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(Image credit: Wynwood BID & Naturalficial Landscape Architecture + Design)
A broad-based coalition of over 35 community organizations announced on Aug. 25 that they have joined together to form the “Northeast Corridor Coalition” to advocate for commuter rail along the FEC Railway/Brightline corridor.
This transit initiative will take cars off the road, provide an eco-friendly way to move about Miami-Dade County and generate tens of thousands of local jobs at a time of great crisis.
Led by the Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID), the Northeast Corridor Coalition includes some of Miami-Dade’s most prominent business, education and cultural organizations including Florida International University (FIU), Miami-Dade College and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
“We are envisioning a commuter system that will spur economic growth and create local jobs during a time when our community is attempting to rebound,” said Albert Garcia, chair of the Northeast Corridor Coalition and chair of the Wynwood BID. “The implementation of much needed commuter rail service along the Northeast corridor will expand mobility choices, take cars off the road and enhance the walkability of neighborhoods throughout Miami-Dade. We strongly encourage our county commissioners to support this initiative and reduce traffic, make our neighborhoods more walkable and generate much-needed jobs.”
The proposed commuter rail system would consist of reliable and regularly scheduled service between MiamiCentral Station and Aventura with possible stops at Wynwood/Midtown/Edgewater, Miami Design District, Upper Eastside/El Portal/Miami Shores, North Miami and FIU/Biscayne Bay. These are major employment centers, growing residential areas and/or cultural/entertainment destinations mainly served by overcrowded roads and highways.
“FIU has advocated for a commuter rail system for years, and we believe this system will be a key component in transforming the way students, faculty and visitors access the Biscayne Bay campus,” said Pablo Ortiz, vice president, Regional and World Locations, and vice provost, Biscayne Bay Campus at Florida International University. “We are very supportive of this project, which is why we joined with fellow businesses and educational institutions to form the Northeast Corridor Coalition.”
The proposed commuter rail service provides a faster, greener and safer mode of public transit for residents. The impacts of this transit project are significant as it will reduce travel time versus I-95 and city congestion, reduce approximately 3,644 metric tons of CO2, and would be a safer alternative than traveling by car. It also would connect with all existing transit systems.
The construction and maintenance of the commuter rail system would support the economic recovery of Miami-Dade County as it grapples with the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis. It would create more than 23,000 construction jobs and another 2,400 permanent jobs, equating to approximately $282 million in annual labor income, according to an independent economic study conducted by Miami Economic Associates.
For additional information, visit WynwoodMiami.com/SupportRail.
