The Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization Governing Board on Oct. 30 failed to adopt an amendment to the 2050 long-range transportation plan that would have removed the Flagler Street BRT study and a Flagler Street smart demonstration project from the plan, after a recorded roll call produced a 7–7 tie and the motion did not carry.

Board members approved two other related Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) amendments by roll call vote. The first added projects funded by the fiscal year 2025 general appropriations act; the second added FDOT District 6 roll-forward projects that were originally scheduled for fiscal year 2025 but were not obligated by June 30, 2025. Those combined TIP amendments passed on a roll call after the 6A1 motion failed.

Why it matters: Changes to the long-range plan and TIP steer which projects are eligible for state and federal funding and when they may proceed. Deleting a study or demonstration project from the LRTP removes it from the formal policy framework that guides programming in future TIP cycles.

What happened: Staff read three public-hearing items into the record covering the LRTP amendment and two TIP amendments. A member of the public, Michael Smith, told the board during public comment that his earlier request — to reserve a continuous rail right of way within the planned Kendall Parkway/Greater Miami Expressway extension — applied to the TIP amendments as well. The board then separated item 6A1 for individual roll-call consideration.

On 6A1 the clerk called the roll. The record shows multiple yes and no responses resulting in an equal 7–7 tally; the chair announced that the motion does not carry. Immediately afterward the board took a roll-call vote on items 6A2 and 6A3 together; the clerk recorded affirmative responses and those amendments passed.

What the board recorded: The roll-call record for 6A1 shows a split vote that produced a 7–7 tie; the board announced the motion did not carry. The roll-call for 6A2/6A3 shows recorded affirmative votes and the items passed. The clerk and meeting minutes reflect those recorded results.

Public comment and next steps: Michael Smith, who identified himself during public comment as a rail-passenger advocate and provided handouts, requested that the board and staff ensure physical space for a future passenger rail corridor in the Kendall Parkway/Turnpike extension plans. Board members acknowledged the public comment during the LRTP/TIP discussion; the record shows no immediate change to the staff recommendations beyond the formal roll-call actions.

The board will circulate official minutes and the formal roll-call record for each item in its posted meeting materials.