Solutions to Countywide Traffic Problems are Under Way There's no denying a community's need for traffic signals. However, out-of-sync traffic lights can cause increased frustration and gridlock. So, do you wish you could tell somebody - anybody - what it would take to reduce neighborhood traffic jams at the Miami-Dade intersections you love to hate? Then, MOVN is just for you. What's MOVN? It stands for Meeting Our Vehicular Needs, a Miami-Dade County open-forum of local businesses, state of Florida agencies, local governments, and the community at large - all working together to find countywide solutions to traffic congestion. From roadway improvements to synchronization of traffic signals to reversible lanes, MOVN's mission is to find new ways to get Miami-Dade traffic moving.

HELP KEEP MIAMI-DADE TRAFFIC MOVN: Under this project, residents are encouraged to provide suggestions on how to reduce traffic congestion in the county.

"I truly believe that nobody is in a better position to help us improve traffic flow than the people who are out there driving every single day," said Assistant County Manager Carlos F. Bonzon, Ph.D., P.E.

Miami-Dade and municipal police agencies recently launched "Don't Block the Box," one of five major MOVN initiatives scheduled to be implemented countywide. This law penalizes drivers caught with front or rear car bumpers blocking an intersection after the light turns red.

"The idea is to make sure vehicles get completely across the intersection without impeding other traffic entering the intersection when the light turns red," said Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Pat Santangelo. "Blocking the intersection is not only illegal, but also it blocks the way for other motorists, which just makes the situation worse."

The cost when caught blocking the box? A sobering $198.55 traffic ticket, moving violation points on your driving record, higher auto insurance rates, or even a possible policy cancellation. Miami-Dade's "Don't Block the Box" is modeled in part after a program New York police implemented in the early 1980s to get Manhattan traffic moving.

The MOVN website, currently under construction, is jointly sponsored by private sector and public agencies, such as Florida DOT; MDX, the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority; and Miami-Dade Public Works. Once the website is published near the end of July, visitors can study all short-term MOVN initiatives to reduce traffic congestion, submit ideas, and learn what solutions others recommend.