Miami-Dade is more likely designed for car use/dependency. Public transportation is not made to convince people to use it. Not enough/wide enough sidewalks, not reliable/safe/throughout lanes for biking or using any other alternative means of transportation.

I am strongly convinced that with the right infrastructure for public/alternative transportation, a huge portion of commuters would walk away from car dependency.

For more than a year I have personally spoken with more than 4,000 people in a casual, not political, set, to receive honest, unbiased opinions. An overwhelming number of people are up for better public transportation, mainly the metrorail extension, and many more said they would walk and bike more if the conditions were safer to do so.

People don’t want to drive anymore, it’s stressing, not fun anymore. Many complaint to be wasting 2 to 4 hours/day commuting, time that could have a much better use.

I, for sure, will extend Metrorail, north, south, Kendall, Doral/FIU, and northeast. Along with an efficient network of feeders.

I will look into a transparent/cost effective way to extend the Metromover to/from Miami Beach.

I also want to provide the county with exclusive/safe lanes for biking, skating and/or electric scooters use, along with any other alternative that may come up. The idea is to create a comprehensive, well-articulated/interconnected, inclusive, and fun to use transportation system.

I am proposing what I call “Urban Corridors”. Urban Corridors will have a Metrorail track along the corridor, high density housing development, roads for bikes, skating, scooters, etc.., at least two lanes per bound (tailgate and advancing), wide sidewalks, and shopping stores.

By changing construction codes and zoning, high density development will be allowed along Urban Corridors to convince people, who want to live next to public transportation, and cut off car dependency, to find a more metropolitan living experience, like Manhattan.

Urban Corridors will not only allow people to move freely around the county in alternative means, but also, due to increase in housing supply, will stabilize home pricing and make it more affordable, in consequence.

More consequences of the Urban Corridors will be less pressure on county highways and roads, less crowded and a greener suburbia, and again better housing pricing.

We want a greener, friendlier, and more inclusive county. Our ideas are designed towards such goal.

On top of what I have mentioned already above we want, friendlier, safer and welcoming bus stops, improved bus lines to feed efficiently the other means of transportation, and vice versa, and to implement some other connectors as they will come available in the future.

First at all, Miami-Dade budget must be revised and updated, by reengineering the budget we expect to free up around 20%, almost $2 billion/year, we are also open to public-private partnerships and other means of financing.

By implementing our open bit by points contracting structure, we are also projecting to save another 10-20% from the cost of each project. If contractors must compete, they must be cost efficient and quality savvy. We will suggest contractors to use lean six sigma for improved cost efficiency and quality control.

And of course, we will go after state and federal help too.

Because this long-term plan is meant to make the economy bigger, the county tax collecting bottom line will be bigger without the need to increase tax rates, maybe decrease instead.

Short and to the point, YES!!! One county transportation authority, Like NY’s MTA. They will be responsible, independent and accountable.

I am afraid that the “paving the county” and ‘make money with tolls” approach to ‘please our sponsors” are the key to many of the transportation issues the county has. I may be wrong, but that is the impression many residents of Miami-Dade have.

Because I am not a politician, or have been part of the status quo, I have decided to run for office to change things around. Living in Miami-Dade since 2005 and not seeing any mayor advancement in the direction it should go. Made me think that somebody must do something about it, and that person must be an outsider, not a member of the status quo. If they have had the opportunity, and have not done it yet, it is suitable to conclude that either they don’t know how to do it, don’t have the leadership, or they don’t want to. Don’t you think?

My agenda, as you can appreciate, is already designed to make the life easier to the residents of Miami-Dade regardless of who they are. Let’s improve the quality of life for all!!!

As you have already seen, inside this proposal is to change things around for the best interest of Miami-Dade, many things are going to change, land use is not an exception.

That is a MUST!!! If we want to really make a positive impact for the quality of life of everybody, a team work effort must be present all the way out. At all levels, we must be tuned to give the best of each for the benefit of all.