View source for Miami-Dade Transit

{{short description|Public transit agency in Miami, Florida}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox Public transit
| name = Miami-Dade Transit
| image2 = Transit at Government Center.jpg
| imagesize2 = 300px
| caption2 = Metrorail (top), Metromover (middle), and Metrobus (bottom) at [[Government Center station (Miami)|Government Center]]
| locale = [[South Florida metropolitan area|Greater Miami]]
| transit_type = {{Plainlist|
* [[Public transport bus service|Bus]]
* [[Bus rapid transit]]
* [[Greater Downtown Miami|Downtown]] [[people mover]]
* [[Rapid transit]]
}}
| began_operation = August 2, 1960<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scholar.library.miami.edu/miamidigital/1960s.php|title = 1960s Timeline: Travel, Tourism and Urban Growth in Miami}}</ref><br />February 1997<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metrorouteatlas.net/cities/north_america/miami.html#line_transitway_south_dade|title = South Dade Transitway}}</ref>
| lines = 2 Metrorail lines <br />3 Metromover loops<br />79 [[bus|Metrobus]] routes<br />1 Transitway
| stations = [[Miami Intermodal Center]]<br />[[Government Center (MDT station)|Government Center]]<br />23 (Metrorail)<br />22 (Metromover)<br />28 (South Dade Transitway)
| daily_ridership = {{American transit ridership|FL Miami total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|FL Miami total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| chief_executive = Eulois Cléckley
| headquarters = 701 NW 1st Court<br />[[Miami]], Florida
| vehicles = 817 buses<br /> 136 Metrorail cars<br /> 42 Metromover cars
| operator = Miami-Dade Transit
| image =
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| owner = Miami-Dade County
| area served =
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| website = {{URL|https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/home.page}}
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| map = {{switcher
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'''Miami-Dade Transit''' ('''MDT''') is the primary [[public transit]] authority of [[Miami]], [[Florida]] and the greater [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]] area.  It is the largest transit system in Florida and the 15th-largest transit system in the United States.<ref name="2011TDP">{{cite web|url=http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/library/pdfs/misc/TDP_FINAL_2011.pdf |title=Transit Development Plan |date=September 2011 |publisher=[[Miami-Dade County]] |access-date=January 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215102014/http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/library/pdfs/misc/TDP_FINAL_2011.pdf |archive-date=December 15, 2011 }}</ref> As of {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system has {{American transit ridership|FL Miami total annual}} rides per year, or about {{American transit ridership|FL Miami total daily}} per weekday in {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}. MDT operates the [[Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)|Metrobus]] with their [[paratransit]] STS systems run by LSF. MDT also operates two rail transit systems: [[Metrorail (Miami)|Metrorail]] and [[Metromover]].

Metrobus operates over 93 routes, including the [[Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)#South Dade TransitWay|South-Dade Transitway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/rider_busway.asp |title=Miami-Dade County – Transit – South Miami-Dade Busway |access-date=January 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128193939/http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/rider_busway.asp |archive-date=January 28, 2012 }}</ref> MDT's main transit stations are [[Government Center (MDT station)|Government Center]] in Downtown, and the [[Miami Intermodal Center]] in [[Grapeland Heights]], which can access the [[Miami International Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2021 |title=Miami Central Station: Intermodal Center |url=http://www.micdot.com/miami_central_station.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531042641/https://micdot.com/miami-central-station/ |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |website=MicDot}}</ref>

Metrorail is composed of two rail lines (Green and Orange lines) with 23 stations radiating from the city center towards outlying neighborhoods north and south of Downtown. Metromover operates throughout the Downtown, Omni, and [[Brickell]] neighborhoods, and is composed of three rail loops and 22 stations. The opening of the Metrorail Orange Line in July 2012 significantly increased usage of the system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/news_technical_reports.asp |title=Miami-Dade County – Transit – Ridership Technical Reports |access-date=January 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215102844/http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/news_technical_reports.asp |archive-date=December 15, 2011 }}</ref>  As of 2013, rail fares collected were $23 million/yr and it cost $78 million/yr to operate the rail system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kearney |first=Melissa S. |last2=Hershbein |first2=Brad |last3=Nantz |first3=Greg |date=May 2015 |title=Racing Ahead or Falling Behind? Six Economic Facts about Transportation Infrastructure in the United States |url=https://www.hamiltonproject.org/assets/files/six_econ_facts_transportation_infrastructure_united_states_final.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423020817/https://www.hamiltonproject.org/assets/files/six_econ_facts_transportation_infrastructure_united_states_final.pdf |archive-date=April 23, 2023 |website=[[The Hamilton Project]]}} </ref>

