Recap of the TIGER GRANT Meeting from UniversityCity + Tolga's Modest Proposal
Yesterday, yes on my birthday, I stood around for a two hour meeting regarding the pretty well hyped UniversityCity project that FIU is a part of. It sounds great and progressive for the city of Sweetwater. I was happy to be there nonetheless especially as a part of the Honors College.
Now to clear things up for people who have vaguely heard of the project, it is not a transformation for the city but somewhat a catalyst for it. It will include beefing up transport options to and from the campus and a beautification project on 109th Ave to make it a true city street. It's a "Main Street" project in disguise. Two truly conspicuous improvements include a Pedestrian bridge over Calle Ocho and FIU's new garage, PG6.
The mayor and people involved with this spoke and took questions. I asked about the Sweetwater Trolley and how sporadic it is and they said a schedule/ETA app for the circulator will be developed as part of the technology branch of this funding grant.
I think there's a site that has the minutes for the meeting, I forgot the URL but if you google TIGER UniversityCity you should find it.
Now, it sounds fine and dandy but they are missing one real link that I know of... and started to simulate.
I used a DEM route in Trainz Simulator 12 of Miami, FL to suggest in the medium term, to FDOT officials, an extension of Tri-Rail. It is probably the biggest missing link ever for Miami. I am still working on it so I won't release all the details. But I will put it in the context of UniversityCity.
They said there will be buses to connect people to the MIC. How about buses connecting to a dedicated Bus Stop on the on ramp to Westbound 836/SB Florida's turnpike from 107th Ave? One that translates to the Sweetwater Tri-Rail Station.
DOT people have spoken about extending Tri-Rail on the little used CSX Lehigh Spur in the past... I want to take credit however for this incarnation of the idea. I've BS'ed with other train buffs that Intermodal and ethanol would find their way to the Lehigh, but I think this is one medium that has a higher chance of happening.... There's the ROW and the space for it, and that little "area under the curve" of 12th Street is PERFECT for a station and considerable parking.
My suggestion for the system extension, which I will mend later into this blog and YouTube, includes a linear eight mile link. The stations would include one around the Airport West/Blue Lagoon area, one at Galloway Road ("Doral"), and one which will be explained in this entry. There can and will be options to extend to NW 137th Avenue.
My suggestions, which I am engraving into this blog so I have some sort of credit for the idea, for this Tri-Rail Station, include:
Road Improvements:
Track improvements:
Double-tracking, CTC signalling, and speed limit raises (track and curvature improvements) on the mainline of the Lehigh Spur. This will ensure efficient and fast Tri-Rail service. The straightaway from 87th to 107th (later 127th) could even see mostly 79mph service. If possible, the chicane at 97th which was presumably designed for an interchange there which was never built, could be straightened to secure the 79mph track speed. Once FDOT decides to knock down the barrier tolls that they just built, this will be even easier.
Benefits:
BIG ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT. Beyond even the context of UniversityCity. More people being encouraged to shuttle to Dolphin Mall from campus. This station would be a Spoke in a Hub-and-spoke system of which the hub is MIC. Not only do we have trains, one can bus from FIU to this station and be in EASY reach of Dolphin Mall and International Mall.
LESS TRAFFIC. The potentially free shuttle will encourage people to ride and save gas. THIS, ESPECIALLY THE SHUTTLE, WILL EVEN COME OF BENEFIT WHEN 107TH AVE (LINK 1) (LINK 2) GETS WIDENED IN SWEETWATER AND INTRODUCES CONSIDERABLE DELAYS EVEN THOUGH THIS IS IN PHASES. Forget FIU, to the whole region there is more and needed access to the big malls. Even tourists here for shopping exclusively can board a Tri-Rail ride to the Marriott at Dolphin Mall.
More on this idea and the similar stations will come in the future.
Now to clear things up for people who have vaguely heard of the project, it is not a transformation for the city but somewhat a catalyst for it. It will include beefing up transport options to and from the campus and a beautification project on 109th Ave to make it a true city street. It's a "Main Street" project in disguise. Two truly conspicuous improvements include a Pedestrian bridge over Calle Ocho and FIU's new garage, PG6.
The mayor and people involved with this spoke and took questions. I asked about the Sweetwater Trolley and how sporadic it is and they said a schedule/ETA app for the circulator will be developed as part of the technology branch of this funding grant.
I think there's a site that has the minutes for the meeting, I forgot the URL but if you google TIGER UniversityCity you should find it.
Now, it sounds fine and dandy but they are missing one real link that I know of... and started to simulate.
