Miami-Dade County’s long-awaited MetroExpress Bus Rapid Transit service running 20 miles from Florida City to Dadeland South is officially launching Oct. 27.
It will travel along bus lanes parallel to U.S. 1., extending from the Dadeland South Metrorail Station to Southwest 344th Street in Florida City. Sixty all-electric buses and regular Metro buses will both travel along the transitway.
The Bus Rapid Transit service will be the longest battery electric bus rapid transit system in the nation, according to the county, and Dade’s largest public-transit project in a decade. It offers commuters an alternative to long drives and an improvement from the four local bus lines.
There will be 14 transit stations with pay stations, Wi-Fi and bicycle storage. The buses will also have Wi-Fi, along with air conditioning, charging ports and on-board bicycle storage.
The Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works didn’t accept a request for an interview about announcement of an official opening day, the fifth time a start of the service has been scheduled.
Rail-like crossing gates at intersections will block traffic while a bus is coming through to prevent interruptions to the service. In the mornings, northbound buses will be able to drive through intersections uninterrupted. Southbound buses will get priority over cars in the afternoons.
During non-peak hours, buses will get an earlier green light than cars – which will be blocked by the gates, the county’s announcement said.
The post Miami-Dade sets firm opening date for bus rapid transit line appeared first on Miami Today.
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