Miami panel mulls massive rail expansions

The Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) board late last week adopted and endorsed the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) plan, which calls for advancing rapid transit projects in six corridors.

While the mode of transportation hasn't been decided, new light-rail lines will be considered for five of the six corridors.

The plan also calls for continuing the environmental review process for the TriRail Coastal Link project, which proposes reintroducing passenger service along a stretch of Florida East Coast Railway track between Miami and Jupiter, Fla.

The MPO will determine costs and potential sources of funding for project development and environment studies and "take all necessary steps to implement the SMART Plan," according to the organization's website.

In 2002, voters approved a half-percent sales tax to advance the same six projects. However, revenue from that tax was used to tackle a backlog of maintenance work, the Miami-Herald reported.