[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6677983,"mediaKeyId","2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c","parentId",2168376,"title","Trust passes executive director evaluation and urges Amtrak to reconsider intermodal commitment","audioSeconds",783,"startMs",6083000,"endMs",6866000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c&start=6083&end=6866","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c/thumbnail_6083000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6677983/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Trust-passes-executive-director-evaluation-and-urges-Amtrak-to-reconsider-intermodal-commitment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677983-c77eebe13600abf181bfd989f3aa77ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174177&Signature=kZNwCDbHJZWH9yPd8efuOeLX1PrTo4BzkB0Gyl-J98iKLUnoCNCeGBcZEIc~15Gwi4JWVfntmVu7vZ8LGT8TtgHxxjvqyaJVsTrcOx1C7u8z-SP04NCdPXV-nCxefeluea0H8q~BPZ0w19BEbSD2tDrBO0WRrniaIJmJu3BKTxG38oLE-W7NiGpxvVa2bekP2oq5hHycRedphe3MzbzWXBWV4sG81RjVV2bQXUJEls40Pv1SqBIEm5obNzNE6cbpPf4~7XFfF6qUGcybjigsrmL-utxZ7IN~LTJy6dQFva2xBKSIX5WtK1fZ2V5yzhpk-e0DW23DcecnH5JMTsnJpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Miami-Dade County","date","2025-01-29T00:00:00Z","article","The Citizens Independent Transportation Trust on Jan. 29 approved two formal resolutions recorded on the meeting agenda.

First, the trust approved a resolution accepting the chair’s evaluation of the executive director and the recommendations contained in the CITT bylaws. The motion was moved and seconded and passed by recorded voice vote; the transcript records the motion, a discussion led by the chair and several members, and a roll call voice approval by the trust.

Second, the trust unanimously approved a resolution urging Amtrak to reconsider a recent decision not to extend regular Amtrak passenger service to the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC). The resolution also urges Miami‑Dade’s congressional delegation and federal officials to intervene “as necessary and appropriate” to pursue Amtrak’s long‑standing commitment to the MIC extension. The resolution followed earlier discussion at prior meetings and recent correspondence indicating that Amtrak had informed county officials it would not proceed with the previously anticipated service extension.

Why it matters: The MIC was built as a multimodal hub intended to include airport people‑mover, Tri‑Rail, intercity bus and, historically, intercity rail service. Trust members said the loss of Amtrak service at MIC frustrates regional connectivity goals and may leave significant facility capacity unused. The resolution is an urging by the trust; it does not impose legal obligations on Amtrak but signals county concern and asks elected officials and federal partners to engage.

Votes and procedural notes: The transcript records motion, second and voice votes; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the public transcript. The resolutions passed and the chair and several members made brief remarks in support of the director and in favor of urging federal engagement to restore Amtrak service to MIC.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Miami-Dade County - Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust - Jan 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Jan. 29 meeting the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust approved the chair’s evaluation of the executive director and passed a resolution urging Amtrak and federal officials to revisit a decision not to extend regular Amtrak service to the Miami Intermodal Center.","taxTitle","Miami-Dade County, Florida","taxId",2864,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6677988,"North Miami outlines use of People’s Transportation Plan funds for trolleys, Freebee on‑demand and pedestrian projects",660,649000,1309000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c&start=649&end=1309","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c/thumbnail_649000.jpg","/articles/6677988/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/North-Miami-outlines-use-of-Peoples-Transportation-Plan-funds-for-trolleys-Freebee-ondemand-and-pedestrian-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677988-d42d1f1e03f6da76259e78c7bf58a34b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174177&Signature=RuKoTH07uuG4YhKAvxEpve0hWy2gwtu0Y9JJSeEcHb5ydLbWWisVajF8DypnQqmGHVF6AVMVJAMYSDhYF3OruKyQsNJwJJQClXvWYR4bXCli0llQ3zbJ1WxdHRlnrQ5aO5RbZzadR3yt44-bM~AazTxOODdlVBW43GT3OnWYaaXn5LOzXxU3IdDbBdqiBSLg8xaElFFxCLLKuMGIbXGrHkpGk-VM9krjrqVn1aj8zNK5XyR3JqbdmXKWyPiUJ05BqTojAQTa0oS84AA4GVgn4DDy1eF5Nik3lpKx1ofQeoV6ulKIew8KpsEi9WT2Gkhf3QEuWhbIgAt0drFrsoKDTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Steven Marcellus, interim transportation manager for the City of North Miami, presented the city’s annual CITT report to the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust on Jan. 29, describing how the municipality is allocating local PTP surtax funds and highlighting transit and pedestrian projects.

