The Calle Ocho corridor in Miami could become an upgraded thoroughfare or a more pedestrian-oriented area, depending on the outcome of a study by the Florida Department of Transportation.
FDOT has done a planning study for Southwest Eighth Street and Southwest Seventh Street between Brickell Avenue in Miami’s financial district and Southwest 27th Avenue in the Little Havana section of the city.
Both Eighth Street and Seventh Street are three-lane, one-way streets in the Calle Ocho corridor, Eighth for eastbound traffic and Seventh for westbound.
FDOT is preparing to start a new planning phase known as the project development and environmental phase, which could bring significant changes to Calle Ocho, home of the annual Calle Ocho parade and music festival.
A local architecture firm, PlusUrbia, has done a preliminary design to make the corridor safer for pedestrians, bicycle riders and public transit and to slow car traffic speed.
Juan Mullerat, founder of PlusUrbia, said the two one-way streets now resemble a highway more than a main street.[South Florida Business Journal] — Mike Seemuth