Better Bus SHIFTS into Gear

FAQs

• What is the Better Bus SHIFTS into Gear action plan?

  A newly redesigned bus network for Miami-Dade County based on community input and a data-driven process. The new proposed network is designed to be more useful for more people by increasing frequent service, creating easier connections, and improving evening and weekend bus service.

• What are the goals of this plan?

  • Connect residents to more opportunities, including jobs and services
  • Increase access to our main job centers, government and health services, and community and education centers
  • Create a more affordable community by delivering frequent and reliable bus lines that may allow a family to reduce their dependence on cars 
  • Deliver more equitable service to communities of concern such as minorities, seniors, people experiencing poverty, and households with no vehicles 
  • Increase our community’s resilience and reduce congestion by improving the usability of the bus system and increasing transit ridership 
  • Create a more efficient system that is easier to use to make the best possible use of taxpayer dollars

• Who will the new bus network help?

  The new bus network was designed to improve service for the people who need it most, delivering equitable service that prioritizes seniors, low-income residents, minorities, and households with no vehicles. In sum, it benefits all residents by offering more transit options and getting cars off the street.

• How was the map devised?

  This 5-year process has involved collecting and analyzing data; surveying more than 5,000 people countywide; conducting over 140 direct outreach efforts in communities across the county; and meetings with major stakeholders including elected officials, department leaders, community organizations, and bus operators.

• What are the priorities of the new network?

  Every bus network has to balance a different set of needs, which are different across the network. For example, while some routes in the city center might attract a lot of riders and need more service – other routes farther in the county might not have as many riders but still provide an essential service. Through our community surveys and workshops, we have arrived at a balance of priorities between these competing goals that tries to increase the usefulness of the new network for as many people as possible while minimizing impacts to areas of the county that have relatively fewer transit riders.

• What can I do if the new route doesn’t take me to my current destination?

  Your new transit options may include the County’s FREE, on-demand service, MetroConnect; your local municipal trolley or FreeBee service. 

   

  New MetroConnect zones will  enhance connections for some route changes. This means that part of your current trip may be provided by MetroConnect starting Nov. 13. 

   

  MetroConnect picks you up wherever you are, as long as you're within the service zone. Download the MetroConnect app or call 786-321-5842 to sign up and use the FREE, on-demand service. A MetroConnect will pick you up and take you to where you need to go within the service zones. Learn more about the FREE service at miamidade.gov/MetroConnect 

   

  Customer service information is available Mon. - Fri., 6:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

• Why does the new plan focus on more frequent service?

  • The Better Bus Network was designed to provide frequent service throughout the day, including late into the evening and on weekends. For many of the bus routes the service frequencies will remain consistent throughout the entire day, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
  • Today there are only five bus routes in the County that arrive every 15 minutes or less throughout the day. Most bus routes arrive every 30, 45, or 60 minutes. When buses don’t arrive frequently, riders are burdened by longer wait time and difficulties making connections to other routes. The Better Bus Network creates a new network with 19 frequent routes that allow people to reach more places more quickly.

• Have other cities redesigned their bus networks?

  Yes, cities across the country have successfully redesigned their bus networks (e.g.: Houston, Seattle, Richmond) and more cities are currently redesigning their bus networks too, including Boston, Atlanta and New York.

• Are routes going to be eliminated?

  Over 98% of all existing bus boardings will still be served by a bus stop within a 5-minute walk; however, a small number of routes with very low ridership will be consolidated or replaced with alternate service nearby. Please note: As you review the maps, know that many routes have been renamed.

• Why focus on redesigning the bus network as opposed to other forms of public transportation?

  Two out of three transit riders in Miami use buses for their commute. Redesigning our bus network is an opportunity to immediately improve transit service for the largest number of people. In a survey of over 5,000 bus riders 85% of our survey respondents agreed that we should change the bus system so more people can get to more places more quickly. This is only one of the many transportation projects Miami-Dade County is pursuing to improve commute times and decrease congestion across the county.

• Did we talk to any transit riders about this?

  Yes! Better Bus was led by residents. The community outreach involved speaking with transit riders at terminals, through text messages, and at community workshops. 

• Will there still be routes serviced by contractors in the newly proposed plan?

  Some routes that are suited to smaller vehicles will continue to be operated by contracted vehicles. However, some routes will also be returning to County service in the new network.

• What is the “all-day” action plan?

  In a city like Miami, people have places to be all the time, even on weekends and late in the evening. One of the goals of the Better Bus SHIFTS into Gear action plan is to have frequent, reliable bus service throughout the entire day, not just during peak hours. The route frequencies in the plan are designed to be consistent throughout the entire day, with many routes arriving frequently between 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

• What about the peak frequencies?

  The commute hours are where we see the highest passenger loads and so we provide additional peak-only service on the major streets. The current network is structured so that multiple routes overlap to provide this additional service on certain street segments with high demand. 

• How much will the new action plan cost to operate compared to the current network?

  The Better Bus Network was designed to maintain the same level of service on the street, without requiring raising taxes or resulting in any job losses.

• What about the trolleys?

  Trolley services are operated by local municipalities and not Miami-Dade County. These services will continue to be coordinated on an ongoing basis as each city improves their own route network.

• Is the new action plan a part of the SMART Program?

  The new proposed network aligns frequent bus service with future corridors of the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan, improving service on these key corridors.