Light-rail proposal combining 3 counties as SE Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale: movers, how much)

[UrbanPlanz]

Originally Posted by checkmatechamp13

The trains are agile?

In any case, the MetroRail is heavy rail, and it goes over intersections perfectly. There are plenty of commuter rail lines that have grade-separated crossings. It's just that it's usually not worth it when you're further out and there's little traffic on the intersecting roads.

Usually, light rail trains stop at every stop, because most of the time, somebody is getting on/off. It's not like a bus where the next stop is two blocks away and there's a good chance that some stops will have no riders getting on/off.

I think both Tri-Rail and a light rail system next to each other is overkill. Just add some good feeder buses to the Tri-Rail stations (or improve the existing ones), and call it a day.

well they are not trains, they are trams, trollies or street cars, depending on where you are from.

Yes, Metrorail goes over intersections. It is all elevated. The point was that the entire line would not have to be elevated but over only major intersections.

Having lived years near a T line, I know for a fact that if no one is on the platform, the trolley does not stop.

The western suburbs are just that. Suburbs. The point of a light-rail line is to promote more density in the heart of the old cities and towns and, hopefully prevent more sprawl like we have created west of 95.

This is a unique opportunity for Florida recognize what most of the world has already. sprawl is not sustainable. That is why there is so much congestion. You would have us spend billions of dollars for more & wider highways but pennies for mass transit. Its just not sustainable.

"Smart Growth"
"Sustainable Growth"
"Land Use"
"Pedestrian Friendly"

[Coconut1]

Originally Posted by UrbanPlanz

well they are not trains, they are trams, trollies or street cars, depending on where you are from.

Ooooookkkkkkaaaaayyyy

Originally Posted by UrbanPlanz

Yes, Metrorail goes over intersections. It is all elevated. The point was that the entire line would not have to be elevated but over only major intersections.

This is false.

[hurricaneMan1992]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

.... Of course the prolem is money.

Stadiums.
ArtsPark and museums.
Tunnels for truckers.
Interchange reconstructions.
Turning much of Tamiami Trail in to bridges.
We've found the funding source for bringing sewers up to date.
Planned express lanes along US1 with flyover intersections.
Planned expressway expansions west of the Urban Development Boundary.

Nope, not money, it is more a matter of priority!
For the cost of the scrapped north Metrorail line, we could build out light rail throughout central Miami.

What mega projects are going to be planned when the property taxes from the current housing boom start coming in?

[hurricaneMan1992]

Originally Posted by Sugah Ray

Are those the trains with the cables on top? Can they sustain hurricane winds?

Light rail exists in Hong Kong and Japan, two places which experience many my typhoons than we do hurricanes.

[hurricaneMan1992]

Originally Posted by valicky

Yes, this. The east-west commute seems to be a much bigger problem. North-south at least has some options: tri-rail and metro rail. Whenever I have to drive during rush hour (thank God that's hardly ever) the worst part of the drive is the east-west part. The majority of commuters live out west.

North/South SHOULD have more options because it is the most dense, urban corridor. Nothing personal, but if you move to a gated community in west Kendall, don't expect much in the way of public transportation! Also, most commuters from the west are not necessarily all going downtown.

Question: If Metrorail or light rail were expanded and there were a station in your general neighborhood, could you get to work via Metrorail, or would you have to transfer to a bus, which would be worse than putting up with the traffic? For many people commuting from the suburbs, it is the latter.

I wouldn't mind taking a bus or driving 10-20 minutes to a train and train to work (train-to-train transfers are fine as long as trains are frequent or transfers are properly timed--this is generally NOT currently the case for Tri-rail/Metrorail transfers), it wouldn't be nearly as annoying as driving to a Metrorail park and ride, finding parking in the garage, riding the train downtown, then doubling all the time I just spent waiting for a bus and waiting for the bus to get through downtown traffic.

We really need to expand the system to comprehensively cover urban Miami and major employment centers, before going way out to the suburbs. It needs to be like the DC Metro...their system wouldn't be nearly as successful without its many stations throughout the urban center.

[valicky]

I don't live in a gated community. And I don't have to commute. I said that the few times I do have to drive during rush hour traffic, it's worse going east/west than north/south. As far as people who live east of US1 being more "deserving" of viable transit options, I don't think so. Not everyone can afford to live on the east side.

I feel that one very often overlooked solution, is working from home. So much can be done in home offices now. It's a shame very few employers let their employees take this option.

[hurricaneMan1992]

Originally Posted by valicky

I don't live in a gated community. And I don't have to commute. I said that the few times I do have to drive during rush hour traffic, it's worse going east/west than north/south. As far as people who live east of US1 being more "deserving" of viable transit options, I don't think so. Not everyone can afford to live on the east side.

I feel that one very often overlooked solution, is working from home. So much can be done in home offices now. It's a shame very few employers let their employees take this option.

Most people cannot work from home, but more power to you. I'm also glad to hear you dont live in a gated community, as I hate them.

My point is that unless you work in downtown within the Metromover loops, just expanding the Metro line west to your suburb isn't going to help much. It a waste to expand light rail way out into the 'burbs when you still couldn't get where you need to go on the other end.

The fact is, many people DO live clustered near the coast (in some parts this is more east of I-95 than US1)--even on the beaches, and believe me we're not all millionaires.

It all depends where you live relative to employment centers to. Up here in northeast Dade the most hectic traffic is north/south, not east/west. It's in both directions to, since you've got people going down to Miami as well as up to FLL. Similar if you live in South Dade--the north/south direction is bad. So between North Dade and Broward commuters and South Dade commuters, I'd venture to say more people commute north/south than east/west, but I admit this is very speculative.

[valicky]

There are so many more people that can work from home that aren't. Employers just aren't implementing telecommuting as they should be.

If they would improve the bus system so you don't have to wait half hour for it and then change buses and wait another half hour for your connection, maybe more people would use them.

I don't know if north/south has more commuters than east/west but I don know that most people that commute east/west must also commute north/south so it's a double whammy. I don't know how people do that every day. I'd need some good drugs to help me manage that!

[WINTERFRONT]

I used to do that mostly every day for years... West-east, south-north for school and dentist. I prefer taking public transport than actually driving, to be honest. Driving is boring, tense and you barely enjoy the cityscape. Just sitting (sometimes laying) and relaxing and looking out the window contemplating the ride or reading a book... you can't do that when driving. You eventually make ride friends too... I made few.

If only Miami had a different climate... things would be easier and more comfortable.

[valicky]

I would prefer it too if it didn't take twice as long or longer to get to your destination. I hate driving on the highways in Miami and the older I get the more I hate it. I'm ready to move to a one light town!