Brickell Homeowners Association

The following chronicals the developments in the the now-resolved matter of an attempt to relocate the Greyhound Bus Terminal to the Brickell Metrorail Station.

Reprinted from BHA News, Fall 2003
Beethoven, Not Greyhound, at Brickell Metrorail Station

The skirmish over the destiny of the Brickell Metrorail Station turned out to be a shining example of civic activism at its most victorious. The triumph took the collaborative effort of BHA residents and several of their homeowner and business group allies with the representation of Miami-Dade Commissioner Jimmy Morales. Together, these forces were successful in thwarting the county transportation department’s surprise plan to lease space at the Brickell Station to Greyhound Bus Lines.

Area residents and city officials had learned of the proposal to relocate the Downtown bus terminal in March, only a week before the lease was to be signed. The matter was brought to light in time for the County Commission to reject the location proposal entirely, but only after three months of vigilance on the part of BHA and residents, and the continued efforts of Commissioner Morales.

What happened instead was remarkably glorious and timely, and serves as another shining, inspirational example. The outcome reminds us of how the passion of an individual with a vision can make something wonderful happen. (See the President’s Column for a fuller exploration of passion and Brickell.)

On September 16, 2003, less than two months after the bus terminal idea was mercifully killed, the Beethoven Promenade was dedicated at the station. What a response to commercial buses, diesel stench and noise pollution. An answer with all the resonance of a Beethoven symphony.

It was the result of the passion of Gustavo Alfredo “Gus” Noguera, undoubtedly South Florida’s biggest Beethoven fan, often seen driving around in his custom Beethoven mini-van. A while back he was responsible for persuading the Miami-Dade Commission to name Ninth Street “Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony Street” just a couple of blocks to the north of the station. His mission clearly is anything and everything to recognize and celebrate Beethoven.

And again, Commissioner Morales was the catalyst that helped make this dream happen. The Commissioner praised Mr. Noguera’s perseverance in bringing “the universality and spirit of Beethoven to residents and visitors of South Florida,” an accomplishment he said was fueled by Mr. Noguera’s unmitigated passion.

What does it exactly mean to have the Beethoven Promenade at the Brickell Station? The announcement from the brand-new Beethoven Society of Miami explains that it will be developed with private, corporate and international cooperation. It will include “the Beethoven Odeum, a place for small concerts and poetry reading, and the Beethoven Memorial.” A music and art festival, monthly concerts and Sunday brunches are envisioned. Plans are in the works for the Beethoven Birthday Bash in December.

Hopes are high for many wonderful activities at this neighborhood station. But even if the memorial stands quietly and simply educates about one of the greatest composers of all time, it serves to elevate the importance of culture to all of Miami. And residents will gladly pass by, glance at the bronze Beethoven and imagine their most favorite composition over actually hearing bus engines any day. BRAVO! •

The mobilization of residents in the matter of the Greyhound bus terminal was such a great example that BHA’s actions garnered national attention in the magazine, Common Ground, which covered the issue. “…Brickell residents have quickly mobilized against the bus depot. They have waged letter-writing and email campaigns, generated media coverage, and enlisted the help of several prominent local government officials.”

From Sept. 20, 2003
Thanks to the mobilization of neighbors and to Commissioner Jimmy Morales, the plan for the Greyhound Bus terminal relocation to Brickell Metrorail Station has been scraped. Instead at the site, the Beethoven Promenade was dedicated on Sept. 16th.

Commissioners Nix Greyhound Plan

Wed, July 23, 2003
At yesterday's County Board of Commissioners Meeting, the proposal for the Greyhound Terminal in the West Brickell area at the Metrorail Station was rejected unanimously by the Commissioners.

Fri, July 18, 2003 10:09 am
Message: Jeb Bush signed to bill. Looks like Greyhound will get $1 million from the State and a matching $1 million in federal funds.

Here is some additional information I learned today:
The Governor has until the middle of next week to either sign into law or veto this bill. Unlike many other bills which may have numerous provisions included (and by vetoing the bill, all the good goes out with the bad provisions), this particular bill has only one provision, and that is to revise the definitions relating to the Florida Public Transit Act so that the only carrier who would meet the more narrowly defined definitions would be Greyhound ...thereby giving Greyhound access to the State and Federal monies with no competition whatsoever.

