Miami-Dade cuts some bus routes, limits capacity on others to reduce coronavirus risk
Sparse ridership on Miami-Dade’s buses during the coronavirus pandemic has forced the county’s transit authority to suspend low-demand routes in another cost-cutting measure for a system already taking riders for free.
The county will no longer operate five routes starting Friday but will beef up service on three popular routes by adding buses, with the goal of reducing passenger density and improving social distancing for commuters and drivers.
“For the safety of our operators and passengers, the Department of Transportation and Public Works is limiting the number of riders on each bus,” the county said. “Metrobus riders will begin to notice signs on select seats within buses. [The department] is printing and installing thousands of caution signs to urge riders to keep a safe distance between themselves and fellow passengers. Whenever possible, riders should avoid sitting in the specially marked seats.”
Ridership will be limited to 16 passengers on regular 40-foot buses and 36 on larger articulated buses. Once capacity is reached, drivers will not allow additional passengers to board and will call a supervisor to dispatch another bus.
“We want one person for each pair of seats,” transit director Alice Bravo said.
The county is also distributing more masks to drivers and maintenance and construction employees. The transit union complained that personal protection and cleaning supplies were so meager drivers were receiving only one Clorox wipe per shift and a single mask to be reused indefinitely. The union also shared a driver’s photo of a packed route 11 bus on Flagler Street, with passengers standing and sitting shoulder to shoulder and yellow police tape separating the driver’s seat from passenger seats.
“[The department] is committed to keeping its most valuable resource — its employees — safe,” the county said.
The transit authority previously closed Metrorail and Metromover two hours early each night and ended overnight service on nine bus routes. Starting Friday night, passengers can use Uber and Lyft vouchers for travel from midnight to 5 a.m. on those routes.
Declining ridership, service cuts and an antiquated route network have combined to cause a downward spiral in bus usage for years. A proposed redesign of the system was announced by Transit Alliance Miami on Feb. 26. The bottom fell out once coronavirus hit and commuters were confined to their homes.
To reduce contact between passengers and drivers, fares were suspended and riders are required to board from the rear. To save money, the county cut train and bus service and reassigned older drivers or those with underlying medical conditions to lower their risk of infection via interaction with the public.
While ridership is down as much as 80 percent on certain routes, some have become extra crowded for essential workers going to their jobs. In response, the county is making further adjustments.
Service has been added to popular routes 3, 11 and 77 to maintain a low rider count per bus. Route 277 was converted to provide local service to supplement 77 so that passengers traveling between Golden Glades and downtown Miami can take either 77 or 277. Route 51 was converted to supplement 11 so that passengers traveling between Southwest 107th Avenue and downtown Miami along Flagler Street can take either 11 or 51.
Starting Friday, five routes will be suspended because of low ridership: 39, 79, 204, 288 and the 95/Golden Glades Express.
The county suggested alternate routes for those that won’t be operating: Route 39 overlaps with 31; route 79 riders can take 112/L; route 204 riders can take 104; route 288 riders can use route 88; and route 95/Golden Glades Express riders can take 77 from Golden Glades to downtown Miami or transfer to Metrorail at Culmer Station.
The county urges riders “to use transit for essential trips only, practice social distancing, and otherwise stay home, when possible, to help flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
For nighttime rides, Uber said passengers must sign up for a voucher on the company’s website, and Lyft said users can enter the code “GONIGHTLY” under the Lyft app’s Promos section.
People without a cellphone with internet can call a county hotline, 786-469-5555.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 6:04 PM.
