Almost four years ago, a woman was fatally struck by a car while walking in the crosswalk at Miami Lakes Drive and Fairway Drive.
In January, 2019, a woman was severely injured by a vehicle while walking across Fairway Drive at Bedlington Road.
Those tragedies prompted the town council to approve installation of lights that will flash and alert drivers that pedestrians are present in a new, mid-block crosswalk on Fairway Drive and in an existing crosswalk on Montrose Lane near Picnic Park West.
In about seven months, those goals may be completed.
The town has submitted plans to Miami-Dade County for review.
While it awaits approvals, the council voted on July 20 to move forward.
Luis Espinoza, communications manager for Miami-Dade County’s transportation and public works department, said the county and town are work- ing on minor details on an inter local agreement for the projects.
“We are moving for- ward but haven’t been completely approved yet,” Espinoza said.
During the council’s meeting last month, town attorney Raul Gastesi said the municipality can proceed without county approval, but advised the town to let the county know about its plans.
“It’s real clear,” Gastesi said. “We have the right to plan, design, construct and maintain our roads. It’s that simple, we have an agreement that says that.”
Gastesi said Northwest 57th Avenue, Northwest 67th Avenue and possibly Northwest 87th Avenue were exempt from the agreement.
“They, the county carved out an exception which is for traffic engi- neering, which is for a stop light or a sign or closing off a street,” Gastesi said.
“Anything that has to do with changing the flow of traffic or narrowing a lane or maybe even a speed limit, we have to talk to the county about,” he said.
Improving existing crosswalks is something the town should be able to do independently, Gastesi said.
“Who’s going to stop us from fixing a crosswalk that needs to be fixed to save lives?” Gastesi said. “It’s our property. If somebody gets sued because somebody gets hurt in the crosswalk because it’s not properly maintained, it’s going to be us.”
Both Fairway Drive and Montrose Road, straight byways that are shaded with mature tree canopies, are very popular with pedestrians.
Exercisers, dog owners and shoppers at the Cypress Village Shopping Center walk along Fairway Drive at all hours.
At Montrose Road, the walking paths and playground at Picnic Park West lure visitors who arrive on foot and by car.
Mayor Manny Cid said the crosswalks are a public safety issue.
“Just yesterday, I drove by Fairway just to see the conditions,” Cid said. “I literally saw a pedestrian dodging traffic and cars.”
Vice Mayor Luis Collazo said he wanted the council and town staff to communicate their plans to county commissioners and staff.
“Make sure that they are on notice, that this is not blindsiding them or disrespectful to them, making sure they are aware and that we’re doing this all in the name of public safety,” Collazo said.
The target date to have the crosswalk improvements completed is by spring, 2022, Miami Lakes spokeswoman Clarisell De Cardenas said.
In the meantime, the town would procure bids, award and execute a con- tract, purchase equipment and install the lighting systems, she said.
It has budgeted $121,000 for construction of both locations.