Marcellus said North Miami dedicates 20 percent of local PTP surtax proceeds to transit and 80 percent to roadway and infrastructure work. He said the city’s 20 percent transit allocation — reported in the presentation as $774,369.60 — supports the city’s circulator (Nomi Express), an on‑demand Freebee pilot, trolley shelter maintenance and related transit services; the remaining 80 percent supports resurfacing, sidewalk repairs, traffic calming and a planned pedestrian bridge replacement.

Why it matters: North Miami’s use of PTP funds illustrates how municipalities distribute local surtax revenues between transit services and road maintenance and shows how small-city initiatives — on‑demand rides and small‑fleet circulators — integrate with countywide services.

Marcellus described the Freebee on‑demand pilot, which began in July 2023. He said total Freebee ridership through the end of last year was “almost 40,000,” averaging roughly 3,000 rides per month with average waits around 30–40 minutes. North Miami added two vehicles to the Freebee fleet with a grant, bringing the total to six vehicles, he said.

The Nomi Express circulator, he said, operates four fixed routes on weekdays. The city purchased four cutaway vehicles in 2023 (referred to in the presentation as “Charlies”) and operates them via a vendor; Marcellus said the vendor is Limousine of South Florida (LSF).

On traffic calming, Marcellus said the city collected input from nearly 1,200 unique users and more than 380 comments via an online engagement portal between November 2023 and June 2024. A consultant identified roughly 234 locations for treatment; the city proposed 387 devices across a phased construction plan. Marcellus said phase 1 would install about 68 devices with an estimated phase‑1 cost described in the presentation as “almost $6,000,000.”

He also described a planned pedestrian bridge replacement over the CC8 Canal (and referenced another pedestrian bridge on Northeast Second Avenue), saying the city will seek ADA improvements and that the project is going back to bidding with a target of beginning construction the following year, pending procurement and budgeting.

Trust members asked about potential connections to the Golden Glades park‑and‑ride and whether the city had coordinated fares or services with neighboring municipalities. Marcellus said North Miami is exploring connections to the Golden Glades via municipal and neighboring trolley services and noted the city is cooperating with other municipalities on planning.

