Monroe County Transit: Existing Conditions Analysis

EXISTING CONDITIONS ANALYSIS

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This issue arises from a confluence of factors, including the unique climate and attractive lifestyle offered by the Keys and the compounding effects of high land values, limitations imposed by geographic and environmental features, an economy driven by tourism that predominantly offers lower-paying service-sector jobs, and constraints on housing supply dictated by the controlled Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO). The state imposes growth restrictions on Monroe County due to its designation as an Area of Critical State Concern, necessitating the ability to evacuate its population within 24 hours in anticipation of an approaching hurricane. In a proactive move, when the County Commissioners adopted the new Comprehensive Plan in 2016, they made a significant decision to immediately release all of the County’s approximately 700 remaining affordable allocation units in unincorporated Monroe County. This stands in contrast to the conventional practice of gradually distributing such units over several years, as is done with market-rate units. Transit-oriented development (TOD) emerges as a strategic solution to address the housing gap in Monroe County. By concentrating housing, commercial, and institutional developments around transit hubs, TOD promotes mixed-use, higher density communities that are accessible and convenient for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users.