The Mayor of Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava, led the event along with Congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez, the President of the County Commission, Anthony Rodríguez, and the Director of the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Stacy L. Miller, which was attended by multiple personalities, public officials, project workers and residents of the county.
The work, which represented an investment of $300 million – contributed equally by the federal, state and local governments – will connect Dadeland South with SW 344 Street in Homestead through an exclusive 20-mile corridor. Scheduled to enter service on Monday, October 27, South County residents will be able to board the new 60-foot articulated electric buses at any of the 14 air-conditioned stations or 32 upgraded local stops.
“This is the first all-electric rapid bus system in the US and the first of its kind in Miami-Dade,” said Stacy L. Miller, director and CEO of DTPW. “We want southern residents to have a safe, reliable and modern service, offering a train-like experience, but with the flexibility of a bus system.”
“A new era in transportation”
The mayor Levine Cava He highlighted that the Metro Express “marks the beginning of a new era in public transportation in Miami-Dade.”
“This is going to transform the way people get around to go to work, school or the doctor,” declared the mayor. “It is a faster, more comfortable and more convenient system. We want more people to get on, to leave their cars at home and thus help reduce traffic.”
The councilor recalled that the project took several years to complete due to the complex coordination between federal, state and local agencies, as well as the multiple engineering and technical testing requirements that it involved.
“It was a team effort between all levels of government. We had to raise the funds — $100 million each — and make sure everything worked correctly. We are still in the testing phase, but we are ready to start operations,” added Levine Cava.
Technology and efficiency at the service of the user
The Metro Express will have two types of service: an express one, which stops only at the 14 main stations, and another local one, which makes stops at the 32 secondary stations. During peak hours, buses will run every seven minutes, every 15 minutes on regular schedules, and every 30 minutes on weekends.
The system will maintain the regular public transportation fare of $2.25 and will include free transfers to Metrorail at Dadeland South and local routes. Passengers will be able to pay with contactless cards, mobile devices or cash at the stations’ machines, which have access areas controlled by turnstiles.
Levine Cava also highlighted the reduction in travel time, which could save up to 40 minutes each way compared to the current bus system.
“It is a fast and stress-free service, with Wi-Fi connectivity and comfortable, air-conditioned stations,” he explained. “We want people to see that leaving the car at home is really worth it.”
New generation electric buses
The Metro Express will operate with a fleet of New Flyer electric buses, a new generation of zero-emission articulated vehicles, acquired after the bankruptcy of the previous manufacturer, Proterra.
“These new buses have already demonstrated their reliability,” said Levine Cava.
“They are quieter, more efficient and sustainable, and have a fast charging system in the south of the county that allows continuous and environmentally friendly service.”
An intergovernmental collaboration
During the inauguration, Congressman Carlos Giménez, former mayor of the county and one of the key figures in the origin of the project, recalled the beginnings of the initiative and highlighted the cooperation between the different government bodies.
“I am very proud to have been part of this project since its beginning,” said Giménez. “Thanks to the joint work with Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart and the support of Commissioner Eileen Higgins, whose vote was decisive, we managed to make it a reality. This was a viable project, that could be started and finished, and that is what made it possible.”
For his part, Mario Díaz-Balart—who managed the federal funds for the work—underlined the importance of planning and institutional coordination.
“For years I begged the County to present a realistic project so we could bring in federal funds,” the congressman recalled. “When Carlos Giménez was mayor, there was finally coordination. I got 109 million dollars from the federal government, the state contributed its part and the county did the same. That’s how things are achieved: working as a team.”
The first step of the SMART plan
The South Transit Way is the first completed corridor of the ambitious SMART (Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit) Program, which includes the construction of five intermodal hubs: North, Northeast, East-West, Beach, Kendall and South.
Levine Cava acknowledged that there is still much to do, but expressed confidence that the remaining projects will move forward with support from state and federal authorities.
“We have plans for the northern, beach and western corridors,” he said. “We hope that the state will continue to invest and that we can secure the necessary funding to move forward. We are also working with Brightline and FEC (Florida East Coast Railway) to open local stations in the northeast corridor.”
A model runner
The South Transit Way extends from Dadeland South Station to SW 344 Street, integrating southern transit with the Metrorail system. Three stations – SW 344 Street, SW 168 Street and Dadeland South – will have public restrooms, and all will have video surveillance systems, modern covers, ADA accessibility and air-conditioned areas.
In addition to improving mobility, the corridor seeks to encourage transportation-oriented urban development, with more homes and businesses close to the stations.
“What has been seen along US-1 will now also be seen to the south,” said Levine Cava. “More people living close to transportation, more connectivity and more opportunities for everyone.” With the entry into service of the Metro Express next Monday, Miami-Dade consolidates itself as a pioneer in electric mobility and sustainable infrastructure.
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