Working in conjunction with the Village of Palmetto Bay, the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works began a test project on Jan. 31 to improve traffic at Old Cutler Road and SW 136th Street.
The three-month program temporarily restricts northbound left turns at the intersection with the installation of barricades, pavement markings and signage to prevent vehicular traffic from making a left turn onto SW 136th Street when traveling northbound on Old Cutler Road.
Miami-Dade County District 8 Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava said that she hopes the test project will provide information regarding conditions that can help ease traffic flow in this vicinity.
“We’re aggressively looking for solutions that will benefit the greatest number of people and inconvenience the fewest,” Commissioner Levine Cava said on Jan. 24. “This particular idea was not my idea; it was not our office’s idea. It’s something that the Village of Palmetto Bay came up with in consultation with our Department of Transportation and Public Works. It’s an idea that they think may shave off a couple of minutes.
“There aren’t that many cars that take that turn, but for every one that does it potentially holds up a whole line of traffic and so it’s inefficient.”
She said that the experiment may affect traffic flow on nearby side streets but that will be determined by village officials who will provide input to the county transportation department.
“There’s a transportation standard that traffic engineers have to follow and they dictate when certain signals are necessary or not appropriate,” she said. “This is a more optional situation so it will be evaluated in about 90 days to see its effectiveness and whether it’s something that should be kept or not. It really depends upon whether it’s an overall benefit or if the negative impact is too great. There’s nothing mandatory about it.”
Commissioner Levine Cava said that her office wants to hear from residents, “their suggestions, reactions and recommendations.” For information or to give input, residents may call 305-378-6677 or send emails to district8@miamidade.gov.
