Figure it out: Is it us – or is it them?

Michael Miller

By Michael Miller….

Michael Miller

Can’t make up our collective mind. But whoever is creating recent midday mid- Kendall traffic jams, it can’t be us, of course. So it must be ‘them.’

In any case, it has to be a lot of somebodies and the best answer we can come up with is that many folks are avoiding using the two former freeways, the Shula (SR 874) and Snapper Creek (SR 878) expressways, since the new tolling went into effect.

More than a few have complained that Kendall Drive traffic has become more horrendous than ever with gridlocks occurring during mid-afternoon traffic hours (like 2:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., during recent outings of our own).

MDX contact Tere Rodriguez, who has steadily explained why Sunpass should be in everyone’s future, says traffic counts are being taken to determine who’s using the roads, relative to pre-toll use of those Xways vs. the start of charges that began July 17. “It’s too early still to get an accurate count,” she says.

There are other contributing factors to mushrooming traffic on non-X-way roads: continuing construction on the SW 104th Street bridge over the Shula is one; development of the new palm-tree lined median on SW 87th Avenue, just north of Kendall Drive is another. There seems to be a recent over-abundance of maintenance blockages on both Sunset and Kendall Drives onelane closures for work crews to clear trash, mow swale or re-do cracked curbing.

We’re promised the facts to see if there’s a significant drop between before-and-after Xway tolls, and when we get ‘em, so will you. Meanwhile, we’re wondering if that old bicycle might better get us back and forth and around Kendall these days…or even saddling up “Old Paint,” if we had an Old Paint!

Take a break from electioneering at Silver Field, 20100 SW 168th Street, Saturday, October 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. when AeroFest 2010 brings out high-flying radio-controlled airplane addicts for a spectacular fly-around exhibit of giant model airplanes, including WWII vintage dogfights. It’s only 2.4 miles west of Krome Avenue and you’ll enjoy the country air, sez Event Director Nick Capone and assistants Vicar Hernandez and Butch Wenrick. For details, visit www.amps-rccom.

Latin Jazz Festival at the MDC Kendall campus at 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 5, features recording artist David Valentin and a host of other celebrated names with a free ticket available by telephoning 305-237-2321 or visit www.mdc.edu/fallfest2010 for more details and a listing of MDC’s Fall Festival events.

Handcrafted pottery, exotic plants, unique jewelry and art – plus food – all on sale at Temple Beth Or of Kendall at 11715 SW 87th Avenue, Sunday, November 21. Hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. indoors with refreshments available and free gift wrapping. For more details or a vendor’s spot, call Rhoni at 305-253-4155 or the Temple at 305-235-1419.

We’ll miss the friendly help of PIO Edith Torres of MDC Parks Department who is leaving that position as of November 1, having been “bumped” so that a predecessor might be restored in that job. Because she’s fairly new to the County, she won’t be “pipelined” into another position, county rules being what they are. Anyway, the county’s loss will be the private sector’s gain if capable communicating is still a priority in corporate offices these days.

Mixed signals led a contributor to mix new MDX toll and Parks Department “Parking Fees” complaints into an October 19th column item that would have you believe Commissioner Javier Souto has voiced objections to the recent tolls on the Shula and Snapper Creek Xways. Such is not the case. Commissioner Souto does still heartily protest taking $5 weekend and holiday fees from Kendall park users rather than other revenue sources while Aide Bernardo Escobar says 300 petitions have already been received in the KFHA drive to present a case for alternative solutions before Commissioners.

And while we’re at it, a column reference crediting FDOT with readability of new Shula/Snapper Creek toll signage on Kendall Drive asking for cash (not a “Sunpass”) should go to the MDX, just in case anyone asks! And that’s enough fourth down punting for this week!

Thought of the Day:

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

— Benjamin Franklin


Richard Yager contributed with this column.

Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669- 7355, ext. 249, or send emails to michael@communitynewspapers.com


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