Miami-Dade Transit
Encyclopedia
Miami-Dade Transit is the primary public transit authority of Miami, Florida
, United States
and the greater Miami-Dade County
area. It is the largest transit system in Florida and the 12th-largest transit system in the United States
.
MDT operates the rapid transit
Metrorail
, the Downtown
Metromover
people mover
, Metrobus, and Paratransit (STS) systems. Metrorail is composed of two rail lines (Green and Orange lines) with 23 stations radiating from the city center towards outlying neighborhoods north and south of Downtown. Metromover operates throughout the Downtown and Brickell
neighborhoods, and is composed of three rail loops and 22 stations. Metrobus operates over 110 routes, including the South Dade Busway
. MDT's main transit stations are Government Center in Downtown, and the new Miami Central Station
in Grapeland Heights
, near Miami International Airport
.
As of 2011, MDT has a daily passenger ridership of 336,067, and accounts for over 15% of Miamians' daily transportation. MDT has seen growing passenger ridership since 1998, with ridership increasing 79% since then. The opening of the new Metrorail Orange Line in April 2012 is expected to significantly increase usage of the system. Although not under the control of MDT, Tri-Rail
is Miami's commuter rail system, and connects Miami to suburbs north to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Currently, the Interim Director of the authority is Ysela Llort. The MDT headquarters are located in the Overtown Transit Village in Downtown Miami
.
, the Dade County Commission
passed an ordinance creating the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) to unify the different transit operations into one countywide service. This ordinance
provided for the purchase, development, and operation of an adequate mass transit system by the County. These companies included the Miami Transit Company, Miami Beach Railway Company, South Miami Coach Lines, and Keys Transit Company on Key Biscayne and would be managed by National City Management Company. Over the years and under various administrations, MTA evolved into the Metro-Dade Transportation Administration, the Metro-Dade Transit Agency, the Miami-Dade Transit Agency, and is now known simply as Miami-Dade Transit (MDT).
Miami-Dade Transit, a county department of more than 4,000 employees, is the largest transit agency in the state of Florida and accounts for more than half of the trips taken on public transit in the state. MDT operates an accessible
, integrated system of 100-plus Metrobus routes; the 22 miles (35.4 km) Metrorail rapid transit
system; Metromover, a free downtown
people mover
system; and the Paratransit division’s Special Transportation Service. Metrobus routes cover more than 35-million miles annually, including limited service to Broward
and Monroe
counties. In 2004, MDT's Metrorail, Metromover, and Metrobus transported more than 96 million passengers, compared to 85 million the previous year.
Miami-Dade Transit is undergoing a federal investigation by the Federal Transit Administration
that includes several audits and a criminal investigation of the transit agency due to concerns over money mismanagement within the agency. This caused a freezing of federal funds being granted to the county agency. In late 2010 the county manager claimed that it was 'not fraud' but rather accounting errors, poor management, and erroneous information given to the auditors that triggered the investigation, including a withdrawal of $15 million through the ECHO
program that was made by a transit official two hours after a letter arrived in September 2010 from the FTA telling them withdrawals had been restricted. The investigation and lack of funding let to emergency service cuts to Metrorail, Metrobus, and Metromover being considered by the agency by the middle of 2011, six months into the investigation and lack of funding which began in November 2010, causing MDT to lose $185 million in grant money. Assistant county manager Ysela Llort became responsible for Miami-Dade Transit after director Harpal Kapoor left in April 2011. Additionally, funding for the Metrorail airport link was jeopardized by the funding freeze. The FTA decided to continue funding under strict control in order to keep service cuts from happening.
Since October 1, 2009, Miami-Dade Transit has used the EASY Card
system for fare collection.
On December 13, 2009 paper-based bus transfers were discontinued, and bus-to-bus transfers are now free only when using an EASY Card or EASY Ticket.
The current standard fare is $2 and reduced fare is $1. A standard monthly pass
costs $100 and $50 for reduced fare. The monthly Metropass is loaded onto the EASY Card. Turnstile
equipment at all Metrorail stations does not accept any type of cash, and require an EASY Card or Ticket to both enter and exit the boarding area.