[[Tri-Rail]] is a separate entity and not controlled by MDT. Tri-Rail, a [[commuter rail]] system in the [[Miami metropolitan area]], is directly connected at the [[Tri-Rail and Metrorail Transfer station]], Miami Intermodal Center, and [[Government Center station (Miami)|Government Center station]].

== History ==
In 1960, the [[Miami-Dade county law and government|Dade County Commission]] passed an ordinance creating the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) to unify the different transit operations into one countywide service. This [[local ordinance|ordinance]] provided for the purchase, development, and operation of an adequate [[mass transit]] system by the County. These companies included the Miami Transit Company, Miami Beach Railway Company, South Miami Coach Lines, and Keys Transit Company on Key Biscayne and would be managed by [[National City Lines|National City Management Company]]. National City was dismissed as manager in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web| title = History of the People's Transportation Plan – Miami-Dade County| access-date = October 21, 2018| url = http://www.miamidade.gov/citt/history.asp}}</ref> Over the years and under various administrations, MTA evolved into the Metro-Dade Transportation Administration, the Metro-Dade Transit Agency, the Miami-Dade Transit Agency, and is now known simply as Miami-Dade Transit (MDT).

Miami-Dade Transit, a county department of more than 4,000 employees, is the largest transit agency in the state of Florida and accounts for more than half of the trips taken on public transit in the state. MDT operates an [[accessibility|accessible]], integrated system of 93-plus [[Miami-Dade Transit#Metrobus|Metrobus]] routes; the {{convert|22|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Miami-Dade Metrorail|Metrorail]] [[rapid transit]] system; [[Miami-Dade Metromover|Metromover]], a free Downtown [[people mover]] system; and the Paratransit division's Special Transportation Service. Metrobus routes cover more than 35-million miles annually, including limited service to [[Broward County, Florida|Broward]] and [[Monroe County, Florida|Monroe]] counties. In 2004, MDT's Metrorail, Metromover, and Metrobus transported more than 96 million passengers, compared to 85 million the previous year.

=== 2011 federal investigation ===
Miami-Dade Transit was undergoing a federal investigation by the [[Federal Transit Administration]] that includes several audits and a criminal investigation of the transit agency due to concerns over money mismanagement within the agency.<ref name="miamiheraldjuly7">{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/07/2303266/miami-dade-county-commission-to.html|title=Miami-Dade to weigh $100M loan for ailing Transit Agency|author=Martha Brannigan and Alfonso Chardy|date=July 7, 2011|publisher=The [[Miami Herald]]|access-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref> This caused a freezing of federal funds being granted to the county agency. In late 2010 the county manager claimed that it was 'not fraud' but rather accounting errors, poor management, and erroneous information given to the auditors that triggered the investigation, including a withdrawal of $15 million through the ECHO program that was made by a transit official two hours after a letter arrived in September 2010 from the FTA telling them withdrawals had been restricted.<ref name="miamiheralddecember8">{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/08/1962604/miami-dade-transits-federal-funding.html|title=Miami-Dade Transit's federal funding freeze 'not fraud'|date=December 8, 2010|author=Alfonso Chardy|publisher=Miami Herald|access-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref> The investigation and lack of funding let to emergency service cuts to Metrorail, Metrobus, and Metromover being considered by the agency by the middle of 2011, six months into the investigation and lack of funding which began in November 2010, causing MDT to lose $185 million in grant money. Assistant county manager Ysela Llort became responsible for Miami-Dade Transit after director Harpal Kapoor left in April 2011. Additionally, funding for the Metrorail airport link was jeopardized by the funding freeze. The FTA decided to continue funding under strict control in order to keep service cuts from happening.<ref name="miamiheraldmay10">{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/10/2211021/miami-dade-transit-agency-eyes.html|title=Miami-Dade transit agency eyes service cuts as feds hold back money|author=Martha Brannigan, Alfonso Chardy and Matthew Haggman|date=May 10, 2011|publisher=Miami Herald|access-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref>

