Miami Lakes Councilmembers Tony Lama and Nelson Rodriguez, who initiated the town’s first Transportation Summit, recently met with FDOT and county officials during a lunch meeting to explore more ways to alleviate the traffic gridlock throughout the 6.5 square-mile city.
Equally frustrated residents said the traffic gridlock, during peak hours in the morning and afternoon, along N.W. 67 Avenue to the Palmetto Expressway, Miami Lakes Drive, N.W. 87 Avenue and 170 Street, continue to be problems with no solutions in sight.
Following the Transportation Summit in July, the Town Council adopted a transportation improvement plan to incorporate into the town’s new Strategic Plan to offer some solutions to the traffic plights on the city’s busiest roadways.
The proposal included traffic signal priority at intersections utilizing technology and more police; improvement of pedestrian connections across N.W. 67 Avenue within Town Center; pedestrian infrastructure improvements to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities ACT requirements for pedestrian facilities throughout Miami Lakes; facilitate carpooling of trips for drop-off and pick-up of school children; connect the existing and future greenways on N.W. 170 Street; N.W. 67 Avenue via N.W. 169 Street; and extend N.W. 59 Avenue south to Miami Lakes Drive.
But the recommendations are just the tip of the iceberg, as state, county, and town officials still have a long way to go to resolve additional traffic problems, especially the new mega mall with a theme park that will be built into the north of Miami Lakes.
Miami Lakes residents have to bear the brunt of the traffic gridlock, stuck for about an hour in bumper-to-bumper congestion while trying to get to work in the morning and return home in the afternoon.
After learning about Lama’s and Rodriguez’s lunch meeting with state and county officials, residents offered their own solutions to the roadway congestion, which were posted on the lawmakers’ Facebook pages.
“You should consider opening up the I-75 ramp on Miami Lakes Drive past N.W. 87 Avenue,” said Margaret Magic. “The ramp is there but they never did anything. All traffic trying to get I-75 would be redirected. Lots of people get the Palmetto just to get to I-75.’
Betty Rubio Leoncio said the traffic is horrendous going west on Miami Lakes Drive from the McDonalds to the new Miami Lakes West fire station.
She said the issue can be resolved easily by putting a "No U-Turn" sign where most motorists are making a u-turn and cutting in front of everyone already in line on Miami Lakes Drive heading west.
“That means these drivers would have to go only one block further to then make a U-turn, defeating their purpose of not waiting the extra four minutes of staying in the line to exit the Palmetto and already go west,” she said. “We should post one police officer where that “No U Turn” sign is. Whoever makes a U-turn gets a ticket.”
Rodriguez responded, saying the town doesn’t control the roads.
“FDOT, MDX and the county are the agency’s that we have to work with to find solutions,” he said. “Government at its finest. I’ll also invite the town’s police commander to review your concerns about the police.”
Mayra Quintero said traffic on the west side has gotten worse since the town and county opened up N.W. 87 Avenue.
“It’s been a nightmare,” she said. “Morning and afternoon rush hours are as bad as the Palmetto.”
Lama said a workshop will be scheduled sometime this year to discover additional solutions to the traffic problems.
“There are planned changes to the flow of traffic as it is today,” he said.” We will be having a workshop next year to share the ideas with the community.”
Juan C. Fernandez summed it up.
“We need all the help we could get,” he said.