BayLink

BayLink is a long proposed transit connection between Miami and Miami Beach, Florida. Proposals have ranged from streetcar, light rail, monorail, Metromover, or Metrorail extension that would connect Downtown Miami to South Beach via the MacArthur Causeway, with the light rail or streetcar options potentially having loops at both ends. Originally proposed as an elevated light rail line such as a monorail, Miami Beach city officials opposed this in favor of something less intrusive, such as a streetcar.[1] Historically, Miami Beach has also cited concerns of unwanted downtown residents as a detriment to the South Beach image. Additionally, the unused parts of the bases of the MacArthur Causeway bridge pilings that were to be used to support the line have been used for the widening of the causeway for the construction of the Port Miami Tunnel, complicating a fully separated right of way. Officials still thought it was feasible as a light rail streetcar, and in 2014 were considering the possibility of a public-private partnership to help fund it.[2] In 2015, the cities of Miami and Miami Beach decided to break the estimated $532 million system into three pieces; two compatible light rail loops in Downtown Miami and South Beach to later be connected via MacArthur Causeway.[3] This was motivated by the lengthy federal studies required for a larger project.[4] French transport vehicle manufacturer Alstom gave an unsolicited proposal to build the Miami Beach portion of the system for US$148 million as a wireless streetcar system from 5th Street to Dade Boulevard via Washington Avenue. Alstom predicts over 20,000 riders a day just on the eight to ten stations that would be on the Miami Beach segment.[5]

An articulated bus on the busy S route at Omni/Adrienne Arsht Center station.

A rail connection to Miami Beach has long been desired due to its high ridership potential and lack of parking, automobile traffic, and other issues on the beach. Miami-Dade Transit's S bus route connecting downtown Miami to Collins Avenue is generally the highest ridership route in the Metrobus system.[6] Additionally, there are several other bus routes connecting the two cities which also have high ridership. In 2012, a Metrorail spur connected Downtown Miami to Miami International Airport but without any plan to extend it to the beach.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Blake, Scott (June 4, 2014). "Public-private transit projects planned". Miami Today. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ Carla Vianna (August 4, 2015). "Beach moving ahead on Bay Link". Miami Today. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  3. ↑ Douglas Hanks (May 5, 2015). "Bay Link group balks at study, but urges cities to get started with light-rail system". The Miami Herald. Retrieved August 7, 2015. (Subscription required (help)).
  4. ↑ Douglas Hanks (August 8, 2015). "From French firm, a bid to jump-start Bay Link". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ridership Technical Report (March 2015)" (PDF). Miami-Dade County. p. 13. Retrieved August 7, 2015.


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