A two-year “Roll Back Tolls” drive against the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) has gained official backing of the Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations (KFHA) following a board of governors vote on Jan. 17.
A two-part resolution signed by Michael Rosenberg, KFHA president, asks that planned MDX toll increases on MDX operated roadways be “placed on hold” and road maintenance be funded by taxation instead of tolls.
A second part of the resolution proposes that “MDX be eliminated” by recalling Ordinance 94-215 creating the agency that maintains control of five Miami-Dade expressways.
The lack of elected members on the MDX board of directors has drawn criticism from anti-toll movement co-founders Carlos Garcia and Miller Myers, both of whom have asked for KFHA support during past public meetings.
The KFHA resolution suggests that MDX be replaced “with other funding sources that are more responsive and accountable to the community.”
The twin actions resulted soon after a recent MDX announcement of plans to place 50 percent toll increases on SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway) and SR 112 (Airport Expressway). MDX has scheduled a series of public meetings during January and February to explain the reasons for toll increases.
The MDX also plans to implement Consumer Price Indexing for future rate increases on all five of its maintained Miami-Dade toll roads that also include SR 878 (Snapper Creek), SR 874 (Shula) and 924 (Gratigny) expressways.
“We, of course, realize that the roads need to be funded, and we are not saying that MDX does a bad job maintaining the roads,” Rosenberg said for the board.
“Perhaps the community would rather pay an extra 10 cents on the gas tax, or raise the sales tax one-half percent and completely do away with tolling.”
Noting that KFHA “would like to allow the community to vote on this,” Rosenberg said the organization has tentatively scheduled a public forum for Mar. 11 to explore alternatives, adding confirmation for future meetings is available by visiting online at www.kfha.org