MDT headquarters are located in the Overtown Transit Village in [[Greater Downtown Miami|Downtown Miami]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Director, Transportation and Public Works |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/global/government/biographies/transit.page |access-date=September 14, 2023 |website=miamidade.gov}}</ref>

== Future ==

=== The SMART Program ===
The Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Program involves the implementation of five [[rapid transit]] corridors in Miami-Dade County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Program |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/corridor-plans.page |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=www.miamidade.gov |language=en}}</ref> It includes new extensions of the current Metrorail and Metromover systems as well as the introduction of new forms of rapid transit, such as [[bus rapid transit]] (BRT).

==== South-Dade Transitway (Bus Rapid Transit) ====
The [[Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)#Future (Gold Standard Electric Bus Rapid Transit Line)|South-Dade Transitway]] will become a [[BRT Standard|gold standard]] [[Bus rapid transit|bus rapid transit (BRT)]] line, including 2 terminals and 14 new iconic BRT stations, all featuring fare gates, center platform boarding, all-door and level boarding, next bus arrival screens, air-conditioned waiting areas, and other rail-like amenities. Signal preemption and [[Level crossing signals|level crossing gates]] will be implemented at various roadway intersections along the transitway. The BRT will use 60-foot [[New Flyer Xcelsior]] battery-electric articulated buses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2023 |title=Deadline electric bus deal fuels new South Dade rapid transit |url=https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2023/01/24/deadline-electric-bus-deal-fuels-new-south-dade-rapid-transit/ |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=Miami Today |language=en-US}}</ref> The project should be completed by 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Smart Plan – South Dade Transitway Corridor |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/smart-plan-south-dade-transit-way-corridor.page |access-date=August 17, 2022 |website=www.miamidade.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2024 |title=South Dade bus rapid transit coming 'sometime' in 2025 |url=https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2024/06/04/south-dade-bus-rapid-transit-coming-sometime-in-2025/ |access-date=December 3, 2024 |website=Miami Today |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== North Corridor (Metrorail extension) ====
The North Corridor is an extension of the current Metrorail system along NW 27 Avenue from the [[Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza station (Metrorail)|Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza station]] to the north county line. It will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will extend the Metrorail to a station at the [[Hard Rock Stadium]], with a stop at the Miami-Dade College North Campus. The second phase will include the remainder of the project, with a total of eight new stations added.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Commissioners Move Forward With Expedited Metrorail To Hard Rock Stadium |url=https://www.thenextmiami.com/commissioners-move-forward-with-expedited-north-corridor-metrorail/ |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=The Next Miami |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=North Corridor |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/smart-plan-north-corridor.page |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=www.miamidade.gov |language=en}}</ref>

==== Northeast Corridor (Commuter rail) ====
{{main|Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project}}
The Northeast Corridor will feature [[commuter rail]] service (potentially [[Tri-Rail]]),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tri-Rail Coastal Link South Florida East Coast Corridor (SFECC) Transit Analysis Study |url=http://tri-railcoastallinkstudy.com/ |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=tri-railcoastallinkstudy.com}}</ref> extending from [[MiamiCentral]] to the [[Aventura station]] along the existing [[Florida East Coast Railway]] (FEC) tracks. It will have seven stations for the service in Miami-Dade, with both of the terminal stations having access to [[Brightline]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miami-Date County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project Fact Sheet |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/transit/library/northeast-corridor-rapid-transit-fact-sheet.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712001727/https://www.miamidade.gov/transit/library/northeast-corridor-rapid-transit-fact-sheet.pdf |archive-date=July 12, 2023 |website=miamidade.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Northeast Corridor |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/smart-plan-northeast-corridor.page |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=www.miamidade.gov |language=en}}</ref> Service could begin as soon as 2032.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northeast Corridor Fact Sheet (Nov. 2024) |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/transit/library/northeast-corridor-rapid-transit-fact-sheet.pdf |access-date=December 8, 2024 |website=miamidade.gov}}</ref>

