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Commission debate over trolleys, CITT funds and neighborhood traffic-calming after residents press for speed bumps
Summary
Residents asked for immediate traffic-calming measures, including temporary speed bumps. Commissioners discussed using county CITT funding instead of general-fund money, and opened discussion about trolley routes that leave city limits; staff will meet with the trolley operator and report back before contract renewal.
Public commenters urged the commission to accelerate traffic-calming measures for neighborhood streets and to stop spending general-fund money where county CITT (transportation) funds could apply. Several residents said they had repeatedly asked the city for speed bumps at specific locations and urged staff to act without additional outside studies.
Resident comments: Daniel Pierre and Kathleen Joachim described speeding and near-miss crashes in residential neighborhoods and argued that the city already knows where to install speed cushions or temporary measures. Kathleen Joachim specifically criticized paying for a professional engineering contract to map traffic-calming locations when she argued residents can point to needed locations.
Commission discussion: Commissioners said they want clarity on eligible uses of CITT funding and urged staff to present a plan showing which projects can use those funds instead of general-fund money. Commissioner Smuckler and others discussed repurposing underused trolley routes or CITT funds to pay for traffic-calming projects; Bruce Lamberto (public commenter) urged redirecting trolley funding to engineering and construction of calming measures.
Trolley routes and contract: Commissioners discussed a rented trolley that serves destinations outside North Miami Beach (for example, Aventura Mall) and raised concerns about paying for trips that leave the city. Staff said the trolley vendor meeting is scheduled (next week) and that the vendor is open to discussing advertisement revenue and contract terms; commissioners asked staff to return with data and a third-party ridership analysis before renewal in the spring.
Next steps: Staff will meet with the trolley operator, work on an independent ridership/last-mile study (funding options were discussed) and return to the commission with options for reallocating CITT funds toward traffic calming where legally allowable.
