Wednesday March 2nd, 2016
What follows below is a predicate for better understanding my tweets this afternoon to the Florida Dept. of Transportation, District 4, which covers Broward County, Florida, which are at bottom of this post.
Well, the facts speak for themselves.
What follows below is a predicate for better understanding my tweets this afternoon to the Florida Dept. of Transportation, District 4, which covers Broward County, Florida, which are at bottom of this post.
Long-overdue reality check 4 #FDOT re #TriRail Coastal: When's Station Refinement Report FINALLY going 2 B released? https://t.co/fuc5TXR8HH— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
Well, the facts speak for themselves.
Facts that I as a longtime public transit advocate and supporter of the SFECC Study and a Tri-Rail Coastal commuter train system between downtown Miami and Palm Beach, via the FEC tracks, find extremely frustrating and exasperating.
To say the least.
But then I've always been consistent about the fact that just because I've been a strong pro-transit advocate wherever I have lived -because I actually used it myself almost everyday in Chicago, Evanston
and Washington, D.C./Arlington- didn't mean that I would sit back quietly and accept a lack of public candor, transparency and level of public accountability from transportation officials and consultants
regarding proposed public transit projects.
Especially if they clearly have some flaws worth pointing out or exhibit a lack of common sense, logic and utility. Or, are clearly projects engaging in fanciful thinking about the public's expected behavior and future usage of a prospective system, link or improvement, because some special interest group stands to benefit
inordinately from its construction and prefers the public pay instead of an appropriate fee paid for only by actual users.
To say the least.
But then I've always been consistent about the fact that just because I've been a strong pro-transit advocate wherever I have lived -because I actually used it myself almost everyday in Chicago, Evanston
and Washington, D.C./Arlington- didn't mean that I would sit back quietly and accept a lack of public candor, transparency and level of public accountability from transportation officials and consultants
regarding proposed public transit projects.
Especially if they clearly have some flaws worth pointing out or exhibit a lack of common sense, logic and utility. Or, are clearly projects engaging in fanciful thinking about the public's expected behavior and future usage of a prospective system, link or improvement, because some special interest group stands to benefit
inordinately from its construction and prefers the public pay instead of an appropriate fee paid for only by actual users.
To quote myself, "Just because you're
pro-transit doesn't mean you have to ignore displays of transit
incompetency or mismanagement when you see it!"
The latter, sadly, are things that have been FAR too plentiful in South Florida since I returned to the area from DC in 2003, and I've continually used my blog as a forum to communicate the facts with the public and
interested parties about the problems in detail since 2007, including most recently, the lack of public engagement in Broward of officials associated with the All Aboard Florida project, who backtracked
from their initial plans to NOT having a public meeting in Broward County after I got the attention of the public, the news media and angry local public officials who were surprised to discover they were
being ignored -until I pointed it out to them.
A refresher on that issue if you need one:
http://hallandalebeachblog.
http://hallandalebeachblog.
http://hallandalebeachblog.
http://hallandalebeachblog.
So, that said, I could have written the tweets below I sent today to FDOT over a year ago, 9 months ago, 6 months ago or at Christmas, and whenever I did so, it would be 100% true.
The latter, sadly, are things that have been FAR too plentiful in South Florida since I returned to the area from DC in 2003, and I've continually used my blog as a forum to communicate the facts with the public and
interested parties about the problems in detail since 2007, including most recently, the lack of public engagement in Broward of officials associated with the All Aboard Florida project, who backtracked
from their initial plans to NOT having a public meeting in Broward County after I got the attention of the public, the news media and angry local public officials who were surprised to discover they were
being ignored -until I pointed it out to them.
A refresher on that issue if you need one:
May 6, 2013 - More Transit Policy Woes in South Florida: With stealthy and self-sabotaging friends like All Aboard Florida and SFRTA/Tri-Rail, pro-transit advocates in South Florida don't need any more enemies; 'All Aboard Florida' fails to schedule a single public scoping meeting in Broward County this Spring despite Fort Lauderdale being a proposed station, while SFRTA chief refuses to answer a simple question -Will Hallandale Beach have a station under the proposed Coastal line plan?; Just because you're pro-transit doesn't mean you have to ignore displays of transit incompetency or mismanagement when you see it!
http://hallandalebeachblog.
May 16, 2013 -Reverse engines! Reluctantly but prudently, All Aboard Florida wises-up and agrees to have a Fort Laudedale scoping meeting after all, on May 29th; 5 weeks later, still no response from SFRTA Executive Director Joseph Giulietti about whether or not Hallandale Beach will have a station as part of their proposed Tri-Rail Coastal plan
http://hallandalebeachblog.
March 26, 2015 -South Florida has once again redefined the meaning of "Free Ride." But shouldn't we all realize by now that when it comes to #TransportationPolicy in #SoFL, there's no such thing as a free ride? But #Miami pols, @Tri_Rail & @AllAboardFla can't help themslves when it comes to taking taxpayer dollars and taking credit for something BEFORE the facts are ALL in
http://hallandalebeachblog.
August 5, 2015 - Common sense questions about public policy, process and public engagement -to say nothing of financial risk- continue to dog @AllAboardFla and the Fortress Investment Group as they seek $1.75 billion in tax-exempt bonds from the Florida Development Finance Corporation for their planned Miami-to-Orlando express train, via Fort lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Some observations on what we know and what reporters should have been asking all along, but were NOT.
http://hallandalebeachblog.
