners at the Virgin Port of Miami. Rapid mass transit is on the ballot.
On Tuesday, August 20th, Miami-Dade County residents will have the opportunity to determine if the county needs to expand its rapid mass transit system. The question on the upcoming ballot is:
NON-BINDING STRAW BALLOT ON COUNTY RAPID MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM
DOES MIAMI-DADE COUNTY NEED TO EXPAND ITS EXISTING RAPID MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM? (RAPID
MASS TRANSIT IS DEFINED HERE AS ELEVATED METRORAIL, PASSENGER RAIL, AND/OR METROMOVER)
YES ロ
NO ロ
The Culture: What was the impetus of the Transit Resolution you sponsored for Miami-Dade County?
Chairman Gilbert: One of the things I talked about is that if we do nothing, we are assuming either one of two things. Either it’ll get better all by itself or we, as a community, are okay with it getting worse and we know that it’s getting worse. And we know how that looks, so we know that we have to do something. We must advance rapid mass transit and build density along our corridors.
While we have to increase our housing stock, we do not have the necessary existing infrastructure that will allow us to keep adding cars to the roads. For the past 30 years, our community has not made mass transit decisions that address congestion and increase transit options.
A lot of times people talk about how much it’s going to cost. It’s going to cost more not to do it. You’re just paying for it in a different way. It costs more in time, in lost economic opportunities, and in housing. It costs more.
So, the ballot question is meant to spark thoughtful conversation because we’ve normalized congestion and the manner in which to commute in and around the County. It doesn’t have to be this way.
The question will be on the August ballot for all registered voters to make their opinion heard.