I used a DEM route in Trainz Simulator 12 of Miami, FL to suggest in the medium term, to FDOT officials, an extension of Tri-Rail. It is probably the biggest missing link ever for Miami. I am still working on it so I won't release all the details. But I will put it in the context of UniversityCity.
They said there will be buses to connect people to the MIC. How about buses connecting to a dedicated Bus Stop on the on ramp to Westbound 836/SB Florida's turnpike from 107th Ave? One that translates to the Sweetwater Tri-Rail Station.
DOT people have spoken about extending Tri-Rail on the little used CSX Lehigh Spur in the past... I want to take credit however for this incarnation of the idea. I've BS'ed with other train buffs that Intermodal and ethanol would find their way to the Lehigh, but I think this is one medium that has a higher chance of happening.... There's the ROW and the space for it, and that little "area under the curve" of 12th Street is PERFECT for a station and considerable parking.
My suggestion for the system extension, which I will mend later into this blog and YouTube, includes a linear eight mile link. The stations would include one around the Airport West/Blue Lagoon area, one at Galloway Road ("Doral"), and one which will be explained in this entry. There can and will be options to extend to NW 137th Avenue.
My suggestions, which I am engraving into this blog so I have some sort of credit for the idea, for this Tri-Rail Station, include:
Road Improvements:
- Improvements of the SR 836-107th Avenue interchange to support three left turn lanes from the eastbound 836 to northbound 107th Avenue. The purpose of this added capacity is to make it less of a hassle for buses to turn. Two lanes may be fine though.
- A fifth northbound lane of 107th Avenue between 7th Street and the 836, to the left, to branch off and be signal controlled at the eastbound offramp. Currently northbound 107th is free-flowing.
- TWO instead of one turn lanes from northbound 107th Avenue to the Turnpike connector of the 836. The signal control would be modified. Shuttle buses from the City of Sweetwater and FIU will use the right lane of the two lanes so they can slip off easily at the BUS ONLY lane for the station. MDT buses will use the parking plaza at the north end. After the BUS ONLY lanes, there can be options for buses to use the existing "To Dolphin Mall" ramp to go back to City Streets or, preferably, for FIU shuttles to pick up the 836 via merging on-ramp and get off at 8th Street, which is "right there" to loop back to the campus.
- Traffic control for the southbound 107th Avenue to Turnpike Connector ramp. Two right lanes as well to make it sort of a shortcut to FIU.
- Traffic control for the offramp from Westbound 836 to Southbound 107th.
- Upgrades to bridge cantilevers at the CSX Railroad crossing. 4-quad gates are an option with exit gates and ped gates.
- Direct access shuttles to: Dolphin Mall, Florida International University, FIU Engineering Center, Miami-Dade College West Campus, and Miami International Mall.
- Walk-friendly atmosphere for options to Dolphin and International Malls, due to their proximity. Hey, maybe an Overhead bridge over 12th and 107th?
- Parking and city bus facilities on the north half, and FIU shuttle facilities on the south half. Traffic lights at 12th Street and the entrance to the station also for optimal control and the benefit of shuttles to Dolphin.
Track improvements:
Double-tracking, CTC signalling, and speed limit raises (track and curvature improvements) on the mainline of the Lehigh Spur. This will ensure efficient and fast Tri-Rail service. The straightaway from 87th to 107th (later 127th) could even see mostly 79mph service. If possible, the chicane at 97th which was presumably designed for an interchange there which was never built, could be straightened to secure the 79mph track speed. Once FDOT decides to knock down the barrier tolls that they just built, this will be even easier.
Benefits:
BIG ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT. Beyond even the context of UniversityCity. More people being encouraged to shuttle to Dolphin Mall from campus. This station would be a Spoke in a Hub-and-spoke system of which the hub is MIC. Not only do we have trains, one can bus from FIU to this station and be in EASY reach of Dolphin Mall and International Mall.
LESS TRAFFIC. The potentially free shuttle will encourage people to ride and save gas. THIS, ESPECIALLY THE SHUTTLE, WILL EVEN COME OF BENEFIT WHEN 107TH AVE (LINK 1) (LINK 2) GETS WIDENED IN SWEETWATER AND INTRODUCES CONSIDERABLE DELAYS EVEN THOUGH THIS IS IN PHASES. Forget FIU, to the whole region there is more and needed access to the big malls. Even tourists here for shopping exclusively can board a Tri-Rail ride to the Marriott at Dolphin Mall.
More on this idea and the similar stations will come in the future.
Comments
Post a Comment