Safety riding on 'U-turn' bus issue
By Bari Auerbach

The hazardous traffic scenario created by county transit buses making U-turns at Galahad-Dade Boulevard by Ocean One condominium was recently addressed at a Sunny Isles Beach City Commission meeting. Another main topic of discussion was efforts to prevent proposed county bus route changes from inconveniencing residents of communities including OceanView Apartment Homes who utilize public transportation.

Following concerns expressed by citizens about numerous traffic accidents and "near misses" as well as the undesirable prospect of having "S" bus service eliminated, City Manager Christopher Russo issued the following report:

"We agree that bus service from points north of the Lehman Causeway in this city to all points south or west of us should be provided as close as humanly possible to the frequency that it is now," Russo said.

Addressing the dangers posed by buses making the U-turns by Ocean One, Russo noted, "Those bus drivers are 'scared out of their mind' that a car isn't going to see them and understand that a bus, way over on the right side, is going to swing over lanes of traffic to the other side of the street and go around.this is an extremely unsafe maneuver."

Russo went on to highlight how the U-turning buses also pose a danger to school children. "I can tell you there are no points in Miami-Dade and A-1A that have hundreds of school children on a street corner that has double [sized] county buses turning over six lanes of traffic in a median at high rates of speed.To compound this, we had school buses doing the same thing.[Subsequently], the county school district, without any hesitation, agreed to change that and [the school bus] is now making the turnaround from the north."

City Shuttle Bus Service Expanding
Stating the U-turning buses create a substantial safety issue, Russo emphasized, "We're certainly not trying to [rectify this] 'on the backs' of people who depend on the buses. There are things we're trying to do [such as] expanding the city's [own] shuttle bus service (which includes a stop directly at OceanView).We're purchasing two new buses and just received one new bus.We're literally doubling our fleet and expanding the service to seven days a week and we'll be substantially expanding the hours of operation and locations that [the city shuttle buses] go to.i.e. accommodating the run over to the Aventura Mall, Biscayne Boulevard, the Intracoastal Mall and some other points west of here.

"With support from the whole Commission, we've also been lobbying very hard with the county Mayor's office to have the 'K' and 'V' [bus] routes and frequency expanded.There is a good chance we could get it every 20 minutes - [this would be] coupled with the city's [shuttle] bus service during the bulk of week day hour and then our expansion on the weekends."

Edelcup noted, "We're using transportation tax money to add two more buses to our [shuttle] system.Hopefully, this is the beginning of retiring all the old buses and eventually having all new ones - the first [new bus] is already on-line."

County Cooperation
Russo also expressed his sentiment that beyond an originally proposed April 25 start time for proposed bus route changes, more time would be needed to resolve outstanding issues and concerns, working in conjunction with the office of Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas.

According to Susan Simpson, Sunny Isles Beach director of cultural and human services, "Expanding the 'K' and 'V' [bus routes] will be a substantial project for [the county]." She also noted the county representative she is communicating with is pushing to have action involving the route changes moved up to July in lieu of April.

"The good news is [the county] agreed they will expand [the 'K' and 'V' buses].the question is how soon and how much can we get from them," Russo said.

Mayor Norman Edelcup added, "This Commission should do what it can to ensure [bus routes aren't changed] until we have a coordinated program. We have to have an answer and there shouldn't be a lag period where there is [insufficient service] being provided. That's a reasonable request.We need to know what the [bus route change] plans are and when the other buses can be expanded [in relationship to] when the 'S' bus will be discontinued. We have to make sure everything's coordinated so we pick up the slack."

Edelcup also made it clear that ultimately, any changes made to the bus routes would be a county and not city decision. "We are saying we will use the efforts of the city to make sure we can coordinate a 'K' [bus] so no one will be inconvenienced - but ultimately we have to work with the county to make it happen," he said.

In response, OceanView resident Lee Liebman stated, "[The bus issue] was started here in Sunny Isles Beach.Everything was fine with the 'S', 'K' and 'V'.You [the city] started it - you have to finish it."