Marcellus provided photos of recent resurfacing and sidewalk work and said tree‑raising efforts — pruning to improve sight lines — are part of the city’s safety program. Trust members praised North Miami for community engagement efforts and new services and asked staff to continue coordination with both the county and neighboring municipalities.","North Miami’s interim transportation manager presented a 20/80 PTP funding model that the city uses for transit and roads, described a growing Freebee on‑demand service and the new Nomi Express circulator, and outlined traffic‑calming phases and a planned pedestrian bridge replacement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6677991,"DTPW quarterly report shows ridership gains and a county plan to systematically replace elevator/escalator conveyances",1315,3417000,4732000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c&start=3417&end=4732","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c/thumbnail_3417000.jpg","/articles/6677991/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/DTPW-quarterly-report-shows-ridership-gains-and-a-county-plan-to-systematically-replace-elevatorescalator-conveyances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677991-55674d5f75397ac7495d6c0cc932d260/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174177&Signature=A3KpcAQI~PONYwMd3lvDRx4AxtZnW8H9GQTgRtu4tfGghkqCfvi1Xjv6rFH78rekRfzQYIfTNxlvAOb8tE4KF7QsTnnMjyVD8zD0kJb8UgKggv92gdohAVeUzGkrzbsNov8HLv7bAYO90RRs1WBoQUu0sLX6mTL9yasplFD78R5SVbUNDVOt6DhAMMV9KHFzacejR4Y~ruY86mGqmpYRejKsfr4qOpegVJaiLqI6rjz6qzOJE-8iNq4dgfqQBN1Cpv4jG8blLDQtgEv1tUeGRSoD7oHQE4AM78Aht2IJr4GrAzQ~X96ZbOD~QKtL301av2MEUmVMRdEKHaSnI6MKwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Beth Goldsmith, chief strategy officer for the Miami‑Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works, told the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust on Jan. 29 that ridership increased across Metrobus, Metrorail and other modes in the most recent quarter but that conveyance (elevator and escalator) availability has declined and remains a focus for capital investment.

Goldsmith said bus on‑time performance had improved modestly and that preventative maintenance adherence was generally above 90 percent. She described reliability challenges driven by parts availability and the age of equipment in the county’s rolling stock and said the department has prioritized preventive maintenance and recent procurement actions to address those issues.

On conveyance systems, Goldsmith said the county had historically relied on contracts that did not achieve consistent preventative maintenance outcomes and that DTPW has shifted to a new, more performance‑oriented contracting approach. She said DTPW had declared emergencies at some Metro Mover facilities to begin modernization work and that the department has awarded recent repair and conveyance replacement contracts to tackle long‑standing failures.

Why it matters: Elevator and escalator outages affect accessibility for riders with mobility impairments and can undermine public confidence in the transit system. Trust members said they encounter repeated announcements in service about out‑of‑order conveyances; members pressed DTPW staff to accelerate work where possible.

Goldsmith and deputy director Sean Aitchison described a strategic, systemwide prioritization process: instead of ad‑hoc repairs, DTPW will coordinate larger modernization projects, group replacements by vendor and compatibility, and pursue replacements that reduce the county’s dependence on proprietary parts that are difficult to source. Goldsmith said this approach aims to minimize contractor churn and to focus available vendor capacity on higher‑impact work.

Trust members pressed DTPW about the length of schedules for some projects; DTPW staff said timelines on large modernization efforts consider procurement, permitting and business‑relocation phases, and that changing a delivery method (from design‑build to design‑bid‑build) can extend schedules to produce a more realistic plan. DTPW staff said they would seek opportunities to expedite work when possible.

DTPW also provided an update on other projects: South Bay Transit Operations Center construction was under way, Dadeland South station renovation is moving through design, Coconut Grove station was closed for renovation, and the department is preparing for major events including FIFA Cup planning. Staff said automated external defibrillators have been installed across many facilities and that several conveyance replacement contracts have been awarded.","DTPW officials told the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust that ridership has risen across modes and that the department is shifting to a systematic, prioritized program to repair and replace aging elevators and escalators after repeated outages and parts shortages.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6677995,"Coconut Grove Metrorail station closed for four‑month renovation; developer to fund upgrades and provide shuttles and freebie service",1046,4777000,5823000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c&start=4777&end=5823","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c/thumbnail_4777000.jpg","/articles/6677995/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Coconut-Grove-Metrorail-station-closed-for-fourmonth-renovation-developer-to-fund-upgrades-and-provide-shuttles-and-freebie-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677995-0f0490f844e3b6cff6459e8f9cce2880/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174177&Signature=ldepSJM~ytup~1fvFgwVe8DFhH6EDVMYiAICi6MXctDcy8lUvbCu21CZWwamBU8b7jzGhCXqdAFCGJ-hN6u8tRdreOPlyx1bJca-JLtwtOnzHM1eTgDuar3021B5XQq66Iax80-Izs4mpHCIRH9Q6VEiyQwGu-hnUFpJzlgY~MwhPvP0-4~ntEyp0R7j4ykvXpIA~MZ~tJWJaD6ZQ0SzgIyXWohMiSk1pgQuiw2Rurvuyx4bpWOCA5~5HZ9vPhoPyQmj6-Pah93-nTRPIaywIPowgWW7P7166C9VAoNIAwq386DyRnFnYETcD6kBRuYJ7qyvsxT~Q5hyYSWZCdqCbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Miami‑Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works began demolition work at the Coconut Grove Metrorail Station on Jan. 21, 2025, and county staff told the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust that a private developer is funding the station’s full renovation.

