State Road 836 express bus service plans moving forward

(MIAMI-DADE) – Plans for an express bus system on the Dolphin Expressway (State Road 836) took a big step forward on July 14 with the approval of an agreement enabling a partnership between Miami-Dade County, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) for the creation of a park and ride facility on Northwest 12th Street just west of the Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike.

“The Dolphin Station Park and Ride and associated express bus service have been a key component of the County’s transit improvement plans for many years and will provide very welcome relief from traffic congestion for thousands of west Miami-Dade commuters,” said County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, who sponsored the legislation authorizing the agreement with FDOT. “This partnership takes the strengths each agency has to offer, to deliver this very vital project faster and more efficiently.”

Under the agreement, FDOT will transfer 15 acres of land to Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) for construction of the Dolphin Station Park and Ride, consisting of a bus terminal with 12 bus bays and 900 parking spaces.

Commissioner Diaz recognized that without this agreement in place, the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) will not be able to expedite the project completion date by 2 years, while the cost of construction will be split evenly between FDOT and MDT. Groundbreaking is expected in spring 2016, with a projected late 2017 opening.

Commissioner Diaz has been a strong advocate for creation of a State Road 836 express bus route to downtown Miami and sponsored a resolution last year to make it a top County priority.