FYI Miami: April 14, 2022

Below are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.

BETTER BUS NETWORK DELAYED: The redesign of dozens of bus routes in Miami-Dade County that would focus service hours on fewer routes with higher frequencies to provide a more consistent service among riders has been delayed until spring 2023 as the county struggles to hire and retain bus operators. The full network changes were expected to be in place this June but the one thing holding back the project is the number of drivers. “We anticipated that we need approximately 200 operators at that particular point in time that [would] be needed to hire,” Eulois Cleckley, director of the Department of Transportation and Public Works, told county commissioners in a Tuesday committee meeting. “From summer 2021, we hired 165 operators but we ended up losing on average 14 operators per month, so we ended up at the beginning of April with having a net increase of three operators because of that attrition.” The department recently graduated 27 operators so the net increase this month totals 30. Between April this year and spring 2023, the department needs to hire 400 bus drivers to compensate for the attrition rate being experienced monthly, Mr. Cleckley said. To attract drivers, the department is now offering a $5,000 sign-in bonus and a $500 referral bonuses for transit department employees.

HALF-PENNY FUNDS ADD UP: Transit surtax collections for December were $32,109,362, up 42.19% from the same month in 2020, says a report from the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust, the 12-member board overseeing the spending of the half-penny sales tax. Total collections for fiscal year 2022 – beginning in Oct. 1, 2021 – are up 41.14% from the same months of the prior year. The half-penny transportation surtax is dedicated funding exclusively to improve transportation as approved by voters in November 2002.

TRANSPORTATION APPRENTICESHIPS: A state Department of Education series of “apprenticeship accelerator” events through May focused on providing employers with information on registered apprenticeship programs includes one May 18 in Miami Lakes focused on transportation-industry apprenticeships. “Registered apprenticeship programs enable employers to develop and apply industry standards to training programs for registered apprentices that can increase productivity and improve the quality of the workforce,” said Cassie Palelis, education department press secretary. “Registered Apprenticeship accelerator events move a business through the beginning registration process and explain the benefits of Registered Apprenticeship programs.”

CPR FOR 911 OPERATORS: A measure that would require 911 operators to be trained in “telecommunicator” cardiopulmonary resuscitation was sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The proposal would require 911 operators to complete the CPR training every two years as part of their certification renewal.