Javier Bustamante, assistant director at Miami‑Dade DTPW, said crews are removing 40‑year‑old elevator and escalator systems, replacing platform tiles, installing new tactile warnings for boarding, adding two restrooms, polishing stainless steel, replacing glass panels and improving lighting and landscaping.

Why it matters: Coconut Grove is a busy urban station and the county cautioned riders to expect a four‑month closure while the work is underway; DTPW is providing a shuttle between Coconut Grove and Douglas Metrorail stations and the developer will provide a dedicated on‑demand “freebie” option if riders miss the shuttle.

Bustamante said the contractors removed internal escalator components and began tile demolition during the first week; the work is tied to a larger transit‑oriented development adjacent to the station. He said the cost for the station renovation was reported in the presentation as \"620,000,0.0\" and that the renovations are privately funded as part of negotiations tied to the development. Trust members later and during discussion identified the developer as Terra Group and the project’s construction team as the same contractor that built the adjacent buildings.

Bustamante told the trust that the county insisted on having elevator and escalator equipment on site before closing the station, and that the goal is to complete the renovation and reopen the station in roughly four months. He said the county learned from the Douglas station work that night‑and‑weekend construction windows can prolong schedules; the developer’s private funding provides an incentive to finish faster.

Deputy director Sean Aitchison and other DTPW staff told the trust they will closely monitor contractor progress and said the county required the developer to provide local‑preference hiring commitments as part of the development agreement.

Operational changes while work proceeds: DTPW will run a county shuttle between Coconut Grove and Douglas stations; the developer’s freebie on‑demand vehicle will be available during operating hours to transport riders to the next station. Bustamante said the Golden Glades and other larger facility upgrades are on separate schedules and that the Coconut Grove work is limited to the station site.

What to watch: Trust members pressed DTPW for clearer station signage and better onboard announcements so riders do not unexpectedly pass the closed station. DTPW said it will increase communication and that the trust will conduct a site tour and monitor progress as demolition and reconstruction continue.","DTPW said contractors began demolition Jan. 21 at Coconut Grove station; the developer financing the adjacent transit‑oriented development is funding station improvements and will provide shuttle and on‑demand options while the station is out of service.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6677998,"Golden Glades upgrades near completion; Sunshine Station pedestrian bridge faces yearslong schedule and new funding gap",1240,2007000,3247000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c&start=2007&end=3247","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168376-67a8283ded9a66f5a114b346a473f25c/thumbnail_2007000.jpg","/articles/6677998/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Golden-Glades-upgrades-near-completion-Sunshine-Station-pedestrian-bridge-faces-yearslong-schedule-and-new-funding-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677998-e26933f18ff2907a68a8a1ee8446eedc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174177&Signature=DU-mIbceV2MfiZN9b-gWsXfAvU56aeNmlLcL3q~Vp0OP6acrBmFleHjuoGzclzsh2aChuE7YoXYfxE9oYkjWJul~mmewbo9sVrNBmIezyOW88pT3XA5TFxW5hzhujCp6HoaYez2rq4llphS3IPz51pGiospvQeAF9Z0ogXZ4BV9Gc-QtAkym5gT2O7lyA2hXrpLkqMOQ90jmsnZz657aqdDYS2Nj6C2wSk2JUak0VzdvViQbVcNpQ2QNYpklp6q~K-EmV~mUcnaaUGAO5TC4FeH-MDg08w-RzW4i0FYxydwmpS0fgMwNO23wpaS~~nqYhyeT6cXugyDuJsptJUPuZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hermann Arenas, an ITD staff member, told the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust on Jan. 29 that the technology package for the Golden Glades multimodal facility is nearly complete and that Wi‑Fi and most camera and monitoring systems are already functional.

