On a recent episode of Mobility Matters, I had the opportunity to sit down with Scott Mendelsberg, Finance Director for the City of Sweetwater, to discuss how one of Miami-Dade’s fastest-growing communities is preparing for the future through thoughtful transportation planning and sound fiscal management.
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At the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT), we oversee Miami-Dade County’s half-penny transportation surtax and work to ensure those funds are invested responsibly to improve mobility throughout our community. Conversations like this one remind us that behind every transportation investment are local leaders committed to making their cities more connected and accessible.
Sweetwater has evolved from a primarily residential community into a dynamic hub anchored by Florida International University, Dolphin Mall, and significant new developments. As Scott noted, “FIU is driving everything that’s going on in the City of Sweetwater because developers want to be next to FIU.”
Each year, Sweetwater receives more than $800,000 from the half-penny surtax, with more than half of those funds supporting the city’s trolley service. What stood out to me most was the city’s commitment to using data to improve service and better understand where residents are traveling.
As Scott explained, “We really want to find out where people are going so that we don’t eliminate any service that people are depending upon.”
The city is also exploring improvements such as enhanced signage, real-time tracking, and potential service expansions to new residential areas.
Beyond transit, Sweetwater is planning pedestrian and bicycle enhancements and advancing the proposed 112th Avenue Bridge.
“We don’t want to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “If it works for somebody else, maybe it’ll work for us.”
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What I appreciate most about Scott’s perspective is his practical and collaborative approach. Sweetwater is planning ahead, making strategic decisions, and preparing for growth in a way that will benefit residents for years to come.
That is exactly the kind of leadership that helps build stronger, better-connected communities.
If you’d like to learn more about how your half-penny surtax supports mobility across Miami-Dade, or if you want to get involved as a Trust Member or CITT Ambassador, visit our website at www.miamidade.gov/citt.
To view the full episode with Scott Mendelsberg and other past Mobility Matters podcast recordings, visit our YouTube channel @TransportationTrust.
We want to thank Miami’s Community Newspapers for their continued partnership in producing our bi-weekly Mobility Matters podcast, which airs live on MCN’s network every other Thursday starting at 9:30 a.m.