South Dade TransitWay

Important Message

New, rail-like gate arms are being activated at various roadway intersections along the South Dade TransitWay to enhance safety for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders. Learn more.

The SMART Program represents a vision for our region that is both strategic and far-reaching, creating a system of multiple transportation options by leveraging existing infrastructure, and integrating technology at the highest levels. The program is comprehensive, proactive, and supports the future population and employment growth.

NOTE: New gate arms have been activated at various roadway intersections along the South Dade TransitWay to enhance safety for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders.

The gate arms are being installed on the TransitWay to allow express Metrobus routes to travel efficiently along the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor from Homestead to Dadeland South. BRT service is scheduled to start in 2025.

We thank residents for their understanding and apologize for any inconvenience during this phase, which requires ongoing adjustments and further refinements. Watch this video to see how the gate arms function along the TransitWay.

See the list of roadway intersections where the gate arms are being activated.
Learn more

Immerse yourself in the South Dade TransitWay with this virtual tour.

See station locations along the corridor:

Do you have a question or comment? Submit your feedback.

- First Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor to be introduced in Miami-Dade County
- Connects numerous municipalities that represent some of the fastest-growing communities in Miami-Dade County
- Sets new efficiency standard for public transportation
- Viable solution for future transportation demands
Project Limits
- The corridor runs 20 miles in length
- Extends from the Dadeland South Metrorail Station to the SW 344th Street Park-and-Ride/Transit Terminal.
- Municipalities:
  - Village of Pinecrest
  - Village of Palmetto Bay
  - Town of Cutler Bay
  - City of Homestead
  - City of Florida City
Project Features
- Improved travel time and reliability
- Rehabilitation of 32 local bus stops
- 14 brand-new iconic BRT Stations
See Maps
- Map of the 14 BRT Stations
- Map of the 32 local bus stops
The South Dade TransitWay will feature 14 iconic Bus Rapid Transit stations. Each new BRT station will provide level boarding through all doors and pre-paid fares for speedy access. Stations will also provide enhanced safety features and other upgrades including:
- A vault-like canopy to protect riders from weather elements
- Air-conditioned vestibule
- Center platform loading
- Wi-Fi inside stations
- CCTV cameras & 24-hour security
- Improved lighting at and around stations
- ADA-compliant level boarding platform
- Real-time bus arrival displays
As part of the construction of the South Dade TransitWay, DTPW is building a five-level Park and Ride Facility at SW 168 Street. Once completed, this Park and Ride will feature:
- Approximately 645 parking spaces
- Direct connection to BRT station at SW 168 St.
- Kiss-and-ride area
- Bicycle storage
- Electric vehicle charging
- Public restrooms
Once completed, the South Dade TransitWay BRT service will provide faster travel time, multi-layered service lines, a connection between the Miami Central Business District and numerous municipalities in South Dade, as well as other features such as:
- Through lane for buses not stopping at BRT stations
- Off-Board fare collection
- Traffic Signal Preemption (TSP) technology to keep BRT vehicles moving through intersections
- Gate arms at intersections for added safety
- Gate arms include warning lights
- Use of typical railroad bells will be minimized near neighboring residential communities to reduce noise impacts
- All electric buses provide a quieter experience.
What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-quality bus-based transit system delivering a rail-like experience that is fast and efficient, which includes dedicated lanes, traffic signal preemption and priority, off-board fare collection, elevated platforms with
level boarding and enhanced stations.

With a length of 20-miles, the South Dade Transit-Way, set to open in 2025, will be the longest battery electric bus rapid transit system in the nation on a dedicated corridor with level boarding, gate arms, and state-of-the-art stations. The TransitWay will serve communities from Dadeland South Metrorail station to SW 344 Street Park & Ride Transit Terminal.

What is the difference between the existing local service and the new BRT system?
The new BRT service will implement the use of Preemption signaling, which gives priority to transit vehicles at signalized intersections to improve bus travel times. BRT buses will communicate with traffic signals as they approach an intersection, giving them quicker green lights. Once fully operational, the system will result in improved frequency and reduced travel times.

What are the benefits to the community?
The BRT’s all-electric vehicles will offer safe, dependable service along the South Corridor, connecting communities to job centers, schools, parks, other transit modes, and shopping areas.

It is a cost-effective alternative to expanding Metrorail, saving Miami-Dade County hundreds of millions while delivering similar benefits. With this new service, the community will have an express north-south travel option.

What can riders expect at the new BRT station?
The BRT stations will offer an array of amenities to improve the riders’ experience, including real-time bus arrival displays, improved lighting, enhanced security features, access to air-conditioned vestibule, free Wi-Fi inside stations, and pre-boarding fare collection.

What is the new BRT travel schedule?
The BRT schedule will be established prior to opening. Currently, service frequency is expected to be 7.5 minutes during peak hours/peak direction, 15 minutes off peak, and 30 minutes on weekends.

Will the new BRT system increase fares?
No. Fares remain the same.

How can riders purchase their fares?
Fares can be purchased at the BRT stations, before boarding. This will allow for quicker on and off movements and reduce overall boarding time. EASY Card and the use of credit cards will be acceptable forms of payment.

What should drivers expect during the implementation phase?
Since the system is currently in the rollout phase, delays may occur due to the deployment of new signal and safety equipment, such as warning lights and gate arms.

Some drivers may also experience signal disruptions as signal timing configurations are being implemented and adjusted. Signage will be posted along the corridor to increase awareness of the signal timing changes. Dynamic message signs will also be placed near key intersections to display real-time information such as gate arm deployment schedules.

Are the gate arms operational at all intersections?
The 46 intersections along the 20-mile corridor are scheduled to deploy gate arms in three phases. This phased approach ensures an efficient roll-out of the new service, minimizing impacts to commuters.

