Transportation Group meets to discuss traffic

There was a brainstorming session for the Transportation Group of Grove2030 on Saturday morning at the Bookstore. Lead by Hank Sanchez-Resnik, of Bike Coconut Grove, about 20 people attended. We all sat around the long table and discussed plans or solutions for transportation needs for Coconut Grove.

The goals are to have a pedestrian and bike-friendly pathway that will link all Coconut Grove residents to each other including the commercial area and parks. Also the goal is to reduce auto traffic by up to 40% and to have safe intersections at all areas of the Grove for pedestrians, cyclists and autos.

The Give Us A Break initiative was brought up where Commissioner Francis Suarez wrote a resolution to lower speed limits in Grove neighborhoods to 25 MPH. Not to be outdone, Commissioner Frank Corollo suggested a 20 MPA speed limit. 

Sandra Harris from the City of Miami Office of Transportation Management was at the meeting, said this was not a given. Traffic studies will be done by her department. Speed bumps and traffic circles are part of the study. But she did say, "The goal is to come up with a plan. The City does not control every street, the county controls some, some are service roads, etc." So in other words, it is easier said than done.

Some good news from Sandra is that two of the new trolleys have arrive and within the next week or so, you should see the mini-buses swapped out for them. A phone app is being designed to coordinate schedules and info, which will be a big help.

Sandra said that the 249 mini bus will still run through the Grove, which help alleviate some wait times. If you don't want to wait for the trolley, you can hop on the bus.

Hector Badia, of the City's Capital Improvements Program, was also at the meeting. He spoke about the planned renovation South Bayshore Drive, which is to be from Mercy Hospital down to Darwin Street. Preliminary meetings should be scheduled for early next year. 

Hector also said a study is being done about placing a traffic circle at 32nd Avenue (McDonald Street) and Day Avenue. The circle needs to be voted on by 100% of the affected neighbors, which is only four (one on each corner), but it does need to be approved by all of them. The cost for the circle is $250,000.

Most of the rest of the meeting was about ideas and plans to affect traffic changes in Coconut Grove, from slowing traffic to changing patterns to ideas of how to remove so much traffic tie-ups around our schools.