Subsequently, Commissioner Lewis Thaler said, "I was the one who started it based on what was happening with all the accidents I see sitting on the Ocean One side of the street - not realizing all the ramifications from the OceanView side and when [concerns were expressed] I went to Mayor Penelas myself and asked him to get involved.That's why [we're now] waiting for an answer from the transit people to get this thing moving."

'Buses Won't Stop'
Commissioner Roslyn Brezin noted, "[The Commission] certainly realizes our children have to get to school and our people have to get to work and we're going to do everything we can to address the problem from both sides.Be patient with us.We're not going to take your transportation away and by the same token we'll see to it no one is killed or hurt."

Edelcup reiterated, "We said the bus will continue until we're able to coordinate it and once the county is in the position to replace the 'S' bus with service on other lines then the change will take place - if we can cause the county to agree with that.Hopefully in July, if we can get everyone coordinated, there won't be any disruption in [bus] service. And if we can't do it by July, then we'll look at it again - but we're not going to let it come to pass that anybody is without service. Once we have the bus service there, it won't matter which initial is coming as long as it's going south."

Russo added, "What we're trying to accomplish is the elimination of U-turning buses. It's not in conflict to keep the service exactly how it is for you and have the county figure out what to do to eliminate the making of the U-turn.Whether they're going to triple the buses on the 'K' and 'V' and eliminate the 'S' and 'E' - or if they can send that bus some other place to turn around that's fine.We want the frequency and we want to make it safer.There are ways to do it - the school bus is doing it. We would certainly like to not change the service at all - but just have the elimination of the U-turning buses."

'Citizens' Feedback'
The bus issue actually appeared on the March 18 agenda per request of Claretha Youngblood, a self-described "concerned citizen," who appeared at the Commission meeting following her submission of a letter to City Hall dated Feb. 26 citing the following concerns:

"I am a handicap resident, along with many others who depend on the public transportation," Youngblood wrote. "I often go to my doctor's office, therapy and other appointments in the Sunny Isles Beach and Aventura areas. I usually take the 'S' or 'E' buses to a connection bus at Aventura Mall and in Sunny Isles to a Broward bus '9'.
The bus stop at 193rd Street and Collins Avenue is a necessity. the 'K' [bus] only goes straight and is not a major connecting bus, nor is the 'V' bus."

Youngblood's letter also included an attached petition signed mostly by residents of OceanView Apartment Homes entitled "Signatures to Keep "S" and "E" Buses Coming to 193rd Street and Collins Avenue and then to Aventura Mall and to Connecting Buses."

During the March 18 Commission meeting, public commentaries included the following sentiments:

Lee Liebman, OceanView resident
"I am very surprised and unhappy with the possibility of taking away the wonderful service we get from the 'S' bus. If you take that it away, we're going back to the 'stone ages' where we wait for one hour for a 'K' or maybe a 'D' - that's not right. We have 1,200 apartments at OceanView.Many residents don't drive anymore because of the service we've been getting, mainly from the 'S' bus.

"I think the trouble we've heard about accidents is because they send that huge double 'S' bus and it's never always filled.It comes around the curve and if the driver isn't perfect, he'll hit the curb because it's a 'monstrosity.' When the ordinary 'S' bus came along, we didn't have any problems - it's the 'big bus' problem.

"The 'K' comes once an hour from Hallandale - I've watched and if you take away the services we have on the 'S' it will really put us way back.We have a lot of folks and names on paper demanding that you look into this more thoroughly than you have done before you make a decision about taking it away."

Art Kopel, Ocean One resident
"Our concern is the safety.There have been eight recorded accidents on that corner because people turn and ride the bus lane.When I was coming here, there was a car sitting in that spot.Even more importantly, you cannot see when you're turning into Ocean One. Kids come down on bikes and we have a lot more children today than we had five years ago.Within the past four weeks, two cars have been hit by bikes.It's a very serious situation and I don't think we can afford lives and safety for a little inconvenience - and they are putting another bus line.The buses also block the parking area for the beach and as a result, cars double line up in the lane - it's a tremendous safety hazard."

Madeline Thaler, Ocean One resident
"I was hesitant to speak but we have a petition of our people who are looking to have this bus cease turning. We have had many accidents here.my husband [Commissioner Lewis Thaler] had a near fatal one a couple of weeks ago.It is a very dangerous situation."

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