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Thanks to agreements with Miami-Dade County
IMPROVING TRAFFIC IN DORAL Edda Pujadas, @epujadas
The vice-mayor of Doral, Christi Fraga, pointed out that the reduction of traffic in this city is one of the priorities of the agreements with the county.
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March/Marzo 23, 2014
he expansion of 97th avenue until 74th street in Doral is the main objective of these joint agreements between Miami-Dade County and our city, and thanks to this cooperation it is expected that the traffic during peak hours will be improved. This was announced by the vice-mayor of Doral, Christi Fraga, who explained that this new street would represent an alternate route, because although the city’s traffic problems are a fact, it is also true that these should decline through the expansion of road arteries. Not only is the extension of existing roads planned, but also the opening of new streets, taking into account that the city is still awaiting the approval of the expansion of its northward boundaries.
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Fraga explained that these agreements with Miami-Dade County also take into consideration the installation of a traffic light on 107th avenue and 67th street (opposite Doral Isles) with the purpose of controlling the flow of vehicles in that area that is extremely busy. This joint participation will allow a reinsertion of $1.4 million to Doral and was approved by MiamiDade County, taking into account the strategic location of the city, being it so close to Miami International Airport and two of the most important highways: Palmetto and the Turnpike. With regards to traffic in Doral, Fraga also commented on the furniture and décor store
IKEA, and although it is not located in our city, it will generate a greater vehicular flow into this area. “We are asking that, before they are granted the occupational permission, they will consider the possibility of installing a traffic light at the intersection of 25th street and 117th avenue”. Important agreements are also planned with the state of Florida, so mayor Luigi Boria, the vice-mayor Fraga and the Councilors will travel to Tallahassee during the first week of April in order to achieve additional investments for our city in the areas of rainwater, parks, security and culture.
MORE PARKS Doral is growing rapidly, so traffic is not the only problem to tackle. Fraga explains that, as a city, there is a need for more green areas. For this reason she invites the whole community to the Council Workshop: Parks & Recreation, that will take place on Monday March 31st, at 6:00 p.m., in the facilities of the City of Doral. “The intent of this meeting is to update our community about the properties that have been acquired by the city for the purpose of constructing parks and the timeline of their construction,” said Fraga. She adds that they have contemplated the area destined for the much-needed pool for our city. This ground is located on 97th avenue and 32nd street. Another area of 25 acres intended for a park is on 97th avenue and 74th street and finally, there is a 20 acres lot on 114th avenue and 82nd street where work will begin at the end of this year. This park on 114th avenue is envisioned as a
place where the community can meet to enjoy sports and cultural arts. It will have a multi-purpose room, a softball field for adults, five tennis courts, three open-air basketball courts, three sand volleyball courts, two spaces for children’s entertainment, eight shaded pavilions, a roofed basketball gym and an indoor exercise track, among other areas intended for healthy recreation.
CARE FOR THE ELDERLY
“The intention of the program that we have just adopted is that the elderly, who live alone, do not feel completely abandoned,” announced Fraga. She explained that the idea of this new project, which will be implemented as soon as possible, is to work in conjunction with the Doral police to keep our older residents up-to-date. The idea is to assign a police officer to every elderly person who lives alone so the officer can call or visit with some regularity and become aware of a senior citizen’s health condition. This is going to allow these residents to not feel completely alone, prevent emergency situations and deal with any casualties as soon as possible. “We want them to feel that in this city there is also a space for them”. To be able to participate in this program, once it is fully operative, interested participants must fill an application with all their personal and health information, since it is necessary to know the conditions of those who are going to receive this assistance. Fraga insists on the need to work directly with the members of the Doral Silver Club, which brings together persons over the age of 55, to discuss the implementation of programs that benefit these senior residents, and she considers it extremely important to provide technological education for them. Technological education for these residents would consist in teaching them to use basic tools that will enable them to manage their bank accounts and use Internet. It is also important that they know how to use their credit or debit cards, because this will help them to be more independent, and to protect their identity from a possible theft.