The Wynwood BID has completed a study which reveals that amid fast-rising density, Wynwood-Edgewater is more in need of a train station than Midtown Miami-Design District. The Wynwood-Edgewater area is looking at nearly 65 million square feet of new development according to urban planner Cesar Garcia-Pons, who conducted the study and is a former Deputy Director of the City of Miami Planning & Zoning Department. The Wynwood proposed Tri-Rail train station would be near 29th street while the planned Midtown Miami-Design District station would be located at 36th Street under the I-195 overpass. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has agreed to provide funding for half of the Midtown Miami-Design District station with the additional funds covered by the city and county. The Wynwood BID will now share the results of the study with City of Miami of elected officials, as well as members of the City administration for their consideration. The Wynwood BID initially endorsed the Tri-Rail station concept by way of resolution in May 2018, expressing willingness to work side by side with Tri-Rail, as well as City of Miami and Miami-Dade County leaders, to bring the service to the area with a centrally-located station.
“The Wynwood BID prides itself on implementing forward-thinking urban planning concepts in our growing district – and that includes doing our part to find solutions to Miami’s growing traffic challenges,” said BID Board Member David Polinsky. “We hope that our City of Miami and Miami-Dade County partners will take note of this new study and work with us to ensure that the booming Wynwood-Midtown-Edgewater area houses a permanent Tri-Rail station.”
“From an urban planning perspective, it’s important that any new transit stations in Miami’s urban core not only be located near vibrant, mixed-use residential and commercial communities, but also within a neighborhood or area that has the greatest potential for residential and employment growth,” said Garcia-Pons. “The results of the study make a compelling case for siting a commuter transit station a bit further to the south.”