Miami-Dade Transit

Miami-Dade Transit
Metrorail (top), Metromover (middle), and Metrobus (bottom) at Government Center
Info
Locale	Greater Miami
Transit type	Rapid transit, Downtown people mover, bus rapid transit, transit bus
Number of lines	2 Metrorail lines 3 Metromover loops 110 Metrobus routes 1 bus rapid transit line
Number of stations	Miami Central Station Government Center 23 (Metrorail) 22 (Metromover) 28 (South Dade Busway)
Daily ridership	391,000+ daily
Chief executive	Ysela Llort (Interim Director)
Headquarters	701 NW 1st Court Miami, Florida, 33132
Operation
Began operation	August 2, 1960[1]
Operator(s)	Miami-Dade Transit
Number of vehicles	893 buses 136 Metrorail cars 29 Metromover cars
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge)

Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) 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.^[2]

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.^[3] MDT's main transit stations are Government Center in Downtown, and the new Miami Central Station in Grapeland Heights, near Miami International Airport.^[4]

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.^[5] 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.^[6]

Currently, the Interim Director of the authority is Ysela Llort. The MDT headquarters are located in the Overtown Transit Village in Downtown Miami.^[7]

History

In 1960, 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-mile (35 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.

2011 federal investigation

A Metro train entering University Station

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.^[8] 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.^[9] 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.^[10]

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 was implemented in 2009, and allows for fast and seamless transfers between Metrorail, Tri-Rail, Metromover and Metrobus.

See also: EASY Card (South Florida)

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 system^[11] 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.^[12] 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.^[13] 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 $2.00 and reduced fare is $1.00. 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,^[11] 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 citizens aged 65 years and older and with Social Security benefits ride free with a Golden Passport pass. Veterans residing in Miami-Dade and earning less than $22,000 annually ride free with the Patriot Passport pass.

Passenger ridership

Passengers at Government Center

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-Rail, Miami's commuter rail operator.

Daily passenger ridership averages

Year	Metrobus	Metrorail[14]	Metromover	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

Main article: Metrorail (Miami)

Metrorail is the city's rapid transit rail system

Metrorail is an elevated rapid transit heavy rail system similar to a subway train that has one 22.4 main line from Hialeah to Kendall and an under construction line known as the Airport Link to Miami International Airport.

Metrorail line expansions

• The AirportLink is a 2.4-mile (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-mile (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 Course. The project has been postponed indefinitely and has been deemed not eligible to federal funding.
• The East-West Corridor is a 10.6-mile (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/FIU/117th Avenue. These sites have been identified as potential station locations: Florida International University, 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

Main article: Metromover

The Metromover operates three rail loops throughout the greater Downtown area

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.

Metrobus

Main article: List of Miami Metrobus routes

Metrobus

Locale	Miami, Florida
Service type	bus service, bus rapid transit
Routes	110
Fleet	900+
Daily ridership	293,000 [15]
Operator	Miami-Dade Transit

The Metrobus network provides bus service throughout Miami-Dade County 365 days a year. It consists of more than 100 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.

South Miami-Dade Busway

The South Miami-Dade Busway (originally the South Dade Busway) began operating on February 3, 1997 and was extended in April 2005. The final 6.5-mile (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-mile (21 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.

South Dade Busway stations

SW 104th Street SW 112th Street SW 117th Street SW 124th Street SW 128th Street SW 136th Street SW 144th Street SW 152nd Street (Park-N-Ride) SW 160th Street SW 168th Street (Park-N-Ride)

SW 173rd Street W Indigo Street SW 184th Street Marlin Road SW 200th Street SW 212th Street (Park-N-Ride) SW 216th Street SW 220th Street SW 232nd Street SW 244th Street

SW 264th Street SW 272nd Street SW 280th Street SW 296th Street (Park-N-Ride) SW 312th Street Historic Homestead SW 324th Street SW 328th Street SW 344th Street

Routes that use the Busway

• 31 Busway Local- serves all stations between northern end of the busway and Southland Mall, before looping to serve Cutler Bay 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 Station, 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 Station, then runs along busway to SW 152nd Street, before becoming express route to Country Walk
• 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 Perrine 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 mph (24 km/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 Keys . STS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including most holidays.

See also

	Miami portal
	Transportation portal

• Transportation in Miami
• List of Miami-Dade Transit metro stations
• Tri-Rail, Miami's commuter rail system
• List of rapid transit systems
• List of United States railroads
• List of Florida railroads

References

1. ^ http://scholar.library.miami.edu/miamidigital/1960s.php
2. ^ http://www.contactlessnews.com/2008/07/10/cubic-wins-contract-to-update-miami-dade-transits-aging-fare-collection-system
3. ^ http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/rider_busway.asp
4. ^ http://www.micdot.com/miami_central_station.html
5. ^ http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/news_technical_reports.asp
6. ^ http://www.tri-rail.com/rider_info/system_map.htm
7. ^ "Contact Us." Miami-Dade Transit. Retrieved on September 14, 2011. "Miami-Dade Transit Administrative Offices Overtown Transit Village 701 NW 1st Court Miami, Florida 33136"
8. ^ Martha Brannigan and Alfonso Chardy (July 7, 2011). "Miami-Dade to weigh $100M loan for ailing Transit Agency". The Miami Herald. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/07/2303266/miami-dade-county-commission-to.html. Retrieved 2011-07-07. 
9. ^ Alfonso Chardy (December 8, 2010). "Miami-Dade Transit's federal funding freeze `not fraud'". Miami Herald. http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/08/1962604/miami-dade-transits-federal-funding.html. Retrieved 2011-07-07. 
10. ^ Martha Brannigan, Alfonso Chardy and Matthew Haggman (May 10, 2011). "Miami-Dade transit agency eyes service cuts as feds hold back money". Miami Herald. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/10/2211021/miami-dade-transit-agency-eyes.html. Retrieved 2011-07-07. 
11. ^ ^{a b} http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/library/pdfs/misc/english_easy_card_brochure_july2009.pdf
12. ^ http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/easy_card.asp
13. ^ http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/library/easy_card/transfers_poster.pdf
14. ^ http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/news_technical_reports_archive.asp
15. ^ http://miamitodaynews.com/news/090521/story1.shtml

• APTA ridership information

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)