Public Works Making Progress on PTP Projects

Since December 2005, the Miami-Dade County Public Works Department has been conducting an alpha test of its new, state-of-the-art Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) at 16 locations countywide. Funding for this new ATMS is being provided in part by $40-million from the People’s Transportation Plan (PTP) – the half-penny transportation surtax overwhelmingly approved by voters in November 2002.

Once fully implemented sometime in 2008, the system will synchronize all 2,600 traffic signals in the County increase the number of vehicles able to pass through the County’s major roadways, and reduce side-street delays.

Traffic signal synchronization is just one of many projects to improve traffic flow and roadway conditions that are being funded by the half-penny surtax for transportation. Along with mass transit improvements, the PTP calls for $309 million in improvements to roads and bridges between now and 2013, including street resurfacing and drainage upgrades throughout the County.

To date, more than 120 lane miles of road have been resurfaced and more than 40 roadway improvement projects are underway, with some already completed. They include the recently-completed $3.7 million Grand Avenue project in Coconut Grove, which featured various roadway and drainage improvements from SW 37th to 32nd Avenue. The project was the result of a joint participation agreement with the City of Miami and combined funding from surtax and other County sources.

Another recently completed major project brought $5.5 million in improvements to Northwest 62nd Avenue in Hialeah, including widening of the road from two to four lanes between NW 105th and 138th Streets.

The Public Works Department is also constructing and improving sidewalks around the County, including adding curb cuts near bus stops to make them wheelchair accessible.

Thanks to the PTP, the department is also replacing faded street signs throughout the County at a rate of about 70 intersections a week, with more than 19,000 replaced so far. With a master schedule in place and staff working at a quick pace, the department should be able to implement all of these Countywide improvements sooner than the 10-year proposed schedule.

Another PTP program is making it easier for motorists to read street signs. Sixty-eight new illuminated street name signs have been installed under a Countywide pilot program at 17 intersections. The Public Works Department is working on expanding this pilot program at 24 additional intersections.

School safety is another PTP goal. The half-penny surtax is funding the installation of 30 new flashing signals in school zones to let drivers know they have to slow down.

Improving the condition of roads throughout the County is one of the major goals of the PTP. As such, many roadway projects are planned over the next 10 years, including the construction of Northwest 87th Avenue between NW 154th Street and Miami Gardens Drive, major ingress-egress improvements in downtown Miami between Southwest 8th Street and Southwest First Avenue, and grade separation at some intersections.

Residents can look forward to many more improvements over the next several years that will provide for a more pleasant driving experience while reducing traffic delays.

For more information, please contact (305) 375-2960.