Contributing Writer | Joshua Aarons
There have been several considerations over the years to expand Miami-Dade’s Metrorail service. One such plan called for the extension of the Orange Line to FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus. This would mean connecting FIU to downtown Miami without ever needing to take a car or bus.
As one of the many students who commute to campus, the benefits of this would be immeasurable. It would alleviate congestion and decrease the demand for on-campus parking. Not to mention reducing the gas bill for students who opt to make the switch to mass transit. Metrorail’s transfer station with Tri-Rail would mean that even those from nearby Broward or Palm Beach County could get to MMC via efficient rail transportation.
East-west travel has been a historic bottleneck in Miami-Dade County, and a part of this problem is the lack of commitment to other transit modalities by local governments. Although bus routes serve the west of the county, including FIU, the lack of a dedicated right-of-way (that being buses separate from cars) often results in buses getting stuck in traffic, defeating the purpose of public transit development in the first place.
Critics are quick to point out the hefty price tag associated with the construction of new rail infrastructure. What these critics fail to consider are the already outrageous costs connected to delays in our current car-dependent system. The average Miamian spends over 6 days a year stuck in traffic. An estimate from Bloomberg suggests that congestion costs around $3.1 billion in lost revenue annually for the city.
This would also serve Miami’s future position as well. The city’s consistent year-on-year growth means that traffic will only get worse as time goes on. Cities like NYC, LA, and Chicago have made steps to develop public transit to address the issue of congestion and have seen a world of success as a result. So, why should Miami be any different?
When you look at the full picture, this should be a no-brainer. The Metrorail is one of the most popular rapid transit systems by ridership in the United States. Expanding the network’s reach will mean more people will have access to the service and thus increase its use. This has the potential to massively benefit the students, staff, and faculty of FIU while showing a commitment to Miami’s future growth and development.
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