August 22, 2015 -Thoughts re role of Tri-Rail Coastal commuter rail on HB/Hollywood redevelopment, per City of Hollywood's community meeting on Monday Aug. 24 for its Regional Activity Center re-zoning, which includes U.S.-1 & Pembroke Road
http://hallandalebeachblog.So, that said, I could have written the tweets below I sent today to FDOT over a year ago, 9 months ago, 6 months ago or at Christmas, and whenever I did so, it would be 100% true.
Just as it is today.
There's been nothing useful to the general public at the Tri-Rail Coastal website for over a year about the most important and most-anticipated information -the location of stations for the
initial stage of the project.
initial stage of the project.
Instead, they have been content to do ZERO updates and leave it marked "Coming Soon."
No, a year is not soon!
And it's NOT how you properly engage and inform the citizenry about a project that completely depends upon public funds for its creation and maintenance.
Station Refinement Report
This report provides a summary of the planning analysis
conducted to identify recommended initial station area locations on the
FEC corridor. It also outlines a recommended phasing strategy for
subsequent station development to assist project stakeholders with
future planning efforts. The report recommendations will form the basis
for the alternatives to be analyzed during the next phase (Project
Development.)
Coming Soon
And though I could have said something particularly critical about it, I chose NOT to comment in my tweets about how the information on their website labeled Station Area Opportunities reads more like like
fiction, esp. the material about Hallandale Beach.
fiction, esp. the material about Hallandale Beach.
Frankly, it's as if they swallowed whole the city's PR Kool-Aid without blinking, instead of posting objective information because they understood implicitly that area residents and business owners would both rely upon
the information to be accurate.
Download PDF (32MB)
http://tri-railcoastallink.
the information to be accurate.
Station Area Opportunities
The Tri-Rail Coastal Link Station Area Opportunities publication is intended to summarize the station area visions created by many communities for their station areas, as well as provide information about the development potential for the area surrounding each station.Download PDF (32MB)
So tell me, how can it be that after all this time that FDOT STILL hasn't released the initial locations of Tri-Rail Coastal stations in South Florida, and as it directly affects me and so many of you receiving this email, the location of those sites in NE Miami-Dade and SE Broward?
I know from MANY phone conversations and emails to and from many of you that station locations have been guaranteed by local city officials and Electeds to be part of the initial operation of the commuter line, when, in fact, they WON'T be?
And just as I state below in my tweets from this afternoon, I DO know the names of people who has been misleading the public and Small Business owners, trying to sell them a bogus bill of goods.
People who deserve honesty are instead receiving duplicity from public officials who are supposed to be working for them, not against them.
Another question that comes to mind is WHY is the local South Florida news media, print and electronic, has largely been snoozing on this important storythat directly affects important issues like South Florida's transportation gridlock and the local economy -and parts of local cities near the FEC
tracks that remain in a funk and economically depressed- instead of properly demanding honest answers and a thorough justification from public officials (and consultants) in charge at FDOT for their lack of candor, public engagement and snail-like pace?
tracks that remain in a funk and economically depressed- instead of properly demanding honest answers and a thorough justification from public officials (and consultants) in charge at FDOT for their lack of candor, public engagement and snail-like pace?
Project Manager
Amie Goddeau
FDOT Project Manager, FDOT District 4
3400 West Commercial Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309-3421
Read the tweets below from the bottom up.
@MyFDOT_SEFL 17/ of a book where common sense, logic & reason NEVER seem to appear in #SoFL when they R so desperately needed. :-(— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 16/ Yr lack of candor on this project and willingness to B straight w/public & ppl like me who already support = latest chapter— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 15/ save face 4 thr city & not incidentally, themselves. Unpopularity of public transportation has long been huge #SoFL problem— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 14/ @Tri_Rail Coastal service. I had to explain to them why these city officials wld intentionally deceive them just to try to— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 13/ business was lied to by city officials I personally knew have deceived others in area abt the future location & start of— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 12/ actual @Tri_Rail Coastal stations R located, not far fm them. I know this 4 many reasons, not just bec friend w/successful— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 11/ & traffic patterns simply don't support it. But the pols lie 2 keep local businesses in place who DO want to B where/near— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 10/ I know that's true bec I know the names of local #SoFL pols who have been making such false promises 4 years when the data— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 9/ have stations at particular locations -and as part of the initial plan- when that is simply untrue/illogical on its face.— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 8/ This lack of candor/effort creates many opportunities 4 dishonest local pols to claim -falsely- that @Tri_Rail Coastal will— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 7/ to honestly communicate w/them & the public in ways that will create true awareness of progress on project -or lack of same.— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 6/ need and R owed. I've spoken w/many #Broward & #MiamiDade pols & CityMangers who R very disgruntled by yr lack of effort— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 5/ website or link telling taxpayers who will B paying for it just what has been done so far, and when THEY will get info they— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 4/ completely USELESS! https://t.co/S7jELiRZxJ Despite MONTHS to prepare something for public to see, still no info or date on— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 3/ clarity, transparency & URGENCY in getting info public. The @Tri_Rail Coastal public link on website has been and remains— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 2/ like me -as my blog's posts show- and ppl in #SoFL who see long-missing common sense in it, R very fed up by #FDOT's lack of— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
@MyFDOT_SEFL 1/ Amie Goddeau: When is the @Tri_Rail Coastal Station Refinement Report going to be released? Ppl who have long supported it,— HallandaleBeachBlog (@hbbtruth) March 2, 2016
Dave
Twitter: @hbbtruth, https://
http://www.youtube.com/user/Ha