CITT briefs Miami Lakes on PTP funds, on-demand transit and regional rapid-transit planning

Miami Lakes — The Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust on Thursday gave the council a broad briefing on the county's People's Transportation Plan (PTP) surtax, municipal allocations and regional rapid-transit planning.

Javier Bettencourt, executive director of CITT, told the council the half-penny sales surtax has generated more than $5 billion since inception and currently brings in roughly $400 million a year countywide. He said roughly 20% of annual surtax collections are allocated to municipalities; those funds must be used at least in part for transit. "We are strictly focused on being a watchdog over the funds and making sure that the promises that were made to the people were implemented," Bettencourt said.

Mariana Price, CITT municipal program manager, reviewed Miami Lakes-specific figures: the town received about $1.9 million in PTP funds last year, and reported about 33,300 rides from its on-demand service in the previous year. Price said the town has at times spent more on transportation projects than the annual allocation, noting municipalities commonly use surtax funds alongside other local resources for projects.

Bettencourt and Price described the countywide priorities in PTP's current strategic plan, including a soon-to-open bus-rapid-transit (BRT) South Corridor, planned corridor studies for Beach and East-West connections, and proposals to use existing rail rights-of-way for commuter rail. They urged municipalities to coordinate on-demand services — such as Miami Lakes' Freebee program — with adjacent cities and to explore regional partnerships and alternative financing tools for larger projects.

Council members focused questions on local issues: whether drainage work incidental to road projects would be eligible for PTP funds (staff said it may be eligible when incidental to a road project), the timing and prioritization of upgraded traffic-signal systems, and whether municipal on-demand services could cross municipal boundaries. Bettencourt said many municipalities already permit cross-jurisdiction service and that CITT will provide recent contracting best-practice guidance to help towns reduce costs.

The presentation included a request that municipalities consider joining pilot projects and shared procurement exercises to lower per-ride costs for on-demand services and to plan first/last-mile connectivity to fixed-route services and stations.

Ending — Bettencourt encouraged further coordination among Miami Lakes and neighboring cities and said CITT would continue to provide municipal audits, contracting resources and program guidance to help cities make the most of PTP funds.