Mayor Jose Pepe Diaz says new Sweetwater walkway will improve bus access for elderly residents

Mayor Jose Pepe Diaz announced that the City of Sweetwater’s maintenance department has completed a new pedestrian walkway near an elderly housing facility, saying the project "came out extremely well."

The walkway runs behind the building Diaz described as the city’s elderly housing and will provide a safer route for residents to reach a nearby bus stop. Diaz said a bench for the bus stop is "about to be delivered pretty soon," but he did not give a delivery date.

The mayor thanked Miami-Dade County for assistance with traffic issues related to the project and said the work was done "according to the book," indicating the city followed required procedures, though he did not specify which permits or codes were involved. "But we're very proud, and we're very thankful," Diaz said, framing the improvement as part of local efforts to keep pedestrians safe.

Diaz emphasized that small infrastructure projects can have an outsized impact on vulnerable residents. He credited himself and the commission for collaborating on the work and said the city is focused on ensuring people can walk safely along the busy road near the housing site.

The mayor did not announce a timeline for the bench delivery or provide details about funding or specific permits. The project appears complete and in use, and the city described the walkway as an operational improvement for local pedestrian and transit access.