Reduced fares are available only to Medicare
recipients, people with disabilities
, and Miami-Dade students in grades 1-12.
All Miami-Dade senior citizen
s aged 65 years and older and with Social Security
benefits ride free with a Golden Passport pass. Veteran
s residing in Miami-Dade and earning less than $22,000 annually ride free with the Patriot Passport pass.
, Miami's commuter rail operator.
Daily passenger ridership averages
and an under construction line known as the Airport Link to Miami International Airport
.
Metromover is a free, elevated, automated mass transit people mover
that runs on three loops: the Downtown Inner Loop, Brickell Loop, and the Omni Loop. The systems totals 4.4 miles with 22 stations at roughly every two blocks in the greater Downtown area. Metromover serves the neighborhoods of Downtown
, Brickell
, Omni, Park West
, and Overtown.
365 days a year. It consists of about 90 routes and 900 buses, which connect most points in the county and part of southern Broward County
as well. Seven of these routes operate around the clock: Routes 3, 11, 27, 38, 77, L (No 24 hour Hialeah service)and S. Routes 246 Night Owl & Route 500 Midnight Owl operate from 12am to 5am. Most other routes operate from 5 AM to 11 PM. All Metrobuses are wheelchair accessible, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
.
Bus route 301 (Dade-Monroe Express) extends into Monroe County
, reaching Marathon
, where a transfer is available to a Key West Transit bus proceeding further into the Keys. With the appropriate bus transfers, one can travel all the way from Key West
to Jupiter
entirely on public-transit buses.
) began operating on February 3, 1997 and was extended in April 2005. The final 6.5 miles (10.5 km) segment of the Busway extension to Florida City opened on Sunday, December 16, 2007. It is parallel to US1/ S Dixie Highway, and replaced an abandoned Florida East Coast Railroad line. It is an alternative to daily traffic congestion. The 13 miles (20.9 km) roadway was built by the Florida Department of Transportation
just for Metrobus routes and emergency vehicles. Express buses on the exclusive lanes shuttle passengers to and from Dadeland South Station
(see Metrorail) in under 40 minutes.
Both full-size buses and minibuses operate on the Busway and in adjacent neighborhoods, entering the exclusive lanes at major intersections. Local and limited-stop service is offered between Florida City
and Dadeland South Metrorail Station. Park & Ride
lots along the busway are located at SW 152d Street (Coral Reef Drive), SW 168th Street (Richmond Drive), SW 200th Street (Caribbean Boulevard), SW 244th Street, and SW 296th Street. At Dadeland South Station
, riders transfer to Metrorail. Riders headed downtown can transfer from Metrorail to Metromover, which consists of three shorter downtown loops, at Government Center Station
.
The South Miami-Dade Busway features 28 stops, all of which have been converted to light-rail style stations. A multi-use path
stretches the length of the Busway.
. STS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including most holidays.
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the greater Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
area. It is the largest transit system in Florida and the 12th-largest transit system in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
MDT operates the rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
Metrorail
Metrorail (Miami)
The Miami Metrorail, officially Metrorail and commonly called the Metro, is the heavy rail rapid transit system of Miami, Florida, United States, serving the Miami metropolitan area. The Metro is operated by Miami-Dade Transit, a departmental agency of Miami-Dade County...
, the Downtown
Downtown Miami
Downtown Miami is an urban residential neighborhood, and the central business district of Miami, Miami-Dade County, and South Florida in the United States...
Metromover
Metromover
The Miami Metromover, officially Metromover, is a free rapid transit automated people mover train system operated by Miami-Dade Transit in Miami, Florida, United States. Metromover serves Downtown Miami, Brickell, Park West and Omni neighborhoods. Metromover connects directly with Metrorail at...
people mover
People mover
A people mover or automated people mover is a fully automated, grade-separated mass transit system.The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks, but is sometimes applied to considerably more complex automated...
