Miami-Dade County officially unveiled its new Metro Express Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, set to begin service on Monday, October 27. The all-electric bus line aims to provide faster connections for riders traveling from Florida City to the Dadeland South Metrorail Station.
The system will operate along a 20-mile partially closed corridor parallel to US-1, with 14 express stations designed like train stations, featuring air-conditioned vestibules and raised platforms. Express buses will have fewer stops than regular service, and intersections along the transitway are equipped with railroad-style gate arms during peak hours to allow buses uninterrupted travel. Additionally, traffic signals will prioritize buses during non-peak hours.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava highlighted the significance of the project, calling it “the first major transit expansion in ten years in the county” and “the longest all-electric Bus Rapid Transit system in the country.” The fleet of 60 electric buses is equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, charging ports, and indoor bike racks.
The project cost the county over $300 million for construction, with an additional $96 million for the bus fleet, funded through federal, state, and local sources. Deputy Director of the County Department of Transportation and Public Works Sean Adgerson emphasized that the system represents a major step forward in connecting southern Miami-Dade residents to jobs and transit options to the north.
Former Miami-Dade Mayor and current Rep. Carlos Gimenez addressed voter concerns about the half-penny transportation surtax, noting that while residents had hoped for Metrorail expansion south of Dadeland Mall, the BRT system offers a more cost-effective and timely alternative. “You either got this, or you got nothing… It’s a $2–$3 billion process [for rail] versus $300 million for this system,” Gimenez said.
Beyond improving transit, officials say the corridor will spur economic development, with 24 new affordable housing projects already approved, totaling 4,400 units along the transitway. The South Dade TransitWay is part of the county’s broader Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) plan, which aims to establish rapid transit along five major corridors across Miami-Dade.
Mayor Levine Cava said the new service will provide residents with faster, more reliable options while fostering growth along the corridor. “This is a first in many regards,” she said.
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