==== East-West Corridor (Bus Rapid Transit) ====
The East-West Corridor consists of three BRT routes on dedicated [[bus lane]]s running from Tamiami Terminal to the [[Miami Intermodal Center]] and [[Government Center station (Miami)|Government Center]], as well as through the Blue Lagoon area. One of the routes will go on dedicated lanes, mainly along [[Florida State Road 836|SR 836]], and include four stations between Tamiami Terminal and the Miami Intermodal Center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=East-West Corridor |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/smart-plan-east-west-corridor.page |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=www.miamidade.gov |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2023, the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) considered commuter rail service instead of BRT as the form of rapid transit for the reason that BRT is "no longer seen as practical" and that commuter rail service on the CSX Lehigh Spur has "become more flexible [on cost]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gothner |first=Chris |date=April 20, 2023 |title=To tackle traffic, Miami-Dade officials consider new people movers, trains |url=https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/04/20/to-tackle-traffic-miami-dade-officials-consider-new-network-of-people-movers-trains/ |access-date=April 21, 2023 |website=WPLG |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2023 |title=Gears shifting from buses to rail for East-West Transit corridor |url=https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2023/04/18/gears-shifting-from-buses-to-rail-for-east-west-transit-corridor/ |access-date=April 21, 2023 |website=Miami Today |language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2024, the TPO moved forward with the commuter rail plan as well as an alternative being [[Metromover]] along [[Flagler Street]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2024 |title=East-West rapid transit pivots to two new routes |url=https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2024/01/30/east-west-rapid-transit-pivots-to-two-new-routes/ |access-date=February 1, 2024 |website=Miami Today |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Beach Corridor (Metromover extensions and bus/trolley lanes) ====
The Beach Corridor includes three rapid transit projects. The first is an extension of the current Metromover system along [[Miami Avenue]] from the [[School Board station]] to NW 41st Street. The second, known as [[BayLink]], is another Metromover extension along the southern edge of [[MacArthur Causeway]] to [[Miami Beach, Florida|Miami Beach]], with stations in between. BayLink could begin service as soon as 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Metromover To Miami Beach Expected To Open In 2028 Or 2029 |url=https://www.thenextmiami.com/metromover-to-miami-beach-expected-to-open-in-2028-or-2029/ |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=The Next Miami |language=en-US}}</ref> The third is dedicated bus/trolley lanes along [[Washington Avenue (Miami Beach)|Washington Avenue]] from 5th Street to the [[Miami Beach Convention Center]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beach Corridor |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/smart-plan-beach-corridor.page |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=www.miamidade.gov |language=en}}</ref>

==== Resilient305 ====
Miami-Dade County's sustainability program, Resilient305, includes a main focus of an overall improvement of the area's public transportation system. The goal is to reduce congestion, cut back on emissions, and offer alternative transport options that are both more efficient and more sustainable. This includes a Transit Development Plan (TDP), which breaks down a ten-year action plan to ensure the city has reliable, safe, and clean transportation.<ref name="2011TDP" /> This will be realized through fully recognizing financial resources, financial needs, citizen demands, and standards of service.

== Metrorail ==
{{Main|Metrorail (Miami-Dade County)}}
[[File:Metrorail-Tri-Rail.png|thumb|upright=1.1|A Metrorail train at [[Tri-Rail and Metrorail Transfer Station]] (2011)]]
Metrorail is an elevated heavy rail rapid transit system. It has two lines on {{convert|24.4|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} of track with [[Terminal train station|termini]] west of [[Hialeah]], at [[Miami International Airport]], and in [[Kendall, Florida|Kendall]].

Metrorail serves the urban core of Miami, connecting the urban centers of [[Miami International Airport]], the [[Health District (Miami)|Health District]], [[Greater Downtown Miami|Downtown Miami]], and [[Brickell]] with the northern developed neighborhoods of [[Hialeah, Florida|Hialeah]] and [[Medley, Florida|Medley]] to the northwest, and to suburban [[The Roads]], [[Coconut Grove]], [[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]], and [[South Miami, Florida|South Miami]], ending at [[Dadeland, Florida|Dadeland]] South in [[Kendall, Florida|Kendall]].