, Metrobus, and Paratransit (STS) systems. Metrorail is composed of two rail lines (Green and Orange lines) with 23 stations radiating from the city center towards outlying neighborhoods north and south of Downtown. Metromover operates throughout the Downtown and Brickell
Brickell
Brickell is an urban neighborhood in Miami, Florida, United States. A neighborhood of greater Downtown Miami, Brickell is Miami and South Florida's major financial district.-Background:...
neighborhoods, and is composed of three rail loops and 22 stations. Metrobus operates over 110 routes, including the South Dade Busway
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
. MDT's main transit stations are Government Center in Downtown, and the new Miami Central Station
Miami Central Station
Miami Central Station, also called Miami Airport Station, is a rapid transit, commuter rail, intercity rail, and intercity bus union station currently under construction in Miami, Florida, United States, in the Grapeland Heights neighborhood....
in Grapeland Heights
Grapeland Heights
Grapeland Heights is a neighborhood in the city of Miami, Florida, United States. It is just east of Miami International Airport and north of Miami's West Flagler neighborhood...
, near Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
.
As of 2011, MDT has a daily passenger ridership of 336,067, and accounts for over 15% of Miamians' daily transportation. MDT has seen growing passenger ridership since 1998, with ridership increasing 79% since then. The opening of the new Metrorail Orange Line in April 2012 is expected to significantly increase usage of the system. Although not under the control of MDT, Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The system has 18 stations along the South Florida coast...
is Miami's commuter rail system, and connects Miami to suburbs north to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Currently, the Interim Director of the authority is Ysela Llort. The MDT headquarters are located in the Overtown Transit Village in Downtown Miami
Downtown Miami
Downtown Miami is an urban residential neighborhood, and the central business district of Miami, Miami-Dade County, and South Florida in the United States...
.
History
In 19601960 in rail transport
-January events:* January 1 – The New York Central Railroad drops its membership in the Railway Express Agency, citing large losses.* January 3 – Washington, D.C., ends suburban and overhead trolley car operations....
, the Dade County Commission
Miami-Dade county law and government
Since its formation in 1957, Miami-Dade County has had a two-tier system of government. Under this system, Miami-Dade comprises a large unincorporated area and 35 incorporated areas or municipalities...
passed an ordinance creating the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) to unify the different transit operations into one countywide service. This ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
provided for the purchase, development, and operation of an adequate mass transit system by the County. These companies included the Miami Transit Company, Miami Beach Railway Company, South Miami Coach Lines, and Keys Transit Company on Key Biscayne and would be managed by National City Management Company. Over the years and under various administrations, MTA evolved into the Metro-Dade Transportation Administration, the Metro-Dade Transit Agency, the Miami-Dade Transit Agency, and is now known simply as Miami-Dade Transit (MDT).
Miami-Dade Transit, a county department of more than 4,000 employees, is the largest transit agency in the state of Florida and accounts for more than half of the trips taken on public transit in the state. MDT operates an accessible
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
, integrated system of 100-plus Metrobus routes; the 22 miles (35.4 km) Metrorail rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system; Metromover, a free downtown
Downtown Miami
Downtown Miami is an urban residential neighborhood, and the central business district of Miami, Miami-Dade County, and South Florida in the United States...
people mover
People mover
A people mover or automated people mover is a fully automated, grade-separated mass transit system.The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks, but is sometimes applied to considerably more complex automated...
system; and the Paratransit division’s Special Transportation Service. Metrobus routes cover more than 35-million miles annually, including limited service to Broward
Broward County, Florida
-2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile...
and Monroe
Monroe County, Florida
Monroe County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 79,589. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 74,737....
counties. In 2004, MDT's Metrorail, Metromover, and Metrobus transported more than 96 million passengers, compared to 85 million the previous year.
