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RESOLUTION NO
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, URGING THE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT A
$2.00 PER DAY CAR RENTAL SURCHARGE TO SAVE TRI -RAIL FROM
DEFAULT; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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
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 Intennodal 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 in Miami; and
WHEREAS, Tri -Rail provides passenger stations in the cities of West Palm Beach, Lake Worth,
Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale,
Hollywood, Opa -Locka and Hialeah; and
WI3EREAS, these cities future growths are 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, i.e. they do not have to use Tri -Rail, but
choose to use Tri -Rail; and
WHEREAS, almost every Tri -Rail rider takes a motor vehicle off the road, thereby reducing
traffic congestion, dependency on foreign oil, and pollutants in the air; and
WHEREAS, Tri - Rail's success in reducing headways from one hour or more to 20 minutes in
the busy morning and afternoon commuting hours has 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 increasing 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; and
WHEREAS, Tri- Rail's default will severely disrupt transportation throughout Miami -Dade,
Broward and Palm Beach Counties; and
PR
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WHEREAS, the State of Florida will be held responsible for repaying a $256 million grant when
Tri -Rail dafaults.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1: That the foregoing "Whereas" clauses are ratified and confirmed as being true
and correct.
Section 2: That the City Commission of the City of South Miami, Miami -Dade County,
Florida, hereby calls upon the Honorable Governor Charlie Crist, Florida Senate President, Jeff Atwater,
and Florida Speaker of the House, Larry Cretul to call a special session of the Florida Legislature to enact
funding mechanisms earmarked for support of Tri -Rail, including a $2.00 per day rental car surcharge,
with the exception that such surcharge shall not apply to a person renting a car as a substitute vehicle,
while such person's motor vehicle is down for maintenance or repair.
Section 3: That the City Clerk is authorized and instructed to provide electronic copies of
this Resolution to the Honorable Governor Charlie Crist, Florida Senate President, Jeff Atwater, and
Florida Speaker of the House, Larry Cretul, the Florida League of Cities, the Miami -Dade County League
of Cities, and each of the several cities, towns and villages of Miami -Dade, Broward and Palm Beach
Counties.
Section 4: This resolution shall be effective immediately.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
day of 2010.
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY
APPROVED:
MAYOR
Commission Vote:
Mayor Feliu:
Vice Mayor Beasley:
Commissioner Sellars
Commissioner Palmer:
Commissioner Newman: