Miami-Dade Transportation Committee Meeting – May 13, 2025

The Miami-Dade Transportation Committee met on May 13, 2025, at 9:00 AM with Chairwoman Eileen Higgins absent. Vice Chair Raquel A. Regalado presided, joined by Commissioners Marleine Bastien, Juan Carlos Bermudez, and Sen. René García. The committee considered public hearings, resolutions, and discussion items, forwarding most to the full Board of County Commissioners (BCC). Key discussions included transit funding, first/last mile services, and a directive to prepare an implementation plan for bus driver body-worn cameras.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Daniela Pierre (Transport Workers Union Local 291 and NAACP Miami-Dade branch president) spoke in opposition to Item 2B (body-worn cameras for bus drivers), urging the committee to defer the item and commending Commissioner Regalado for agreeing to meet with TWU.
• Shannon O'Dell (Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Nicklaus Children's Hospital) spoke in favor of Item 1G1, explaining the hospital's transition to Air Methods for air medical transport and the transfer of the certificate of public convenience and necessity.

Discussion Items

• Item 3A – Property Acquisition for NE 159th Street Improvements (Commissioner Bastien): Commissioner Bastien questioned the scope of the project, noting community concerns about road widening, traffic, and safety. Deputy Director Josioffer Diaz stated that the parcel in question (Parcel 1) is owned by the City of North Miami Beach and is not in a residential area. The project includes a five-lane section, but the department is validating the typical section due to community feedback and will hold another public meeting before proceeding. The committee forwarded the item to BCC with a favorable recommendation (4-0).
• Item 2B – Body-Worn Cameras for Bus Drivers (Commissioner Regalado): Commissioner Regalado announced a deferral following discussions with the union and other groups. The item was deferred by a 4-0 vote.
• Transit Budget and First/Last Mile Discussion: Commissioner Regalado stated she does not support raising transit rates, calling for a focus on core services. She proposed pausing first/last mile services like MetroConnect for two years to address budget pressures, requesting cost-per-rider data for the next committee meeting. Commissioner Bermudez raised concerns about service gaps in unincorporated areas and noted that ridership data from a recent article appeared inaccurate. Director Miller clarified that overall ridership is up 2% since the Better Bus Network implementation. CFO Melvin Catanna reported a 10% fare recovery (90% subsidy). Discussion also covered coordination with cities on trolley services, potential for event-based transit pricing, and a pending TPO report on municipal connectivity.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1G1 – Transfer of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from Nicklaus Children's Hospital to Rocky Mountain Holdings LLC for air ambulance service was forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation (4-0) after a public hearing. The sponsor is Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera.
• Item 1G2 – Interlocal agreement between Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Beach for $245,000 per year for two years for the Mount Sinai Link fixed-route service was forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation (4-0).
• Item 2B – Deferred to the next committee meeting by a 4-0 vote.
• Item 3A – Declaration of public necessity for acquisition of Parcel 1 for NE 159th Street improvements was forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation (4-0).
• Item 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G – All forwarded to BCC with favorable recommendations (4-0 each).
• Directive: The committee requested a report on first/last mile service costs and ridership for the next meeting. An item will be drafted regarding MetroConnect return on investment.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned after all votes were taken.