At 10 AM, Friday, March 11, 2011, The City of Opa-locka Mayor and City Commission celebrated the official launching of the new OPA-LOCKA EXPRESS bus circulator Transportation service, during a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony under the pavilion, behind Historic City Hall, 777 Sharazad Blvd, Opa-locka, Florida.
During the ceremony, Mayor Myra L. Taylor and other Commission members commended Vice Mayor Dorothy “Dottie” Johnson for being “the force behind keeping the shuttle to the forefront of the Commission meetings.” Commissioner Johnson stated, “Our Seniors, the student and many of the residents without transportation will benefit tremendously from the Opa-locka Express.”
To consider the OPA-LOCKA EXPRESS a huge success, the goal will be to get at least eight riders per day; a demand that the City of Opa-locka should have no problems fulfilling. The long awaited Opa-locka Express Shuttle service will operate as a wave and ride, on two routes, five days a week, Monday – Friday, 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Both routes will link with the Tri- Rail and passengers may also connect at some existing County bus stops. Each stop will be identified by a City of Opa-locka shuttle sign.
The Transit Partners for the City of Opa-locka circulator were Metropolitan Planning Organization, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Miami- Dade Transit, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Citizens Independent Transportation Trust (CITT) who Administers the People Transportation Plan (PTP) funding. Consultants were Kimley Horn & Associates. Neighboring Municipalities that provided guidance and support for the City of Opa-locka, were the City of Hialeah and the City of North Miami.
Before the Commission cut the ceremonial bright red ribbon to launch the EXPRESS, Mayor Taylor exclaimed, “Finally, we have our OWN shuttle service, and it’s FREE to the Opa-locka community!” Then, she invited the participants for a ride on-board the NEW Opalocka Express to “MOVE THAT BUS!”