2011 federal investigation
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
that includes several audits and a criminal investigation of the transit agency due to concerns over money mismanagement within the agency. This caused a freezing of federal funds being granted to the county agency. In late 2010 the county manager claimed that it was 'not fraud' but rather accounting errors, poor management, and erroneous information given to the auditors that triggered the investigation, including a withdrawal of $15 million through the ECHO
ECHO
Echo is a German music award granted every year by the Deutsche Phono-Akademie . Each year's winner is determined by the previous year's sales...
program that was made by a transit official two hours after a letter arrived in September 2010 from the FTA telling them withdrawals had been restricted. The investigation and lack of funding let to emergency service cuts to Metrorail, Metrobus, and Metromover being considered by the agency by the middle of 2011, six months into the investigation and lack of funding which began in November 2010, causing MDT to lose $185 million in grant money. Assistant county manager Ysela Llort became responsible for Miami-Dade Transit after director Harpal Kapoor left in April 2011. Additionally, funding for the Metrorail airport link was jeopardized by the funding freeze. The FTA decided to continue funding under strict control in order to keep service cuts from happening.
Improvement projects
- The Miami-Dade County Government has received federal money in order to purchase new and refurbish old Metrorail and Metromover cars, as they have been operating for more than 20 years.
- Technology and Corridor Improvements: Two corridors, totaling 24.4 miles (39.3 km) of rapid transit, have completed the planning phase and are ready to enter into final design and construction—the North Corridor, Earlington Heights-MIC Connection, and East-West Corridor.
Fares
The "EASY Card" system is a regional fare collection system with interoperable smartcards and equipment. The following information is specific to Miami-Dade Transit:Since October 1, 2009, Miami-Dade Transit has used the EASY Card
EASY Card (South Florida)
The EASY Card system is a series of linked contactless smartcard systems used by Miami-Dade Transit and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority in the South Florida, Florida, United States area. The EASY Card allows for electronic payment on multiple public transport systems including Miami...
system for fare collection.
On December 13, 2009 paper-based bus transfers were discontinued, and bus-to-bus transfers are now free only when using an EASY Card or EASY Ticket.
- An EASY Card can be purchased for $2 at EASY Card sales outlets, vending machines in Metrorail stations, calling 3-1-1 in Miami-Dade County, or online. Money can be reloaded on to the card at the same places and locations. The card lasts for 3 years from first use.
- Alternatively an EASY Ticket may be purchased with no sales charge. However EASY Tickets are limited to the fare type initially loaded onto it, and expire 60 days after purchase. EASY Tickets also may not be purchased online or via telephone.
- With the change, paper transfers are being eliminated on transit. People paying fares in cash will need to pay full fare when transferring. Transfers will be available only by paying with an EASY Card or Ticket and using the card again within 3 hours of boarding transit.
The current standard fare is $2 and reduced fare is $1. A standard monthly pass
Season ticket
A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.-Sport:In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of...
costs $100 and $50 for reduced fare. The monthly Metropass is loaded onto the EASY Card. Turnstile
Turnstile
A turnstile, also called a baffle gate, is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. It can also be made so as to enforce one-way traffic of people, and in addition, it can restrict passage only to people who insert a coin, a ticket, a pass, or similar...
equipment at all Metrorail stations does not accept any type of cash, and require an EASY Card or Ticket to both enter and exit the boarding area.
Reduced fares are available only to Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
recipients, people with disabilities
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
, and Miami-Dade students in grades 1-12.
All Miami-Dade senior citizen
Senior citizen
Senior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK...
s aged 65 years and older and with Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
benefits ride free with a Golden Passport pass. Veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s residing in Miami-Dade and earning less than $22,000 annually ride free with the Patriot Passport pass.
Passenger ridership
In February 2011, Miami-Dade Transit ridership totaled 336,067 passengers, including all Metrorail, Metromover and Metrobus lines. With a population of about 2.5 million in Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade Transit accounts for 15% of the population's daily mode of transportation. Note: This figure does not include Tri-RailTri-Rail
Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The system has 18 stations along the South Florida coast...
, Miami's commuter rail operator.
