Let's get the trolley into Coconut Grove

Someone said something in a comment regarding the trolley service, or lack of it and it dawned on me that lip service isn't going to get us a trolley. Legal action might, but I started a petition instead.

We as City of Miami taxpayers deserve the same city services as other business and arts districts receive in the city. I have been given all sorts of B.S. as to why the Grove doesn't have the trolly. I've been told we have the Circulator, we don't need the trolley. I've been told we don't need a trolley to get from one end of the Grove to the other (the stupidest one since that's not what we want it for), I've been told it will add 8 minutes to the route, that that is too long; I've been told that routes are being tested and those that have little or no riders will be swapped out for other routes. I've been told everything as an excuse.

Businesses and residents in Coconut Grove suffer by being left out of the trolley route.  It's a quality of life issue. It's here in the city already. It is not on tracks or run by electric current above and can be easily rerouted into the village.

Here is what the petition says below. You can go to the actual petition here and sign it.

This petition is to demand free trolley service for the Village of Coconut Grove, the same trolley service that serves the rest of the City of Miami. All business and entertainment districts in the City of Miami benefit by use of the free trolley program. Coconut Grove does not.

We, the undersigned demand that the Village of Coconut Grove receive the same services as the rest of the city. Coconut Grove businesses and residents pay more than their fair share of taxes to the City of Miami and in return, Coconut Grove should receive the same services. Lack of trolley service contributes to lack of business in Coconut Grove. We believe that a free trolley would be a big benefit to the Village.

The trolley now stops at Mercy Hospital, the same Brickell route should be extended from Mercy Hospital, south on S. Bayshore Drive, into Coconut Grove's Central Business District via Mary Street, making stops along the way. The trolley should go up Grand Avenue and possibly turn onto SW 37nd Avenue going toward Coral Gables, where it can and should end up at one or both Coconut Grove Metrorail stations. The trolley should link with the Coral Gables trolley at some point, allowing back and forth traffic between the two towns.

The trolley is a quality of life issue that our taxes pay for. We in Coconut Grove demand the same services as the rest of the City of Miami.

Right now the goal is 1500 signatures, but hopefully we'll get much more. I'll present the petition to the City (the mayor, transportation dept. Commissioner, etc.) after it's end date, April 30, 2014.


You may sign the petition here.