Just so you understand, even if the Governor would veto the bill, Greyhound could still apply for the monies to build a station in Brickell, but they might have some competition for the money. (Therefore, it is still important for us to monitor the Greyhound situation closely at the local level.)

If you would like to comment as to whether or not the Governor should sign into law or veto SB2070, you should send your comments to him via his assistant as listed below:
Jeri.Birkes@LASPBS.STATE.FL.US
Jeri D. Birkes
Office of the Governor
Tallahassee, Florida
850-487-3914
850.922.6200

Thanks for the info. An intermodal station makes much more sense in downtown MIami, by the Government Center, than it does in Brickell. Let's keep up the good fight.

June 2003
Miami-Dade County's Transportation Department has made an agreement with Greyhound to locate a commercial bus terminal at the Brickell Metrorail Station. The plan caught many by surprise, including neighbors, elected officials and business interests in the area who were not advised. Concerned citizens are asking for the deal to scraped and proper public hearings held on the topic. The following is the article which ran in BHA News, (6/17/03) followed by emails from an official involved explaining why the Greyhound Station in Brickell Village is a good idea.

The latest word is that Commissioner Winton and City Manager Joe Arriola reached an agreement that a commercial bus terminal would be detrimental to the neighborhood and that the Manager will spearhead the City's effort, in cooperation with Jimmy Morales, to kill the deal. The Brickell Area Association, along with the BHA, South Miami Avenue Homeowners Association and other groups will be closely monitoring the matter.

On March 21, City Commissioner Johnny Winton notified BHA that Miami-Dade County officials were going to sign a lease for a Greyhound Bus terminal at the Brickell Metrorail station at Eighth Street and SW First Avenue. County Commissioner Jimmy Morales intervened and reported to the BHA that the plan isn't moving forward.

However, at the time of publication (6/16), Greyhound representatives and officials with the County's Transit Department say otherwise, much to the dismay of many who have a vision for an upgraded, high-end Brickell Village. (See Column by Richard Langhorne below.) Many don't see a bus terminal as part of that vision, citing a dismal-looking station currently in Park West. The BHA, as well as a number of other community groups and interested parties, are trying to get open, honest dialog from the County agencies involved and have their concerns heard.

Article from Miami Today, 6/19/03
Miami-Dade commissioner hopes to kill possible contract with Greyhound
By Susan Stabley

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jimmy Morales said Tuesday that he will ask the county's new manager to kill a possible contract that would allow a Greyhound bus station off Brickell Avenue.
Commissioner Morales said former county manager Steve Shiver may have signed off on a lease with Greyhound, which plans to build a 2,500-square-foot, single-story structure at Brickell Station, a hub that connects Metrorail, Metromover and Metrobus services at 1001 SW First Ave.
"I don't know if it's true or not, but I've asked (county manager George Burgess) to kill it if he can," said Commissioner Morales. Mr. Shiver resigned June 6 and was replaced by Mr. Burgess, former chief financial officer for Miami-Dade County schools.
Mr. Shiver is out of town and cannot be reached.
The Brickell Area Association has begun an e-mail campaign encouraging its members to petition the County Commission and City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz prevent a terminal from being built.
Rick Gonsalves, president of the Brickell Area Association, said his group is under the impression that the county would not agree to a lease.
"We're extremely surprised this happened without the public being aware of it," Mr. Gonsalves said Monday.
Mr. Gonsalves said there have been efforts to revitalize the area around the station - including the planned Mary Brickell Village project, which mixes residential units and commercial space on 5.2 acres between Southwest Ninth and 10th streets.
"The neighborhood is very up in arms," said Commissioner Morales.
"At least, let's stop it for now and see what happens."
Commissioner Morales said the county would not get much revenue from the lease with Greyhound - not enough to justify the impact that more than 20 buses per day could have on traffic in the area.
According to Miami-Dade County's Office of Public Transportation Management, Brickell is the sixth-most-heavily boarded Metrorail station and the fourth-most-heavily boarded Metromover station. About
2,280 buses run in and out of Brickell Station in a week.
A bus station would not have a 24-hour schedule and would probably run 175 buses a week through the stop. An official with the county's Office of Public Transportation Management estimated that Greyhound would account for a 7% increase in bus traffic at Brickell Station.
Greyhound spokeswoman Kim Plaskett said the Brickell area was selected because of connection potential to other modes of transportation, part of an effort to tie the interstate bus company's stops with intermodal hubs.
"If it's an opportunity to connect, then it is a very attractive deal for us," Ms. Plaskett said.
Greyhound has four stations in Miami. Creation of a stop at Brickell would replace a temporary station near Metromover's Overtown/Arena Station at 100 NW Sixth St.
The Dallas-based bus line uses about 112 company-operated bus terminals and another 1,700 agency-operated terminals. Greyhound serves 2,600 US destinations.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Talleda, Frank (OPTM)" <FDT@miamidade.gov>
To: <lee@epmsinc.com>
Cc: "Johnson, Bill (CMO)" <BJ4@miamidade.gov>; "Alvarez, Danny (OPTM)" <DA67@miamidade.gov>; "Mestre, Maggie (CMO)" <MMEST@miamidade.gov>
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 11:03 AM
Subject: Proposed Greyhound Terminal

