Negotiations of the terms for the deal to open the two bridges in Miami Lakes are continuing this week between the town, Miami-Dade County and the City of Hialeah.
The key takeaway: Both bridges will likely be opened, though the Northwest 154th Street span that crosses Interstate 75 may not be available to regular traffic for a decade. Emergency vehicles could use it as soon as the county makes improvements to that street.
A draft memorandum of understanding, possibly the fifth version which the council had objections about was discussed during a three hour public meeting Wednesday night at Miami Lakes Town Hall.
“This is sort of where we are right now, this is in no way a finalized document,” Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Jeffrey Rodriguez said to about 30 people in the government center and 25 viewers who were watching online.
There are several thousand homes on the west side of I-75 between Northwest 138th Street and Northwest 170th Street, and Rodriguez said there are plans for more homes to be built than are already occupied.
As talks go on, terms that are subject to change include:
--The town is objecting to letting heavy trucks, tractor trailers and hauling vehicles travel east from Hialeah over the Northwest 170th Street span and, once in Miami Lakes, to use Northwest 87th Avenue.
--If the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization approves, the Northwest 154th Street bridge will be improved by the county. One lane over the bridge would be created to align it with roads on both sides and enable first responders to use it. Also to be allowed on the bridge: bicycles; scooters and pedestrians. Gates would be installed on both sides of the bridge and the county would maintain the road.
--A park would not be built on the lower span.
--The Jakey Duque statue may be moved from Northwest 154th Street to another location.
--The county would build a green trail on the Miami Lakes side of the Northwest 154th Street bridge which would have benches, shrubs and walking paths.
--Miami Lakes councilmembers want more connections between area roads to provide traffic relief in the region. If Northwest 97th Avenue is connected to Northwest 186th Street, the parties will create a traffic study committee comprised of people with experience in traffic management (but not elected officials) to review use of the Northwest 154th Street bridge. If Northwest 97th Avenue improvements are not completed in a decade, the study will be deferred.
--But if ramps to Interstate 75 are built from either side of Northwest 154th Street, the proposed oversight committee could be dissolved, and that bridge would be opened.
--The town would dismiss its lawsuit over the Northwest 170th Street bridge once the agreement is signed, and the 2007 interlocal agreement between the town and Hialeah would be voided.
Residents from Palm Springs North who will see a large increase in traffic in their neighborhood after the northern span is opened were very unhappy at the meeting and asked the town council for help. Audience members also encouraged the council to continue fighting in court.
Rodriguez and the other councilmembers repeatedly explained that the chances of a successful outcome in the current litigation over the Northwest 170th Street bridge were low, because they were going to appear before a county judge over a county matter that was already dismissed once before.
The Third District Court of Appeal on Feb. 16 decided that Miami Lakes’ case could be heard and returned it to county court, where it remains open.
Also, on Tuesday the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution asking FDOT to open the southern span.
Councilmembers said that unfortunately they didn’t represent Palm Springs North and encouraged those residents to contact their county elected officials.
“When we look at these agreements, we are looking out for the best interests of Miami Lakes,” Councilwoman Marilyn Ruano said.
An announcement on March 4 by Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid, Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo, County Commission Chair Jose "Pepe" Diaz and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava that a deal was agreed upon drew complaints from residents who felt it was premature when a memorandum of understanding had not been reviewed at a town council meeting.
Several residents thanked the council for allowing their concerns to be heard, even though they were unhappy with what the future may hold.
Next steps, if negotiations can render an agreement that is approved by the three parties, is getting signatures from Cid, Bovo and Levine Cava.
Officials say they don’t have dates for opening the northern span or how long it would take the county to make the improvements to the Northwest 154th Street bridge.