Daily passenger ridership averages
| Year | Metrobus | Metrorail | Metromover Metromover The Miami Metromover, officially Metromover, is a free rapid transit automated people mover train system operated by Miami-Dade Transit in Miami, Florida, United States. Metromover serves Downtown Miami, Brickell, Park West and Omni neighborhoods. Metromover connects directly with Metrorail at... | Total ridership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 207,048 | 44,871 | 13,269 | 265,188 |
| 1999 | 209,111 | 46,774 | 13,880 | 269,765 |
| 2000 | 212,927 | 47,256 | 14,383 | 274,566 |
| 2001 | 211,823 | 46,664 | 16,849 | 275,336 |
| 2002 | 204,941 | 47,064 | 16,444 | 268,449 |
| 2003 | 215,306 | 51,248 | 25,521 | 292,076 |
| 2004 | 234,109 | 55,294 | 28,192 | 317,595 |
| 2005 | 246,023 | 59,700 | 28,473 | 334,195 |
| 2006 | 259,375 | 58,358 | 27,042 | 344,775 |
| 2007 | 264,467 | 59,708 | 28,058 | 352,233 |
| 2008 | 259,018 | 63,710 | 26,682 | 349,410 |
| 2009 | 233,858 | 59,992 | 25,883 | 319,733 |
| 2010 | 227,883 | 59,900 | 27,175 | 314,958 |
| February 2011 | 243,878 | 65,300 | 29,878 | 336,067 |
Metrorail
Metrorail is an elevated rapid transit heavy rail system similar to a subway train that has one 22.4 mi (36 km) main line from Hialeah to KendallKendall, Florida
Kendall is a suburban neighborhood of metropolitan Miami, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the area had a total population of 75,226....
and an under construction line known as the Airport Link to Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
.
Metrorail line expansions
- The AirportLink is a 2.4 miles (3.9 km) extension from Earlington Heights Metrorail Station to the Miami Intermodal Center (north of NW 21st St. and east of NW 42nd Ave. at Miami International Airport). Construction is scheduled to be completed in late 2011, with Metrorail passenger service on the extension starting in early 2012.
- The North Corridor is a 9.5 miles (15.3 km) expansion will be a northward extension from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza Metrorail Station, along NW 27th Avenue to NW 215th Street (Miami-Dade/Broward County line); with proposed stations at Northside Shopping Center, MDC-North Campus, City of Opa-locka, Bunche Park, Miami Gardens, Sun Life Stadium and the Calder Race CourseCalder Race CourseCalder Casino & Race Course is a casino and horse racetrack in Miami Gardens, Florida in the United States.-History:In the mid-1960s, real estate developer Stephen A. Calder envisioned summertime racing in Florida; in 1965, on the advice of Mr. Calder, the Florida Legislature approved a bill...
. The project has been postponed indefinitely and has been deemed not eligible to federal funding. - The East-West Corridor is a 10.6 miles (17.1 km) expansion from the Miami Intermodal Center west to the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826) and from the Palmetto, through West-Dade County and Florida Turnpike/FIUFlorida International UniversityFlorida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
/117th Avenue. These sites have been identified as potential station locations: Florida International UniversityFlorida International UniversityFlorida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
, NW 107th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), NW 97th Avenue, NW 87th Avenue (Galloway Road), NW 72nd Avenue (Milam Dairy Road), the Blue Lagoon area, and Miami Intermodal Center.
Metromover
People mover
A people mover or automated people mover is a fully automated, grade-separated mass transit system.The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks, but is sometimes applied to considerably more complex automated...
that runs on three loops: the Downtown Inner Loop, Brickell Loop, and the Omni Loop. The systems totals 4.4 miles with 22 stations at roughly every two blocks in the greater Downtown area. Metromover serves the neighborhoods of Downtown
Downtown Miami
Downtown Miami is an urban residential neighborhood, and the central business district of Miami, Miami-Dade County, and South Florida in the United States...
, Brickell
Brickell
Brickell is an urban neighborhood in Miami, Florida, United States. A neighborhood of greater Downtown Miami, Brickell is Miami and South Florida's major financial district.-Background:...
