HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-7951 Save Tri-Rail Sponsored by: R. Tydus
RESOLUTION NO. 0 9-7 9 51
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA, URGING THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO SAVE TRI-RAIL BY
ENACTING A CAR RENTAL SURCHARGE AND
DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT THIS
RESOLUTION TO THE APPLICABLE GOVERNMENTAL
ENTITIES SET FORTH HEREIN
WHEREAS, Tri-Rail provides passenger service for the residents of Miami-Dade,
Broward, and Palm Beach Counties who account for 30% of the population of the State of
Florida; and
WHEREAS, the population in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties has
increased by 10% in ten years, while Tri-Rail ridership has increased by 77%; and
WHEREAS, Tri-Rail is recognized as the spine of the Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm
Beach Counties transit system, providing passenger commuter service from the Magonia Park
Station (four miles north of West Palm Beach) to the Miami International Airport Intermodal
Center-a distance of 72 miles; and
WHEREAS, Tri-Rail connects to transit service to all three of Southeast Florida's
International Airports; and
WHEREAS, Tri-Rail riders have connecting service throughout Miami-Dade, Broward,
and Palm Beach Counties via the three counties bus systems and Metrorail to Miami; and
WHEREAS, Tri-Rail provides passenger stations within the cities of West Palm Beach,
Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Ft.
Lauderdale, Hollywood, Opa-locka, and Hialeah; and
Resolution No. 09-7951
WHEREAS, the future growth of the City of Opa-locka ("City") and these other cities is
dependent on transit oriented development around its Tri-Rail Station; and
WHEREAS, two thousand businesses in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach
Counties participate in the Tri-Rail Employee Discount Program; and
WHEREAS, 75% of Tri-Rail Riders are choice riders — in that they do not have to use
Tri-Rail, but choose to; and
WHEREAS, almost every Tri-Rail rider takes a motor vehicle off the road, thereby
helping to reduce traffic congestion, dependency on foreign oil, and pollutants in the air; and
WHEREAS, Tri-Rail's success in reducing the average commute from 1 hour or more to
20 minutes in the busy morning and afternoon commuting hours has also increased operating
costs faster than passenger fares can offset; and
WHEREAS, Tri-Rail implemented a 25% across the board rider fare increase to offset
increased operating expenses related to double tracking and increased weekday service from 30
trains to 50 trains; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties have been forced to
reduce their voluntary extra subsidies to Tri-Rail on account of declining property tax revenues;
and
WHEREAS, Tri-Rail is in imminent danger of default, which if it occurs, will severely
disrupt transportation throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties; and
WHEREAS, if Tri-Rail defaults, the State of Florida will be held responsible for
repaying a$256 million grant; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Opa-locka desires to express its support
of the Tri-Rail service and encourage the Florida Legislature to save Tri-Rail.
Resolution No. 0 9-7 9 51
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA,FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals to the preamble are hereby incorporated by reference.
Section 2. The City Commission of the City of Opa-locka hereby expresses its
support for Tri-Rail and hereby urges the State of Florida Legislature to save Tri-Rail by
enacting a$2 per day surcharge on rental cars.
Section 3. The City Commission of the City of Opa-locka hereby directs the City
Clerk to transmit copies of this Resolution to the Governor of the State of Florida, the President
of the Florida Senate, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, the Mayor and
Members of the Miami-Dade County Commission, Representatives in the Florida Legislature,
and to each of the municipalities of the Miami-Dade County League of Cities.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 28 day of OCTOBER .-2009.
JOSEPH Y
YIR
Attest: Approved as to form and legal sufficiency.
Air( F
Deborah S. Irby Burnadette Noi i Weeks
City Clerk City Attorney
Moved by: JOHNSON
Seconded by: TYDUS
Commission Vote: 3-2
Commissioner Holmes: NO
Commissioner Johnson: NO
Commissioner Tydus: YES
Vice-Mayor Taylor: YES
Mayor Kelley: YES