📢 Community Petition: Stop Phase 1 Road Widening Until Our Concerns Are Heard

To: Commissioner Marleine Bastien and the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners

We, the undersigned residents and concerned members of the community, urge you to immediately halt any resolutions, approvals, or actions related to all phases of the 159th Street road widening project until meaningful engagement and answers are provided to the residents directly impacted.

Why We’re Petitioning:
After weeks of unanswered calls and emails, residents were disheartened to hear the County proceed with a resolution on May 13, 2025, to authorize eminent domain on City-owned property — without addressing our legitimate concerns.

At the May 13 Transportation Committee meeting, the Project Manager inaccurately stated that residents only oppose Phase 2. This is false. Many of us live in Phase 1, and we oppose both phases of this destructive project. We only became aware of this plan because a neighbor went door to door. Had the County done proper outreach, we would have been involved from the start.

We were told by the Project Manager in April that our input could not be considered because the project was already at 30% design — a deeply dismissive and misleading claim. This statement reveals a failure in the public participation process and a lack of regard for community input.

 
Our Concerns:

🔴 Land Use and Gentrification

A five-lane road through a residential area is unprecedented in Miami-Dade County. This proposal is inconsistent with the Future Land Use Map and gives the appearance of targeted gentrification in a historically working class community. There is no demonstrated traffic growth in this area to justify such a major expansion.

🔴 Zoning and Right-of-Way Issues

There is no clarity on how the County will accommodate two additional lanes and sidewalks without taking private property. A 2021 County-accepted traffic study shows the current two-lane road will meet service levels through 2045. The County has not provided any documentation refuting this.

🔴 Safety Risks

The design lacks dedicated bike lanes and promotes shared lanes at 35 mph — violating the County’s own Complete Streets Guidelines, which show this creates an 80% fatality risk in collisions. Narrow driveways and poor visibility will worsen under this plan. Will the County fund driveway redesigns for every affected property?

🔴 Environmental Injustice

The expansion threatens our parks, community center, and front yards with air and noise pollution. We ask: has an Environmental Impact Study been done? If not, how were these risks considered?
 
We Demand:
✅ A pause on all actions and approvals related to all phases of this project
✅ Release of detailed preliminary plans for public review
✅ A new round of public meetings with real notice to affected residents
✅ A full explanation of how this design aligns with County policies and land use
✅ Answers to documented traffic, zoning, environmental, and safety concerns
✅ An independent review of alternatives that do not involve property seizure or community displacement

 
This is our neighborhood. This is our home. The County has a duty to protect its residents, not displace them. We call on you, Commissioner Bastien, to stand with us and stop this process until our concerns are properly addressed.

Signed,

The Residents of 159 St and Supporters