Possible to build another heavy rail system for Broward County?

[wanderer34]

The detractors of mass transit have only one POV and that’s FL will strive and thrive with the automobile forever, which is an unrealistic notion, especially considering that even Sunbelt cities such as LA, Dallas, and Houston are either expanding or about to expand their mass transit systems, and South FL is no exception, especially considering that since South FL has has robust growth in the past 20 years, it’s only feasible to go up and not below.

In other words, it has to upgrade it’s rail infrastructure as well as it’s roads, water and sewage systems, and housing. If you don’t like mass transit, you don’t have to take it, but as South FL continues to experience growth, you need to provide alternatives to mobility or become a city like Detroit, which doesn’t have a decent mass transit system in either the city nor the metro.

[Alfiehurt]

Originally Posted by wanderer34

WOW!!! It really took 10 days just to get this thread a few responses. Here we go:



I believe that the overlap is necessary since we're dealing with suburban cities such as Weston, Plantation, Pembroke Pines, and Miramar. Also, there's no "square" that you talk about, as the system was deigned to take commuters from far flung communities into the CBDs in Ft Lauderdale and Hollywood and back. If somebody can design a better proposal, then it would be nice, but this map was a concept I had since Ft Lauderdale and Hollywood are supposed to be the centers of Broward County.

I would say that once you go west of State Rd 7, which may be considered the boundary of suburban and urban Broward County, that's when you start encountering the more suburban portions of Broward County. You can also develop TODs along the lines within a mile, but it was just as important to maintain the suburban integrity of communities within western Broward County, while allowing Ft Lauderdale and Hollywood to fully densify into truly urban cities within Broward County.



The hyperloop is basically a pie-in-the-sky gimmick that I felt wasn't going to see the time of day. It's one thing that a city like Vegas can create such a project, and it's another thing that an established community like Miami and Ft Lauderdale can even think of such a project. It's just best to create and construct a mass transit system, whether it be above or below ground.

And the negative prognostication won't help. As Broward County continues to grow in population, it's going to need some sort of mass transit system and buses just won't count. So much for being the "City Guy" when you do realize that cities need to survive by having a viable mass transit system within their jurisdictions.

************************************************** ********************
I don't drive so I am forced to take mass transportation on occasion: Brightline, Tri-rail, Metro rail, metromover. I work from but commute to Miami once a week. At first, I could not believe how many people (professionals and blue collar workers, just check platforms at tri-rail and waiting lounges at Brightline on rush hours) use these forms of transportation because they simple don't want to deal with driving, parking, gas prices, etc. Some, quite a bit of them, are satisfied and would even use it more often if it service was more frequent, extensive.

[beach43ofus]

I decide to not live in highly densely populated areas, where mass transit is wanted or needed....you debate which.

People living too closely together is sub-optimal imho, and work from home is allowing people to avoid high density living.

I believe big densely populated cities will become a thing of the past, & will eventually fade away...most people want space...Green space...yards for kids to play, & for adults to recreate. I dont think big cities will be people magnets much longer.

I don't care if high density places have heavy rail or not, just don't force me to pay for it through statewide taxation. Most lose money, & ridership is weak. As big cities die, these multi Billion Dollar trains will become massive wastes of money.

So long as its other people's money, I'm fine with every kind of rail they decide to spend THEIR money on.

[StarryKnight1]

In my view, I’d use public transit if the frequency was higher (24/7), but there’s simply not enough demand (or public government funding, probably) for 24/7 public transportation in South Florida.

Many more people would use it, if the cost savings on gas, and other car expenses, weren’t made moot by the fact that you’re paying in inconvenience, and other drawbacks. To make public transit popular ala New York City, Chicago, et al, you have to convince people that there are major advantages to ditching their cars, and taking mass transit instead. Those advantages don’t really exist down here for various reasons.

To me, you’re always going to be paying no matter how you get around, and “paying” not just in a monetary sense. As the cliché goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by Alfiehurt

************************************************** ********************
I don't drive so I am forced to take mass transportation on occasion: Brightline, Tri-rail, Metro rail, metromover. I work from but commute to Miami once a week. At first, I could not believe how many people (professionals and blue collar workers, just check platforms at tri-rail and waiting lounges at Brightline on rush hours) use these forms of transportation because they simple don't want to deal with driving, parking, gas prices, etc. Some, quite a bit of them, are satisfied and would even use it more often if it service was more frequent, extensive.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_...ional_Holdings

I believe that FL will not just be the new NY, but the new CA as well for the rest of the 21st century, and beyond. The amount of financial companies that want to move to FL, especially Miami or South FL, plus some of the high tech firms from Silicon Valley is only a harbinger for things to come to Miami and South FL.

When Ken Griffin, the CEO of Citadel said that Miami will eventually replace NY as America's financial capital, I didn't believe him, seeing that NY has always been America's financial capital since Alexander Hamilton moved most of the banks to NY over Philadelphia, thereby securing NY's position as the financial capital. However, while I still don't buy that Brickell Ave will replace Wall St, I do believe that Miami will become a solid second over a city like Chicago, which is going through it's own problems with violent crime, failing schools, and a declining tax base which is hemorrhaging both companies and people.

Chicago (13) has now the fourth most Fortune 500 companies over New York (39) , Houston (22), and Atlanta (15), and New York used to have a lot more Fortune 500 companies in a decade (about a tenth of the F500 companies was based in NY), and the combination of Trump's appeal being denied in NY state court, and the oncoming congestion pricing that will take into effect this summer will further cripple NY and maybe Miami can attract or create some Fortune 500 companies on it's own, starting with TelevisaUnivision (actually F1000, but still...)

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

I decide to not live in highly densely populated areas, where mass transit is wanted or needed....you debate which.

People living too closely together is sub-optimal imho, and work from home is allowing people to avoid high density living.

I believe big densely populated cities will become a thing of the past, & will eventually fade away...most people want space...Green space...yards for kids to play, & for adults to recreate. I dont think big cities will be people magnets much longer.

I don't care if high density places have heavy rail or not, just don't force me to pay for it through statewide taxation. Most lose money, & ridership is weak. As big cities die, these multi Billion Dollar trains will become massive wastes of money.

So long as its other people's money, I'm fine with every kind of rail they decide to spend THEIR money on.

Everybody has options and you're entitled to it! The point of the matter is that Miami, and otters dense cities will come back, however the old guard cities of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, and San Francisco, while they will continue to diversify, will also decline as Sun Belt cities like Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Houston, Dallas, and Austin will be the rage.

I won't be surprised if San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin surpassed my old city of Philadelphia if not this decade, the next decade, since those cities have attracted people left and right, but I believe Miami, or rather South FL, will become this century's Ellis Island and Brightline FL's equivalent to NY's Erie Canal back in the 1820's. It's only destiny that Miami, Ft Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach continues to densify and grow!!!