Town Hall meeting features updates on 87 Avenue work; expansion of natural gas lines

Community Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Northwest 87th Avenue between 154 and 162 streets will be open by next year and westside Miami Lakes residents who own natural gas hybrid cars may not have to leave home in the future to gas up.

During a town hall meeting on November 5 at the Roberto Alonso Community Center at Royal Oaks Park, representatives from Miami-Dade Public Works and Acosta Tractors, the contractors opening up the roadway to alleviate traffic and unite residents on the west side of town, said the project should be completed sometime in 2014.

In addition, a related project to add two additional lanes on Miami Lakes Drive between 87 and 84 avenues is expected to be finished by next month.The town announced some traffic flow changes on Miami Lakes Drive at N.W. 87 Avenue and the closure of Miami Lakes Drive between 87 and 89 avenues which began on November 11 and will continue for approximately one month.

The meeting, called by Councilmember Nelson Rodriguez, gave residents an opportunity to voice their concerns, including speeding, traffic signal light placement and adding bike paths along the roadway.Florida City Gas is the provider for natural gas in the area and officials educated the residents on the use and availability of bringing gas lines to the homes in the northwest area of Miami Lakes.

Officials stated that residential gas lines are already in the area of 87 Ave. between Miami Lakes Drive and NW 170th Street.Rebate options for switching over to natural gas were also discussed. Residents were impressed with the large amount of financial savings they could gain by switching over to gas.

The gas company stated that within ten years natural gas/gasoline combination cars will be available to the general public. They are currently working on a residential filling station which would allow drivers to fill their car at home rather than at a local station.