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| The
Miami Herald But last week, the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust voted 5-3 to reject a commission-approved $424,000 contract to start the design phase of a $10 million project to widen Southwest 157th Avenue on the fringes of suburbia from two to four lanes. ''I just didn't feel like this project, at this time, was really needed,'' said the Rev. Theodore Wilde, who led the opposition. "Maybe someday, but not now.'' SURPRISED REACTION Commissioner Dennis Moss, who represents the area, was surprised to learn that the CITT had rejected the project. Moss said he specifically inserted it into the Peoples Transportation Plan -- the list of road, bus and rail projects that voters approved when they ratified the local sales tax in 2002 -- as a way to mollify vocal opponents who refused to allow the widening of Southwest 147th Avenue in the same general area. ''We need to build up the road network out there, and we need to do it now,'' Moss said. "We've been criticized an awful lot for not having the infrastructure in place until development has overwhelmed us out there. That's why I wanted the whole network improved out there.'' Wilde, who lives in the northern part of the county, spent several days watching traffic during the early morning and late afternoon rush hour in the area. He issued a series of photo-supported reports questioning the need for the project. Wilde pointed out that Southwest 157th Avenue straddles the Urban Development Boundary, which defines where high-density residential and commercial projects can be located. Everything west of Southwest 157th Avenue in that area is outside of the boundary, as is the southeast quadrant of 184th Street and Southwest 157th Avenue. Several major home builders recently tried to persuade county commissioners to move the boundary further south and west in the area. The homebuilders withdrew the requests amid widespread opposition from neighborhood groups, environmentalists, ''smart growth'' advocates and state and county planners. SEES NEED David Tinder, who oversees public works projects funded with the sales tax, said the county needs to widen Southwest 157th Avenue -- even if the development boundary remains in place for the foreseeable future. Most of the major east-west and north-south roads in the area have been or will be widened to four lanes, just to accommodate the growth that is planned or could occur within the development boundary plus a new regional park that is being planned for the area just north and west of the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Tinder said. The vote marks only the second time the CITT has rejected a county-approved contract and sent it back to the commission. Moss, who butted heads several times with the inaugural chairman of the CITT, the late John Cosgrove, doesn't sound like he's gearing up for a fight this time. Moss said he is willing to listen to Wilde and other CITT members' concerns on the Southwest 157th Avenue issue. NINE VOTES NEEDED At least nine of 13 county commissioners will need to vote for the contract to override the CITT's decision. The vote is tentatively slated for June 20. While they have fought over amendments to the original sales tax plan and remedies to cover funding gaps, the CITT has rarely bucked the County Commission over contracts. With one other exception, in early
2004, most are quickly ratified. At Cosgrove's suggestion, the CITT
rejected a contract that involved using some environmental cleanup
money to help fund road drainage projects. County commissioners
quickly overrode the CITT action. |