US 1 Traffic Update

Thank you to everyone who reached out to the Monroe County Commission about the US 1 traffic Level of Service study. You were heard.

Commissioners were receptive to the coalition's proposal to revisit how we measure traffic on US 1, a measurement that shapes how future development plays out in the Keys. They asked County staff to find out what FDOT can contribute to bring in the right expertise. It's not a done deal, but it's a solid first step.

One thing to watch: some commissioners warned us to be careful what we wish for. If we open the door to changes, they said, the Commission could also make changes we don't like, such as lowering the Level of Service standard or scrapping it altogether. In the worst case, traffic impacts would no longer be considered when big new developments seek approval, and we'd lose one of our most important checks on overdevelopment.

But let's be clear: fixing the traffic study doesn't require lowering standards. That would be a separate, deliberate choice by the County Commission to change the law and weaken the standards that shape our quality of life.

And if that happens, we have a much bigger problem than a traffic study.

We can't accept that our only choices are a broken system or a weaker one. The answer isn't to stay quiet or stop asking for better. It's to keep showing up. We'll let you know when this comes back before the Commission, and we'll need your voices again.