== Metromover ==
{{Main|Metromover}}
[[File:Metromover double-unit train Omni 2012-04.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|A Metromover double-unit train in [[Arts & Entertainment District]] (2012)]]
Metromover is a free, elevated, automated mass transit [[people mover]] that runs on three loops: the Downtown Inner Loop, Brickell Loop, and the Omni Loop. The systems total {{convert|4.4|mi}} with 22 stations at roughly every two blocks in the greater Downtown area. Metromover serves the neighborhoods of [[Greater Downtown Miami|Downtown]], [[Arts & Entertainment District]], [[Brickell]], [[Park West (Miami)|Park West]], and [[Overtown (Miami)|Overtown]].

== Metrobus ==
{{Main|Metrobus (Miami-Dade County)}}

[[File:1999 NABI 40LFW 040.17 Bus 9917.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[NABI LFW|NABI 40-LFW]], photographed in 2019]]
[[File:Miami Dade Transit route S (119) bus at Adrienne Arsht Center Bus Terminal.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|New Flyer [[New Flyer Industries|DE60LFA]] at Adrienne Arsht Center Bus Terminal (2012)]]
The Metrobus network provides bus service throughout [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]] 365 days a year.  It consists of about 93 routes and 880 buses, which connect most points in the county and part of southern [[Broward County, Florida|Broward County]] as well.  Seven of these routes operate around the clock: Routes 3, 11, 27A, 38, 77, 79 (No 24-hour service to Hialeah, all trips terminate at Northside Station) and 100. Routes 400 South Owl (County operated) and 401 North Owl (served by LSF) operate from midnight to 5{{nbsp}}am. Most other routes operate from 4:30{{nbsp}}am to 1:30{{nbsp}}am. All Metrobuses are wheelchair accessible, in compliance with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]], and all county buses except for private run routes are equipped with bicycle racks. Some privatized routes trucks are receiving bike racks but very limited.

Bus route 301 (Dade-Monroe Express) extends into [[Monroe County, Florida|Monroe County]], reaching [[Marathon, Florida|Marathon]], where a transfer is available to a Key West Transit bus proceeding further into the Keys.  With the appropriate bus transfers, one can travel all the way from [[Key West, Florida|Key West]] to [[Jupiter, Florida|Jupiter]] entirely on public-transit buses.

== Paratransit (STS) ==
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2020}}
'''Paratransit/Special Transportation Services (STS)''' is available for people with a mental or physical disability who cannot ride Metrobus, Metrorail, or Metromover. For $3.50 per one-way trip, STS offers shared-ride, door-to-door travel in accessible vehicles throughout most of Miami-Dade County, in some parts of south Broward County, and in the middle and northern [[Florida Keys|Keys]]. STS operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including most holidays. Service is run by private company.

== Rates ==
{{See also|EASY Card (South Florida)}}
''The "EASY Card" system is a regional fare collection system with interoperable smartcards and equipment.  The following information is specific to Miami-Dade Transit:''

Since October 1, 2009, Miami-Dade Transit has used the [[EASY Card (South Florida)|EASY Card]] system<ref name="miamidade.gov">{{Cite web |date=July 2009 |title=Easy Card Brochure |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/transit/library/pdfs/misc/english_easy_card_brochure_july2009.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423020818/https://www.miamidade.gov/transit/library/pdfs/misc/english_easy_card_brochure_july2009.pdf |archive-date=April 23, 2023 |website=miamidade.gov}}</ref> for fare collection.

On December 13, 2009 paper-based bus transfers were discontinued, and bus-to-bus transfers are now free only when using an EASY Card or EASY Ticket.
* An EASY Card can be purchased for $2 at EASY Card sales outlets, vending machines in Metrorail stations, calling 3-1-1 in Miami-Dade County, or online. Money can be reloaded on to the card at the same places and locations. The card is durable plastic and lasts for 20 years from first use since 2013.
* Alternatively an EASY Ticket may be purchased with no sales charge.  However EASY Tickets are limited to the fare type initially loaded onto it, and expire 60 days after purchase.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/easy_card.asp |title=Miami-Dade County – Transit – EASY Card |access-date=January 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104220822/http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/easy_card.asp |archive-date=January 4, 2012 }}</ref>  EASY Tickets also may not be purchased online or via telephone.
* With the change, paper transfers are being eliminated on transit. People paying fares in cash will need to pay full fare when transferring. Transfers will be available only by paying with an EASY Card or Ticket and using the card again within 3 hours of boarding transit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transit Transfer Fees |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/transfer-fees.page |access-date=September 14, 2023 |website=www.miamidade.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The current standard fare is $2.25 and reduced fare is $1.10. A standard [[season ticket|monthly pass]] costs $112.50 and $56.25 for reduced fare (College Students). The monthly Metropass is loaded onto the EASY Card. Fare gates at all Metrorail stations does not accept any type of cash,<ref name="miamidade.gov" /> and require an EASY Card/Ticket, contactless device, or contactless debit/credit card to enter and exit the stations.