, Omni, Park West
Park West (Miami)
Park West is a neighborhood of greater Downtown, Miami, Florida, United States. It is roughly bound by Biscayne Boulevard to the east, West First Avenue to the west, North 10th Street to the south and Interstate 395 to the north. As of 2010, about 4,655 residents live in Park West...
, and Overtown.
Metrobus
The Metrobus network provides bus service throughout Miami-Dade CountyMiami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
365 days a year. It consists of about 90 routes and 900 buses, which connect most points in the county and part of southern Broward County
Broward County, Florida
-2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile...
as well. Seven of these routes operate around the clock: Routes 3, 11, 27, 38, 77, L (No 24 hour Hialeah service)and S. Routes 246 Night Owl & Route 500 Midnight Owl operate from 12am to 5am. Most other routes operate from 5 AM to 11 PM. All Metrobuses are wheelchair accessible, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
.
Bus route 301 (Dade-Monroe Express) extends into Monroe County
Monroe County, Florida
Monroe County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 79,589. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 74,737....
, reaching Marathon
Marathon, Florida
Marathon is a city on Knight's Key, Boot Key, Key Vaca, Fat Deer Key, Long Point Key, Crawl Key and Grassy Key islands in the middle Florida Keys, in Monroe County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,255. As of 2005, the population estimated...
, where a transfer is available to a Key West Transit bus proceeding further into the Keys. With the appropriate bus transfers, one can travel all the way from Key West
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
to Jupiter
Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 39,328. The estimate population for 2009 is 50,606. As of 2006, the population had grown to 50,028, according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research....
entirely on public-transit buses.
South Miami-Dade Busway
The South Miami-Dade Busway (originally the South Dade BuswayBusway
Busway may refer to several things:Transport technology* Bus rapid transit, bus systems including some elements of trams or metro systems* Guided busway, concrete tracks exclusively for modified busesTransport systems...
) began operating on February 3, 1997 and was extended in April 2005. The final 6.5 miles (10.5 km) segment of the Busway extension to Florida City opened on Sunday, December 16, 2007. It is parallel to US1/ S Dixie Highway, and replaced an abandoned Florida East Coast Railroad line. It is an alternative to daily traffic congestion. The 13 miles (20.9 km) roadway was built by the Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
just for Metrobus routes and emergency vehicles. Express buses on the exclusive lanes shuttle passengers to and from Dadeland South Station
Dadeland South (Metrorail station)
Dadeland South is a Metrorail transfer station in the Miami suburb of Kendall, Florida at Dadeland. It is the southern terminus of the metro system....
(see Metrorail) in under 40 minutes.
Both full-size buses and minibuses operate on the Busway and in adjacent neighborhoods, entering the exclusive lanes at major intersections. Local and limited-stop service is offered between Florida City
Florida City, Florida
Florida City is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States and is the southernmost municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 5,413,212 in 2007. The population was 7,843 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S....
and Dadeland South Metrorail Station. Park & Ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
lots along the busway are located at SW 152d Street (Coral Reef Drive), SW 168th Street (Richmond Drive), SW 200th Street (Caribbean Boulevard), SW 244th Street, and SW 296th Street. At Dadeland South Station
Dadeland South (Metrorail station)
Dadeland South is a Metrorail transfer station in the Miami suburb of Kendall, Florida at Dadeland. It is the southern terminus of the metro system....
, riders transfer to Metrorail. Riders headed downtown can transfer from Metrorail to Metromover, which consists of three shorter downtown loops, at Government Center Station
Government Center (changeover station)
Government Center is a Metrorail and Metromover rapid transit transfer station in Downtown, Miami, Florida, United States.It is the hub of most travel via Miami-Dade Transit , servicing the two metros, Metrobus, and Paratransit...
.
The South Miami-Dade Busway features 28 stops, all of which have been converted to light-rail style stations. A multi-use path
Segregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities are marked lanes, tracks, shoulders and paths designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded...
stretches the length of the Busway.
