Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, Commissioner Esteban Bovo and transit director Alice Bravo conducted a ribbon cutting on Nov. 9 for new articulated buses that will function on the South Miami-Dade Busway and throughout the county.
Commissioner Levine Cava presented the resolution that called for the new vehicles earlier this summer.
“We have heard from so many residents about the poor state of the buses on the Busway and the lack of bus space to supply the large ridership,” Comissioner Levine Cava said. “Transit is our ‘Achilles Heel.’ Lack of transit options and traffic congestion affect our quality of life and our economy, especially for low income residents.
“I have worked with the Transit Department to secure new articulated ‘bending’ buses which are now going into service on the busway. I will continue pushing to bring true Bus-Rapid-Transit to the busway as a substantial short and mid-term solution to our transportation challenges in South Dade,” the commissioner added.
Mayor Gimenez emphasized continuing improvements to the county transit system.
“We have entered a new era in transportation here in Miami-Dade County,” Mayor Gimenez said. “The addition of these 43 new articulated buses is just one of many steps we’re taking toward improving and enhancing mobility throughout Miami-Dade. This project alone will benefit nearly 30,000 residents of our community each day.”
More than a dozen buses already have started transporting residents on the Busway. Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava currently is working with the MPO and the county to revisit the “SouthLink” corridor study from 2007 and to bring system upgrades that will enhance the rider experience on the Busway.
