In Florida, Miami-Dade County commissioners voted 9-3 to approve the Genting Group’s proposal to open bids for building a tax-funded monorail linking Miami with South Beach.
The Miami Beach Monorail Consortium, consisting of Genting and its Chinese partner, monorail manufacturer BYD Company, plus two leaders of Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s 2016 reelection campaign, proposed to “design, build, finance, operate and maintain a monorail system between mainland Miami and Miami Beach along the MacArthur Causeway.” Gimenez urged commissioners to approve the proposal, presented May 2, so companies could start bidding on the project.
Gimenez said local and state governments would pay $240 million and the Genting partnership would pay $150 million toward the $400 million system. The county would pay the monorail operator an estimated $10-$12 million. “It’s a viable solution. But all we’re asking today is that we open a competitive process,” Gimenez said.
Gimenez described a monorail project costing close to the $300 million rapid-transit bus system Miami-Dade is building in South Dade. Once it opens in 2023, Gimenez said the yearly payment from the county for the monorail system would be “substantially lower” than the South Dade costs.
Prior to the vote, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber wrote a public letter asking Miami-Dade Commission Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson to delay the vote. Gelber wrote, “While I recognize that merely approving the publication of a solicitation does not commit the county or the city to a specific plan. I also recognize that when the metaphorical train leaves the station, it’s difficult to alter its route.”
In 2011, Genting purchased 30 acres of land in downtown Miami, intending to build a mega casino resort. However, Florida lawmakers have consistently failed to pass legislation allowing casino-style gaming. In 2017, the Miami-Dade county commission voted unanimously to allow Genting to build a 300-room hotel and apartment building over the Omni Station bus terminal within its property.
In his letter, Gelber wrote, “Although I can only speak for myself as mayor, I believe that most or all of my commission will strenuously object to any plan that might allow for or even contemplate a casino that is placed nearby or that is actually tethered to our community. Our city has for many years opposed casino gaming within our city limits or outside our gateways. I believe casino gambling is an existential threat to our community fabric and our quality of life.”
The bidding process for the monorail is expected to begin this fall. Genting and other bidders would have six months to respond to the RFP. Then the county could accept one of the proposals or reject all of them and restart the process. The system tentatively could open in 2023, Gimenez said.
Meanwhile, a Miami-Dade consultant is working on a $10 million study of the best transit options to link Miami with Miami Beach, including monorail, rapid transit buses or an extension of the county’s existing Metromover system in Miami. The study will be completed before RFPs are due.
Commissioner Joe Martinez voted for Genting’s proposal even though he said launching a competition in response could discourage other developers. He stated, “You want it clean? Reject it, adding the county should start with its own process to solicit bids rather than having to work within confidentiality rules regarding the Genting proposal. Everyone starts at Ground Zero.”