Reduced fares are available only to [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] recipients, people with [[disability|disabilities]], and Miami-Dade students in grades K-12. Fare is free to kids below {{convert|42|in|cm}} tall with fare-paying rider. Full time college students may also purchase a College EASY Ticket to ride Metrobus or Metrorail at $56.25 at their college/university along with a valid Student ID.<ref>{{Cite web |title=College Discount Program |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1520959388654796 |access-date=September 14, 2023 |website=miamidade.gov}}</ref> Miami-Dade County employees can also receive discounted monthly rates and pre-tax savings by enrolling in the Monthly Pass Payroll Deduction program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Employee Discount EASY Card |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1519935006286161 |access-date=September 14, 2023 |website=miamidade.gov}}</ref>

All Miami-Dade [[senior citizen]]s aged 65 years and older and with [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] benefits ride free with a Golden Passport pass. [[Veteran]]s residing in Miami-Dade and earning less than $22,000 annually ride free with the Patriot Passport pass.

As of August 21, 2019, and December 23, 2019 riders can use their smartphones/smartwatches and contactless credit/debt cards to board the Metrorail and Metrobus.  (Accepting Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay etc.).

As part of the Better Bus Routes bus network redesign, fares are currently eliminated for all modes of transit through the end of the year.

== Finances ==
In 2018, the annual operating expense was $552 million; annual revenue was $106 million.  Each passenger trip cost $6.77.  One-way rides on Metrobus and Metrorails cost $2.25; rides on Metromover were free of charge to passengers.<ref name="miamitodaynews.com">{{Cite web |last=Schneckner |first=Jesse |date=October 22, 2019 |title=Per passenger cost up 10% as transit ridership fell 8 million |url=https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2019/10/22/per-passenger-cost-up-10-as-transit-ridership-fell-8-million/ |url-status= |access-date=September 14, 2023 |website=[[Miami Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=RT&S Staff |date=October 23, 2019 |title=Reliability is the only positive for Miami-Dade Transit since 2017 |url=https://www.rtands.com/railroad-news/reliability-is-the-only-positive-for-miami-dade-transit-since-2017/ |url-status= |access-date=September 14, 2023 |website=[[Railway Track & Structures]]}}</ref>

== Passenger ridership ==
[[File:Government Center rush hour.png|thumb|upright=1.1|Passengers at [[Government Center station (Miami)|Government Center]]]]
In February 2011, Miami-Dade Transit ridership totaled 336,067 passengers, including all Metrorail, Metromover and Metrobus lines. With a population of about 2.5 million in Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade Transit accounts for 15% of the population's daily mode of transportation. Note: This figure does not include [[Tri-Rail]], Miami's [[commuter rail]] operator.

Since the debut of Uber in the Miami area ridership has decreased each year, especially on the buses. By 2018, there were fewer riders than in 1999.  In 2018, Metrorail and Metromover began to shut down earlier in the evening; the peak in-service fleet was cut by 4%; and service miles were cut by 2 million.<ref name="miamitodaynews.com" />

