Get ready, Miami: A long-awaited transit upgrade is finally here. MetroExpress Bus Rapid Transit is set to transform how South Dade moves with the new South Dade TransitWay, a 20-mile corridor stretching from Florida City to the Dadeland South Metrorail Station. When it officially launches with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 22, it will mark the debut of Miami-Dade’s first true Bus Rapid Transit line.
Now, this isn’t your standard bus ride. This is a bus that’s been designed to act like a train. The MetroExpress BRT will operate in dedicated lanes, giving it signal priority over cars, and offer level boarding at all doors, pre-paid fares and station vestibules with air conditioning and real-time arrival updates. County officials expect the new system to cut up to 40-percent off travel times between Homestead and Dadeland during rush hour, a potential game-changer for the commuters who’ve long felt trapped in traffic.
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The 14 new BRT stations along the route are designed with comfort and convenience in mind, featuring shaded canopies, Wi-Fi, digital arrival displays and bike storage. At intersections, new gate arms will stop cross traffic when a BRT bus approaches, a feature that gives buses true priority. The project even earned a Gold Envision Award for sustainable infrastructure in recognition for how it balances mobility, resilience and environmental goals in a region that sorely needs all three.
For decades, Miami has relied on highways and car culture while public transit lagged behind, leaving many residents frustrated by long, unreliable commutes. MetroExpress BRT aims to rewrite that story by offering a fast, dependable alternative that connects communities along South Dade and links them directly to the broader Metrorail network.
With sleek stations, new energy-efficient buses and a smoother, faster experience, MetroExpress BRT feels like a signal that Miami is finally taking modern transit seriously. It’s not just about getting from point A to point B anymore; it’s about reimagining how the city moves altogether. For a place that thrives on motion, energy and constant reinvention, that evolution feels not just overdue, but essential.