MIAMI -- With a deadline looming on the $1 billion Port of Miami tunnel project, Miami's commission chairman told Local 10 Tuesday he believes the votes will be there to make it reality.

Commissioners will vote Thursday whether to allocate $50 million to the project over the next three decades from the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funds.

The money would be the final piece of the funding puzzle, Local 10's Glenna Milberg reported. Miami-Dade County voted last summer to contribute $402 million, the state has allocated $450 million and funding for long-term maintenance.

If the city does not confirm its part of the deal Monday, the pricing deal offered by the consortium of builders may rise, and the state can pull its funding, Milberg reported.

The tunnel would reroute an estimated 4,000 port-bound trucks and buses a day off of Interstate 836 and the Macarthur Causeway and under Government Cut. The goal is to relieve the congestion that clogs the downtown streets among the new condominium projects, Bayside Marketplace and the downtown club district.

On Tuesday, a public relations firm representing developers and Bayside staged a small lunchtime rally on Biscayne Boulevard. A dozen white-shirted people held signs and yelled "get the trucks off the street" at passing cars. New television commercials are scheduled to air on cable television stations urging public support for a tunnel.

During the first vote on the city funding in September, three of five commissioners opposed allocating money from community redevelopment agency funds.

Commissioner Michelle Spence Jones, who cast the deciding vote is again seen as the swing vote this week. She said her support is contingent upon CRA dollars ensured first for infrastructure for the city's neediest neighborhoods.

"I just want to make sure that the commitments are there for roadway improvements for the people of Overtown waiting god knows how long that those needs are met first. It's very important," said Spence-Jones.

Commission Chair Joe Sanchez said the funding plan he will introduce Thursday is a deal worked out with Miami-Dade County officials that will include funding for infrastructure, the port tunnel, the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts and a new stadium for the Marlins.