Looking to improve travel time, provide reliable service and increase fuel efficiency, MDT began to run nine (9) environmentally-friendly and distinctly branded sixty-foot articulated diesel electric hybrids on the heavily traveled east-west corridor.  The bus route was developed with stops located approximately every mile along the 10-mile service corridor.  For the convenience of transit customers, there are two Park and Ride facilities, one located at Kendall Drive and SW 150 Avenue with parking available for 100 vehicles and the other located at the new West Kendall Transit Terminal, 9155 SW 162 Avenue with parking for 40 vehicles.

The Kendall Cruiser runs peak commuter service from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the mornings, and 4:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in the afternoons, Monday through Friday. The route carries approximately 800 riders daily, translating into an annual ridership of approximately 200,000.

By using aggressive advertising techniques and heavily promoting the route to choice riders, the Kendall Cruiser has seen a 40% increase in ridership. The Kendall Cruiser provides transfers to the following routes: Route 52, Route 72, Route 87, Route 88, Route 104, Route 204 Killian Kat and Route 272 Sunset Kat.

Technological features of the Kendall Cruiser include free WiFi access for all riders and Transit Signal Priority, which saves an estimated 5% of the travel time for the route. The use of the nine hybrid buses results in a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to a similar size diesel powered vehicle.

For more information about the Kendall Cruiser and  public transportation in Miami-Dade County , please call 3-1-1 or visit www.miamidade.gov/transit.