Since 2018, Javier Betancourt has been the executive director of the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT), an independent agency of Miami-Dade County charged with overseeing the “half-penny” transportation surtax and implementing the associated People’s Transportation Plan.
Under his leadership, the CITT’s critical role and ongoing priority has been advancing the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan, which seeks to expand the current rapid transit system along six major corridors: the South Dade Transit Way (along US 1), East-West Corridor, Kendall Corridor, North Corridor (along 27th Avenue), Northeast Corridor, and Beach Corridor.
With a 15-member body, the transportation trust also has the main role in the expenditure of proceeds of the proposed charter county transit system surtax that provides trust membership, severability, and inclusion in the code, Mr. Betancourt explained, along with public outreach efforts to inform the community regarding the improvements that have been implemented using surtax funds.
“One major innovative initiative was to conceive and host our “Watch Mobility Matters Talks” podcast show,” he said.
Miami-Dade County residents get to learn more about what is happening with local transit and transportation projects in Miami-Dade County, where he says he discusses in great detail the changes and improvements already implemented and still to come with the county’s “movers and riders”
Another initiative, now in its third year, that Mr. Betancourt launched was the CITT Ambassador program, where residents who regularly ride public transportation can help improve the service by giving feedback about their experiences and participating in focus groups in exchange for mobility rewards.
Mr. Betancourt is no stranger to serving in public administration. Prior to the CITT, he served as the economic development director for the City of Coral Gables and the deputy director at the Miami Downtown Development Authority, and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to serving his community through active participation in a variety of professional and community organizations, including the Greater Miami and Coral Gables chambers of commerce, the Urban Land Institute and the American Planning Association.
Currently, one of CITT’s many goals is to create a collaborative ecosystem that can effectively plan, fund, and implement transportation improvements for county residents, he said.
“And, also create collaboration among the over 36 different transit systems in Miami-Dade County, ensuring better connectivity and communication between transit providers,” he said, “by hosting regular meetings and providing funding, CITT helps cities develop more integrated and efficient transportation services.”
Mr. Betancourt spoke with Miami Today reporter Abraham Galvan.
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