> Dear Mr. Tomback,
>
> This e-mail is in response to your June 9, 2003 e-mail to regarding your opposition to the proposed Greyhound interstate bus ticketing facility at Brickell Metrorail Station.
>
> The Brickell Station is an existing transportation hub with 24-hour service of Metrorail, Metromover and Metrobus. The Brickell station is the 6th most heavily boarded Metrorail station and the Brickell Metromover is the 4th most heavily boarded Metromover station. The addition of another transportation mode at an existing multi-modal transportation facility in the Metrorail corridor is very much consistent with master plan criteria and sound transportation practices. The centrally located Brickell Station offers many transportation advantages such as proximity and easy access to I-95 and the new S.W. Second Avenue Bridge over the Miami River which will permit, for the first time in over two decades, structural stability for Metrobus traffic.

> Upon receipt of a responsive and responsible bid from Greyhound for the proposed terminal, the County took great pains to make sure that they would design a facility which was compatible with the surrounding area. To that end, Greyhound hired the services of a respected Miami engineering company and directed them to design the proposed million-dollar 2,500 square-foot one-story structure with an architectural treatment which is aesthetically pleasing and in keeping with the surrounding area. Due to the overhead Metrorail guideways, any other one-story building (height limit 25 feet) would be limited in its use due to fire/life/safety concerns. The other use that has been proposed for this site, a surface parking lot, does not encourage transit ridership and in our opinion, would be much less desirable visually.
>
> You raised concerns about Greyhound buses contributing to noise and traffic. Please note that Metrorail, Metrobus and Metromover run a 24-hour schedule. Greyhound will not. There are currently 2,280 Metrobuses coming in and out of the Brickell Station during a 7-day week. Route 8 alone, the 6th most heavily boarded Metrobus route, brings 972 Metrobuses in and out.

> Greyhound will only run 175 buses in and out per week. Further, presently there are 2,154 Metrobuses arriving and departing from the east side of the Brickell Station and 126 buses on the west side. The proposed 175 buses will service the west side of the station. The addition of Greyhound will constitute about 7% increase of the total bus traffic at the Brickell Station.
>
> Metrorail, Metrobus and Tri-Rail provide transportation from Monroe County to Palm Beach County. The addition of Greyhound will provide seamless connections to virtually anywhere in the continental U.S. Many Metrorail and Metrobus riders are also Greyhound patrons. Greyhound will serve not only those who live in nearby affordable housing and the Social Security recipients across the street, but also anyone who prefers this mode of inter-city/inter-state transportation over other available modes.

> Immediately following September 11, 2001, Greyhound's ridership peaked. Today, that ridership still includes many citizens who remain hesitant to fly.
>
> We are not sure what you are referring to by "other ancillary negative aspects". We believe Greyhound will be a valuable asset to the community and do not anticipate any negative effects on the surrounding area.