Description: The intent of the Miami
Streetcar Feasibility Study is to assess the
feasibility of a streetcar operation between
downtown Miami and NE 79th Street on four
north-south corridors. The 6-month feasibility
study will cover alignment options, station
location/planning, economic development
opportunities, traffic, parking, capital and
operating costs, ridership, connectivity to
transit, and other important elements.
Potential Benefits: In addition to
complementing the urban scale and amenities of
commercial and residential streets, streetcars
have been shown to be a very efficient transit
circulator, at one-third or less the cost of a
LRT (Light Rail Transit) system, that do not
require dedicated right-of-way. That is, they
operate in mixed traffic with little or no
impact to traffic flow or on-street parking.
Like Light Rail, streetcars are relatively
quiet, extremely reliable, and have low
maintenance costs compared to buses.
As demonstrated in Tampa, Portland, Oregon and
Tacoma, Washington -- cities that recently
re-introduced streetcars -- residents and the
business community have been some of the
strongest advocates for streetcars. In those
cities, streetcars have been signified as the
catalyst for redevelopment. Portland’s
streetcar, which was built in an abandoned rail
yard purchased by the City, has accompanied more
than $1.4 billion in private investment since
2001, with market values exceeding $300/square
foot.
Location: Evaluation of the following
four north-south corridors between downtown
Miami and NE 79th Street: Biscayne Boulevard, NE
2nd Ave, NE 1st Ave, N. Miami Ave.
Project Scope: To evaluate physical and
financial feasibility of a streetcar service,
including: alignment, station locations,
connectivity to other transit services economic
development opportunities, costs and financing,
ridership, impact to traffic and parking,
environmental analysis, and implementation
requirements.
Completion Date: July 15, 2004.
Milestones:
- Phase I Corridor Analysis -- April 2004
- Stakeholders meetings
- Impact Analyses -- May 2004
- Plan/ordinance changes – June 2004
- Urban Design concepts – June 2004
- Cost estimate – May / June 2004
- Financial Analysis – May / June 2004
- Construction options – June 2004
- Implementation Plan – June 2004
- Final Report – July 15, 2004
Contact:
Lilia I. Medina
Assistant Transportation Coordinator, Office of
Transportation
(305) 416-1429
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