South Dade Busway stations
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Routes that use the Busway
- 1- Serves the station at 173 st and a route that travels through Perrine, FloridaPerrine, FloridaPerrine, Florida was an unincorporated community in Miami-Dade County about midway between Miami and Homestead. It is located at The community was named after Dr...
and Quail Roost DR which every bus passes every half hour. - 31 Busway Local- serves all stations between northern end of the busway and Southland MallSouthland Mall (Miami, Florida)Southland Mall, originally known as Cutler Ridge Mall, is a shopping mall in Cutler Bay , Florida. It opened in 1978 as an extension of the Cutler Ridge Shopping Center, which itself was opened in 1960...
, before looping to serve Cutler BayCutler Bay, FloridaCutler Bay, historically called Cutler Ridge, is an incorporated town in Miami-Dade County, Florida from SW 184th Street east of US-1 to the coast, and north of Black Point Marina, at...
shopping centers and the South Dade Government Office Complex - 34 Busway Flyer- travels the entire length of the busway, but does not stop at any stations before SW 152nd Street
- 38 Busway MAX- travels the entire length of the busway, deviating from the route slightly to serve Southland Mall, and travelling beyond the end of the busway to serve Florida City shopping centers
- 52- begins at Dadeland North Metrorail StationDadeland North (Metrorail station)Dadeland North is a Metrorail station in Miami, Florida in the suburb of Kendall.This station is located at the intersection of South Dixie Highway and Southwest 83rd Street on the Snapper Creek, near the Snapper Creek Expressway...
, then runs along busway to SW 152nd street, before becoming a Richmond Heights and Goulds local route - 252 Coral Reef MAX- begins at Dadeland South Metrorail StationDadeland South (Metrorail station)Dadeland South is a Metrorail transfer station in the Miami suburb of Kendall, Florida at Dadeland. It is the southern terminus of the metro system....
, then runs along busway to SW 152nd Street, before becoming express route to Country WalkCountry Walk, FloridaCountry Walk is a census-designated place Miami suburb in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,997 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Country Walk is located at .... - 287 Saga Bay MAX- begins at Dadeland South Metrorail Station, then runs along busway to SW 168th Street, before running as express route through West PerrineWest Perrine, FloridaWest Perrine is a census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Prior to the 2000 census it was part of Perrine. The other part of Perrine became the East Perrine CDP for the 2000 census and is now part of the incorporated Village of Palmetto Bay...
and Saga Bay
Busway vs. rail controversy
The Busway has been the site of many accidents, as some car drivers driving south on US-1 (which runs parallel to the Busway for much of its length), and looking to turn west, do not stop at the red arrows that govern the right turn lane at an intersection that has a Busway crossing adjacent to it. They make a right turn and go right into the path of a bus that is entering the adjacent Busway intersection. Buses currently have to slow down to 15 mi/h before crossing the intersection, and the police often patrol the intersections looking for red arrow runners. Surprisingly, even the intersections where the Busway runs as far as 2 blocks west of US-1 suffer the same problem, with car drivers either not seeing or flatly ignoring the red lights at SW 184th and 186th Streets. City planners and residents alike have commented that rather than dismantling the former Florida East Coast Railroad line for the busway, the Metrorail system could have been extended southward over the railway line.Paratransit (STS)
Paratransit/Special Transportation Services (STS) is available for people with a mental or physical disability that cannot ride Metrobus, Metrorail, or Metromover. For $3.00 per one-way trip, STS offers shared-ride, door-to-door travel in accessible vehicles throughout most of Miami-Dade County, in some parts of south Broward County, and in the middle and northern KeysFlorida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
. STS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including most holidays.
See also
- Transportation in Miami
- List of Miami-Dade Transit metro stations
- Tri-RailTri-RailTri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The system has 18 stations along the South Florida coast...
, Miami's commuter rail system - List of rapid transit systems
- List of United States railroads
- List of Florida railroads
External links
- Miami-Dade Transit
- Planned East-West Corridor Route Alignment Map (PDF)
- Planned East-West Corridor Station Locations
- Planned North Corridor Route Alignment Map
- Planned North Corridor Station Locations
- Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust
- Transit Miami (news and information blog)
- Public Transit (MDTA commuter blog)