Miami-Dade County Announces New Name for On-Demand, Shared Ride Service

Miami-Dade County announced its on-demand, shared ride service now has a new name – MetroConnect.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) rolled out MetroConnect - formerly known as GO Connect - to provide improved free service and even more connections to Miami-Dade Transit. 

Miami-Dade County said the MetroConnect expansion is important to the County’s commitment to the Better Bus SHIFTS into Gear plan, which is set to improve Metrobus service for more people with more frequency, as well as greater access to jobs and education throughout the County starting on Nov. 13.

“MetroConnect underscores our commitment to ensuring that every Miami-Dade resident experiences enhanced connectivity and convenience in their daily commutes,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This is an important piece of the puzzle to improve mobility and create the public transportation system our community needs and deserves.”

More About MetroConnect

The new MetroConnect zones will include North Dade, South Dade, Westchester, and the TransitWay. Additionally, MetroConnect will introduce other service enhancements designed to shorten trip times while serving more riders than ever before. 

“Launching GO Connect during the pandemic was a testament to our adaptability and resilience, and its success has been a shining example of what we can achieve even in challenging times,” said DTPW Director/CEO Eulois Cleckley. “With MetroConnect, we’re building on that success. We aim to expand our reach, ensuring that even more areas of our community experience the many benefits this innovative transportation solution has to offer.”

With a few taps on the MetroConnect app, riders can book a ride to be paired with others headed in the same direction. MetroConnect meets passengers wherever they are as long as it is within the service zone. The service includes vehicles with ADA accessibility. 

MetroConnect will retain its partnership with Transit Tech provider Via that has powered GO Connect since it first launched in October 2020.

Additionally, Via and DTPW are working together with May Mobility to include AVs in the Dadeland area later this fall.

May Mobility and Via have a proven track record of safely and efficiently operating AV public transit deployments across the U.S. 

Since its inception, the service has increased the community’s access to 57% more jobs within a 45-minute commute by connecting people to Miami-Dade Transit hubs. The average MetroConnect rider books 10 trips per month, and 65% report they do not have access to a car.

The MetroConnect expansion will also create efficiency-focused zone changes designed to reduce trip times while serving more riders per hour. This includes the existing Dadeland zone being split into two distinct North Dadeland and South Dadeland zones and the existing West Kendall zone being split into North Kendall and South Kendall zones.