Alexis Leal.

Preserving South Florida as an ideal place to work and live depends not in its warm weather, tax structure, proximity to Latin America or cultural activities. Those will always be in our favor. The region will continue to attract businesses and people if its infrastructure meets demands that now strain the transportation system and modernizes its cities.

The average commute time in Miami is just under 30 minutes, making it one of the worst five cities in the nation, according to Census data compiled by an online retailer. A separate private commuting study placed the city second worst for people earning $40,000 per year.

The problem stretches into Broward and Palm Beach counties, where public officials plan to make conditions worse. Anne Castro, chair of the Broward County Planning Council, told attendees at a meeting, “We're going to make them suffer first, and then we're going to figure out ways to move them after that because they're going to scream at us to help them move.”