TITLE
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS TO IMPLEMENT MAJOR SERVICE CHANGES TO THE BUS NETWORK ON OR AFTER JULY 20, 2026

BODY
WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference; and

WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works has analyzed the proposed route changes and determined that these changes will enhance the regional transit connections of the transit system; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board authorizes the implementation of the major service changes to the bus network, as outlined in the County Mayor�s memorandum, on or after July 20, 2026.

HEADER
Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Anthony Rodriguez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Daniella Levine Cava
Mayor

Subject: Resolution Authorizing Miami-Dade County Department
of Transportation and Public Works to Implement Major
Service Changes to the Bus Network On or After
July 20, 2026

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Executive Summary
This item requests the Board of County Commissioners (Board) authorize major bus route service changes as part of the July 20, 2026 bus lineup. The proposed changes affect four routes in the central and western areas of the County, spanning Districts 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12. Adjustments include route extensions to new areas, reduced frequency, and discontinuation of low-productivity and duplicative services. The magnitude of changes presented in this memorandum constitute major service changes because they involve more than a 25 percent adjustment in the number of route miles of a route, thus requiring a public hearing and approval by the Board per Section 2-150 of the County Code. There will be further service efficiencies and improvements implemented for the July bus lineup that will be approved administratively by the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), as authorized by Section 2-150 of the County Code.

The proposed changes are:

� Routes 8 and 24 to be changed collectively. They will be routed and extended to provide service to more areas on Coral Way west of SW 107 Ave to the Tamiami Station Park-and-Ride via SW 152 Ave, including new weekend service. Route 8 will be reduced from a 30- to 60-minute service west of Florida International University (FIU) to University Lakes Mobile Home Park on weekdays, and Route 24 will provide 60-minute service west of FIU seven days a week based on current demand.

� Route 37 to be reduced from a 15- to 30-minute headway between the Airport Station and Douglas Rd Station on weekdays and Saturdays and from a 20- to 40-minute headway on Sundays due to low ridership.

� Route 132 to be discontinued due to low ridership.

Some of the changes proposed reflect community feedback from the Better Bus Network implementation. Additional outreach was conducted through community meetings and in-person engagement at stations to explain the proposals and to gather input. All proposed changes have been communicated with the Commissioners representing the impacted districts. These proposed service changes are estimated to result in a net fiscal savings of approximately $2.01 million annually.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board approve major service changes to these bus routes and that they be implemented on or after July 20, 2026. Board approval of these major service changes is required pursuant to Section 2-150 of the County Code, following a public hearing.

Delegation of Authority
No delegation of authority applies.

Scope
The proposed service changes will directly impact four routes through County Commission Districts 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12. However, these major service changes are considered countywide in nature.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
These proposed service changes are estimated to result in a net fiscal savings of approximately $2.01 million annually.

Track Record/Monitor
The project manager, Linda Morris, DTPW Chief of Service Planning and Scheduling, is responsible for these bus service changes.

Background
The service changes below, and the maps in Attachment A, outline solely the major changes proposed as part of the July 20, 2026 lineup. There will be additional minor administrative changes as part of the lineup, which will be included in the regular lineup report presented to the Board prior to implementation.

Routes 8 and 24

These changes reflect community feedback received after the implementation of the Better Bus Network in 2023. Concerns relating to the western area of the County included the following:

� Reestablishing transit service along SW 24 Street between SW 107 and 122 Avenues
� Reestablishing transit service to the University Lakes Mobile Home Park
� Providing a more direct, one-seat ride for passengers on SW 26 Street west of SW 107 Avenue traveling to Brickell
� Reestablishing weekend service along SW 26 Street west of SW 107 Avenue
� Providing local transit service to the Tamiami Park-and-Ride, which connects to the Route 837 Express

DTPW is proposing to realign Route 8 and Route 24 collectively to address the above concerns. Route 8 will serve the University Lakes Mobile Home Park on SW 8 Street on weekdays, while Route 24 extends west to the Tamiami Park-and-Ride Station via Coral Way and SW 152 Avenue weekdays and weekends. Both new segments will operate at 60-minute frequencies. With these changes, Route 24 will now terminate at the Tamiami Station Park-and-Ride, which has a dedicated operator relief lounge and improves the capacity conditions at the FIU Terminal.

Route 8 will continue with 30-minute service most of the day during weekdays and weekends east of FIU, with 60-minute service west of FIU on weekdays only. Route 24 will continue with 20-minute service east of FIU most of the day during weekdays and Saturdays and 30-minute service on Sundays.

A community meeting was held on December 16, 2025, at the Westchester Regional Library from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm for the public to learn about and provide comments on proposed service changes. The meeting was attended by two members of the public, as well as DTPW Service Planning and Marketing staff. The plans received positive feedback and support from the public attendees who had extensive knowledge of the bus network.

These proposed service improvements result in an annual operating increase of approximately $99,000.

Route 37

DTPW proposes reducing service on Route 37 along 37th Avenue between Airport Station and Douglas Road Station. The adjustment would change headways from 15 to 30 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 20 to 40 minutes on Sundays for this segment. Segments of Route 37 beyond these Metrorail stations currently operate at 30-minute headways and will continue to do so.

This segment was upgraded to 15-minute headways during the Better Bus Network implementation in 2023; however, current ridership � averaging fewer than 10 passengers per trip � does not justify this frequency. In addition, in July 2025, DTPW reestablished transit service along 42 Avenue between Opa-Locka, the Airport Station, and Douglas Road Station with Route 42. This provides additional capacity and options for passengers currently using Route 37.

Public outreach was conducted in the field at the Douglas Road Station and Airport Station during the AM and PM peaks to inform the public about the proposed change and to garner feedback. Approximately 180 riders were engaged, of which 91 provided feedback with 15 positive, 31 negative, and 45 indifferent responses to the proposed changes.

This proposed major service change results in an annual operating savings of approximately $1.9 million.

Route 132

Ridership data from September 2025 shows an average of 46 total daily boardings for the entire route, which equates to approximately seven passengers per revenue hour. Based on DTPW Service Standards, routes carrying fewer than 15 passengers per revenue hour should be considered for elimination. Additionally, the Hialeah Market Tri-Rail Station stop only averages seven westbound boardings daily, which is the target market this route is designed to serve.

Public outreach was conducted in the field on December 10, 2025 between 6:30 am and 9:15 am at the Hialeah Market Tri-Rail Station to inform riders about the proposed discontinuation and to garner feedback. With a total of approximately 65 passengers alighting Tri-Rail southbound trains during this period, a total of four riders were surveyed who boarded the bus, all of whom understood the need for the discontinuation. The municipalities of Hialeah and Doral, as well as Tri-Rail staff, were briefed and understood the need for the discontinuation.

This proposed major service change results in annual operating savings of approximately $210,000.

All regulatory requirements will be completed in accordance with federal, state, and local law. A Title VI Analysis has determined that there are no disparate or disproportionate impacts on the protected populations with the proposed service modifications. Whenever major service changes occur, a comprehensive marketing campaign to inform all riders is initiated. Some of those activities include sending press releases to all major newspapers, posting service changes on the County�s website, and posting rider notices on all impacted bus routes and Metrorail cars. The changes recommended above are to rightsize and enhance transit services.


_________________________
Jimmy Morales
Chief Operating Officer