<big>'''Annual passenger ridership'''</big>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Year !! Metrobus !!  [[Miami Metrorail|Metrorail]] !! [[Metromover]] !! Total ridership
|-
| 1995 || 61,516,400 || 14,445,400 || 4,168,600 || 80,130,400
|-
| 1996 || 60,466,700 || 14,245,000 || 3,847,400 || 78,559,100
|-
| 1997 || 62,344,200 || 13,923,700 || 4,175,200 || 80,443,100
|-
| 1998 || 62,358,100 || 13,298,900 || 4,064,900 || 79,721,900
|-
| 1999 || 64,252,400 || 13,769,400 || 4,069,700 || 82,091,500
|-
| 2000 || 65,689,800 || 14,023,600 || 4,256,500 || 83,969,900
|-
| 2001 || 65,067,100 || 13,678,000 || 4,951,800 || 83,696,900
|-
| 2002 || 63,423,500 || 13,932,100 || 5,171,700 || 82,527,300
|-
| 2003 || 65,046,900 || 14,318,500 || 6,978,900 || 86,344,300
|-
| 2004 || 77,909,300 || 15,987,600 || 8,686,300 || 102,583,200
|-
| 2005 || 78,373,000 || 17,001,000 || 8,537,500 || 103,911,500
|-
| 2006 || 83,080,500 || 17,388,100 || 8,389,500 || 108,858,100
|-
| 2007 || 84,218,300 || 17,672,000 || 8,838,800 || 110,729,100
|-
| 2008 || 86,409,200* || 19,075,900* || 8,723,700 || 114,208,800*
|-
| 2009 || 73,104,900 || 17,792,100 || 7,986,100 || 98,883,100
|-
| 2010 || 70,942,000 || 17,438,400 || 8,121,000 || 96,501,400
|-
| 2011 || 76,858,200 || 18,295,500 || 9,219,600* || 104,373,300
|-
| 2016<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.miamidade.gov/auditor/library/public-transit-systems-response-to-ridership-decrease.pdf |title=Public Transit Systems Response to Ridership Decrease |date=May 10, 2017 |publisher=Office of the Commission Auditor |access-date=September 14, 2023 |url-status=}}</ref>|| – || – || – || 96,228,800
|-
| 2018<ref name="miamitodaynews.com" /> || – || – || – || 81,600,000
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Record highs

<big>'''Weekday passenger ridership averages'''</big>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Year !! Metrobus !! [[Miami Metrorail|Metrorail]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ridership Report Archives |url=http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/RidershipArchives.aspx |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729031430/http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/RidershipArchives.aspx |archive-date=July 29, 2012 |website=[[American Public Transportation Association]]}}</ref>!! [[Metromover]] !! Total daily passengers
|-
| 1998 || 207,048 || 44,871 || 13,269 || 265,188
|-
| 1999 || 209,111 || 46,774 || 13,880 || 269,765
|-
| 2000 || 212,927 || 47,256 || 14,383 || 274,566
|-
| 2001 || 211,823 || 46,664 || 16,849 || 275,336
|-
| 2002 || 204,941 || 47,064 || 16,444 || 268,449
|-
| 2003 || 215,306 || 51,248 || 25,521 || 292,076
|-
| 2004 || 234,109 || 55,294 || 28,192 || 317,595
|-
| 2005 || 246,023 || 59,700 || 28,473 || 334,195
|-
| 2006 || 259,375 || 58,358 || 27,042 || 344,775
|-
| 2007 || 264,467<br /><small>(record high)</small> || 59,708 || 28,058 || 352,233<br /><small>(record high)</small>
|-
| 2008 || 259,018 || 63,710<br /><small>(record high)</small> || 26,682 || 349,410
|-
| 2009 || 233,858 || 59,992 || 25,883 || 319,733
|-
| 2010 || 227,883 || 59,900 || 27,175 || 314,958
|-
| 2011 || 245,358 || 62,559 || 29,775 <br /><small>(record high)</small> || 337,692
|-
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Transportation}}
* [[Transportation in South Florida]]
* [[Tri-Rail]]
* [[List of United States rapid transit systems]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/home.page Transportation & Public Works]
* [http://miamidade.gov/CITT/ Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061023160129/http://www.apta.com/research/stats/ridership/riderep/indexus.cfm APTA ridership information]

{{South Florida rail metro system}}
{{USSubway}}
{{FloridaTransSystems}}
{{Miami}}
{{Greater Miami}}

[[Category:Miami-Dade Transit| ]]
[[Category:1960 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Bus rapid transit in Florida]]
[[Category:Bus transportation in Florida]]
[[Category:Government of Miami-Dade County, Florida]]
[[Category:Transportation in Miami| ]]