Friday, September 05, 2014

Hire Local: The Port Tunnel Made Good on That Promise. By Geniusofdespair


Miami Port Tunnel Now Open from Multivision Video & Film on Vimeo.

Can't open? Try this.

I have been very interested in the tunnel, fascinated by the size of the boring apparatus.  One of the things I liked best was the Operation 305 campaign that endeavored to hire ONLY people in the 305 area. 83% of those hired were from Miami Dade County. Good jobs at good pay. No low paying service jobs that make people jealous of Union Workers. The private sector needs good jobs. Jobs that last, of course, would be better.

I did take a tour of tunnel before it opened when they had trouble with one ventilation fan with a violent vibration. They sent them all back and got new ones.  I have to admit I was against the tunnel at first but I suppose it turned out alright (unless it collapses).

There are emergency doors from one side of the tunnel to the other.


The mega fans for circulating air.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

HOW DID A FAKE REPORTER GET A TOUR?

Geniusofdespair said...

I am the new breed of reporters...the outside of mainstream media reporter, recognized by many, not by you of course. I am the kind of reporter that uses two mouses at the same time. Try to master that one.

Anonymous said...

I heard it is working out pretty well.

Anonymous said...

I have no idea how the taxpayers and the contractors will ever get paid back for the $1 Billion plus cost of the tunnel UNLESS they start charging large tolls. If drivers must pay large tolls won't they just revert back to driving though Park West and Downtown?

Anonymous said...

Please. The tunnel was for the benefit of the high rise developers on Biscayne Boulevard - part of the "luxury city" philosophy that creates luxury amenities and vistas and entertainment venues in cities for the world's elite, at the expense of locals who subsidize it all and get nothing in return (Well, maybe some low-paying service jobs in hotels and restaurants). The tunnel won't benefit locals, is not needed for the declining PortMiami business and won't survive the coming Climate Change apocalypse.
Why doesn't it charge tolls like other tunnels? Because the cruise ship lobby didn't want that. (Yet, we saw the County Commission vote to raise bus fares for the our community's working poor last night).
Like the Port itself the tunnel is a financial albatross to the taxpayers of Miami-Dade County who this summer had the indignity of not even getting the public parks and medians mowed. And had to go begging for basic services like public libraries.
If you like the tunnel because it's an interesting amusement ride, well OK - but let's not get crazy here. And oh yeah, it also took our public land on Watson Island - like the mega-yacht marina and the money-losing Parrot Jungle.
Please.

Anonymous said...

Do not forget Miami-Dade Commissioners lead by Bruno Barrerio and Dennis Moss voted to divert over $3 Billion to the owner of the Marlins who got a free (to him) Stadium and Garages. No money to mow lawns but plenty of money for pet projects.

Anonymous said...

There were two port bond downgrades. Moody's issued two with in the last year, so there is an additional cost to homeowners who pay the debt service on these bonds. It will be in the millions. It is estimated that around 16,000 vehicles pass through the port's surrounding, of which most are large trucks and tankers." $29,200,000 would have been raised by the $5 exit toll each year. No toll. It was dismissed by the County Commission after being a promised part of the packaged deal. So, now, you and I will pay for the full costs, for a long, long time.

Anonymous said...

to anon above. if i followed the debate correctly the port will pay for the bond itself from its revenues. the county backs the bonds with its name to keep rate lower but port still has to cash out. I'm also wondering what public land the tunnel took. I drove it for s+++s and giggles and I noticed that the Jungle is still inexplicably open still as was the museum.

Anonymous said...

The Port LOSES money. Pay back it's bond? Get real. And to add insult to injury, the County changed the rules this year, backing up the Port's debt with general obligation funds, meaning general tax monies will pay when the port can't. No wonder there's no money to cut the grass.

Anonymous said...

The tunnel took many acres on Watson Island. Many acres were used for staging and of course the opening devoured many acres. Jungle Island owes $50 Mil and loses money every year and Island Gardens / broke Flagstaff won a RFP 11 years ago and NEVER put a shovel in the ground.