The technology update came as Lisa Comenari and Gabriela Serrado of the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) and Anna Race of DTPW’s planning division outlined work on the adjacent Sunshine Station and on pedestrian connections across the South Florida Rail Corridor. Serrado said the project’s preliminary engineering/design and environmental (PD&E) documentation is complete; Anna Race said the project has federal‑ or state‑level approvals tied to the funding sources.

Why it matters: The Golden Glades hub links municipal trolleys, county buses, Tri‑Rail and regional services. Technology such as CCTV, passenger information systems and facility Wi‑Fi can be put into service faster than complex property acquisition and bridge construction — which depend on design, right‑of‑way acquisition and permitting and therefore drive the project’s longer timeline.

Arenas said the ITD scope was “about 96% completed as of three weeks ago” and that about 200 new cameras and an APMS system are being added. He reported that Wi‑Fi at the facility is “100% functional.” The ITD work is being done in tandem with a county contractor and financed in part by People’s Transportation Plan (PTP) funds plus a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) grant, he said.

But Serrado and Race said other pieces of the Sunshine Station project — a Kiss‑and‑Ride terminal, ramps and a new pedestrian bridge over the rail corridor and a separate replacement bridge over State Road 9 — remain in the project delivery phase. Race said the delivery method has recently changed from design‑build to design‑bid‑build, and that the county is beginning right‑of‑way engineering and designer procurement.

Race said cost increases for right‑of‑way acquisition have produced a new funding gap of roughly $5,000,000; she said the county is preparing an application for a regional TRIP grant to seek a roughly 50/50 split with FDOT to cover that gap. Race walked the trust through the schedule the project team presented: right‑of‑way engineering and acquisition work is expected to continue through mid‑2028; design completion is targeted in late 2028; and construction procurement and construction follow thereafter. She emphasized that property acquisition and business relocation could add years to the timeline.

DTPW staff also noted that the Southeast Florida Transportation Council put the project on a regional TRIP list and that the region gave the grant application full support.

Staff and trust members asked about whether parts of the facility could open before the bridges are finished. Serrado said the Golden Glades multimodal facility itself is in operation now and that some services (Tri‑Rail, regional buses) are already using the site; the new technology will improve security and passenger services immediately but the pedestrian and Kiss‑and‑Ride connections will require the longer schedule to complete.

What comes next: DTPW staff said they will continue right‑of‑way engineering, pursue the TRIP grant application to address the shortfall and proceed with designer procurement. The trust scheduled a site tour: staff said a tour of the Golden Glades facility is planned for Feb. 21, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon.","County and state presenters told the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust that the Golden Glades facility’s technology elements are nearly finished but that the Sunshine Station pedestrian connections and right-of-way costs have a multi‑year schedule and a newly reported funding gap.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Trust passes executive director evaluation and urges Amtrak to reconsider intermodal commitment

North Miami outlines use of People’s Transportation Plan funds for trolleys, Freebee on‑demand and pedestrian projects

DTPW quarterly report shows ridership gains and a county plan to systematically replace elevator/escalator conveyances

Coconut Grove Metrorail station closed for four‑month renovation; developer to fund upgrades and provide shuttles and freebie service

Golden Glades upgrades near completion; Sunshine Station pedestrian bridge faces yearslong schedule and new funding gap