Phase one opened late fall of 2024, while phases two and three started at the beginning of 2025. This is the best approach to ensure a successful, safe expansion of the new BRT system.

What can drivers expect when the BRT is operational?
Northbound and southbound US-1 routes will have longer green lights. Minor delays may occur for cross street traffic at intersections due to signal preemption for BRT dedicated lanes.

Gate arms will descend as physical barriers with visual/audible signals to alert drivers and pedestrians of an approaching bus. Local law enforcement will issue citations to all unauthorized vehicles on TransitWay. Tickets may result in points on a driver’s license or
penalty fines.

What are the BRT system’s accessibility and safety features?
The buses will offer level boarding for easy and quick passenger loading from the platforms. The BRT system will offer:
- All-door boarding, allowing passengers to enter or exit the bus through any door, which speeds up boarding process.
- 24-hour security
- Surveillance cameras
- Air-conditioned waiting area
- Improved pedestrian crossings
- On-board bike storage will be available inside the bus. Cyclists also have the option of securing their bikes at the BRT station.
What are safety guidelines for driving through intersections?
Drivers should remember these safety tips:
- If the gate arm is descending, drivers must come to a complete stop. The gate arms are a visual signal that a bus is approaching the intersection.
- Continue obeying the traffic signals. Failure to do this will result in a citation.
- Proceed through the intersection only after the gate arm is fully raised, and the red or flashing lights are off.
- Drivers should watch for bike/ped users upon approaching the intersection. Pedestrians and cyclists will also use the intersections to cross the street and access the BRT system.
Will the existing local service connect to the new BRT Metro Express service?
The existing local bus service will continue to operate on the TransitWay, picking up riders at all 34 bus stops, which includes the new BRT stations. Riders using the local service can transfer to the Metro Express service at any of the 14 BRT stations.

How can the public provide feedback?
Public feedback during this process is important. You can also report concerns by sending an email to [email protected].

Learn More

Virtual Tour

SMART Corridors

Resources

Construction Detours

Construction Updates

As of February 2025

Construction has reached the 92 % complete threshold
All 14 Bus Rapid Transit stations, including the one integrated into the new parking garage on SW 168 Street, are nearing completion
The roof structure, which is designed to protect riders from weather elements, has been completed at all 14 stations
Part of upgrading to a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor is improving the access to the TransitWay at key locations. As such, at SW 264th Street, the road has been widened to accommodate the new infrastructure crucial to BRT operations including fiber for improved signal timing. As a result, new sidewalks and landscaping were also added
Every station will feature center platform boarding, prepaid fares for faster boarding, and areas for bicycle storage including lids and racks
The new BRT vestibules can now be seen with newly installed tinted glass for these air-conditioned areas. The vestibules will provide a comfortable area for rides to wait for the next bus
Bus arrival times will be available on monitors inside the vestibule and platform at all BRT stations
The entire project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2025.

To enhance safety for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders, NEW rail-like gate arms are being have been activated at various roadway intersections along the South Dade TransitWay.
- List of intersections where the gate arms are being activated
- As of November 2024, construction has reached the 87% completion threshold. Station improvements include:
- HVAC installation for air-conditioned vestibules
- Concrete paving at intersections
- Vestibule glass and roofing installation at all stations
- Tech Truss installation at all stations for display monitors and speakers
- Gate arm installation at intersections
- Lighting and signal improvements at the intersections
- The parking garage at SW 168 Street has completed 99% of its vertical construction with rough-in work progressing
- Rehabilitation of the existing bus station is ongoing

Timeline & Cost

On June 4, 2021, Miami-Dade County officially broke ground on the all-new South Dade Rapid Transit Project.

Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) is building the South Dade TransitWay in partnership with the following agencies:
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
- Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
- Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust (CITT)
- Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)
The Design Build Contract Value is $368,233,493.42

The following are the funding sources for this project:
- Federal funds: Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Capital Investment Grant Program - Small Starts: $100 million
- State funds committed to the project in the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) 5-year work program: $100 million
- Local funds committed to the project: $100 million*
*This project received an additional $29.5 million in American Recovery Plan Act funding in 2021 will be applied towards the local match.

About the Project

The South Dade TransitWay (South Corridor) is one the five rapid transit corridors of the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Program. The corridor runs 20-miles in length and connects numerous municipalities which represent some of the fastest growing communities in Miami-Dade County.

The South Dade TransitWay extends from the Dadeland South Metrorail Station to the SW 344th Street Park-and-Ride/Transit Terminal, and it provides a mobility connection between the Miami Central Business District and the Village of Pinecrest, the Village of Palmetto Bay, Town of Cutler Bay, City of Homestead, and Florida City.

On Aug. 30, 2018, the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Governing Board voted on the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the South Dade TransitWay corridor and selected Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as the most feasible mode of transportation for this corridor.

On May 29, 2020, the Department of Transportation and Public Works received final confirmation from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the County’s funding request of $100 million for the South Corridor Rapid Transit project.

On Feb. 2, 2021, the County issued Notice to Proceed to the contractor to begin the Design-Build Services for the South Dade Transitway Rapid Transit Project.

On June 4, 2021, Miami-Dade County officially broke ground on the all-new South Dade Rapid Transit Project. The groundbreaking was a major step forward for the South Dade TransitWay.

Once completed, BRT will provide rail-like travel time, iconic stations, level boarding through all doors, and pre-paid fares for speedy access. BRT will also provide enhanced safety features and other upgrades along dedicated lanes with multi-layered service lines on the TransitWay.

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South Dade TransitWay

Important Message

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SW 168 Street Park and Ride

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Construction Updates

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