Fiorela Norori knows too well the pain of enjoying Miami’s glamour. Whether driving to Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay campus, to visit her mother in Allapattah, or to play soccer every Friday, the 18-year-old recognizes that navigating Miami’s gridlock demands a crucial adjustment; leave an hour early or risk being late. For example, to visit the world’s most popular and photogenic beach, Norori must drive in some of the worst traffic congestion in the world.
“Driving from FIU Biscayne Bay Campus to Miami Gardens is approximately 50 minutes in heavy traffic and approximately 15 minutes in light traffic,” said Norori.
Despite the city’s ever-growing international reputation and allure, Miami’s fundamental transportation systems have not matched its beauty.
In 2023, Miami was named the “World’s Leading Lifestyle Destination” by the World Travel Awards. The same year, U.S. News & World Report, 2023 ranked Miami the second-best party city in the United States. Knight Frank’s 2024 Wealth Report ranked Miami’s highest luxury residential market price growth in the United States.
As a result, Miami has experienced unprecedented growth in population and tourism. According to the U.S. Census 2024, Miami had the highest level of international immigration in the United States in 2023. The rapid growth of the car-dependent population has stretched the existing road transportation systems, exacerbating the traffic gridlock.
Norori has lived in what one source called “the second-most desirable place” in the world all her life, yet every nostalgic trip down memory lane is rudely disrupted by the frustrations caused by Miami’s notorious traffic. While talking about her middle school experiences, she recalls the inconvenience of relying on the school bus for transportation.”
“Taking a bus to school was very good because I met new friends and talked to them before and after school” said Norori. “At the same time, it was very hectic because we would arrive late,
Miami often addresses its traffic congestion by building and expanding infrastructure. Miami-Dade County is currently undertaking several road construction projects that have garnered mixed reactions from the community.
“Miami road construction takes very long,” said Norori. “The construction process causes a lot of traffic congestion. Road construction should not be done during the day.”
It does not require a mathematical genius to conclude that expanding roads improves traffic flow. However, Priyanka Alluri, Ph.D., P.E, an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at FIU recognizes that managing traffic flow goes beyond the engineering brilliance of road construction.
Dr. Alluri explains the phenomenon of induced demand, where expanding road capacity causes more traffic. She recognizes that research has proven that adding more lanes temporarily reduces congestion. However, over time, the extra lanes encourage more people to drive, congesting the expanded route.
This phenomenon poses unique challenges to modern urban planning. Are we doomed to be stuck in congestion? Is there a permanent solution?
Dr. Alluri explains that all hope is not lost.
“There has been a shift to micro-mobility amongst the younger generation. The number of new driving licenses issued in the United States has slightly reduced. At the same time, more young people are opting to use bikes, mopeds, and skateboards to move around within cities,” said Dr. Alluri.
However, Dr. Alluri recognizes that more initiatives must be taken to manage traffic.
“Advancements in transportation technology have been significant. Self-driving cars efficiently manage traffic flow. Manufacturers should highlight the benefits of self-driving cars to encourage public acceptance.” Dr. Alluri said.
“In the future, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which take off vertically from one spot and land at a given destination will prove efficient in reducing gridlock,” she added.
Hernan Guerrero Applewhite, a lecturer at the FIU School of Architecture, recognizes that effective zoning can improve traffic flow in Miami and enhance the quality of life for its residents. The development of sustainable cities necessitates a collaborative effort among engineers, planners, politicians, and the broader community. However, Mr. Applewhite is aware of the challenges of implementing change.
“It becomes very political because you are introducing a system that revolutionizes the way you do things. You might have a degree in planning, but politicians often control what gets built. In Miami, the city commission makes the final decisions on city planning and zoning,” said Mr. Applewhite.
“Cities like Denver have made significant efforts in mass transit in the last 20 years. One of the reasons that has enabled Denver to make decisions in a faster, more calculated, and more efficient manner is the city’s political organization. Denver functions as both a city and a county, allowing it to address various issues comprehensively. On the contrary, Miami Dade County has 13 different commissioners representing 34 different municipalities, making decisions such as regional mass transit more complex.” Mr. Applewhite added.
The City of Miami’s efforts to reduce congestion included developing a new zoning code (Miami 21). The Form-Based Code that the city provides elaborate illustrations of what can be built in a given area.
However, like many Miami residents, 18-year-old Norori owns a car. She recognizes that the city’s public transportation is often slow and unreliable. Despite the daily challenges posed by the city’s notoriously heavy traffic, she finds comfort in the freedom that private transportation provides. Many Miami residents share this view and thus conform to the car-centric culture.
“No matter how much public transportation develops, I feel like not a lot of people are going to use it because of the number of cars we already have in Miami,” Fiorela said with resignation.