In addition, approximately $48.5 million in FTA grant funding withheld due to the District, Maryland, and Virginia is now available
Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s $534 million proposal for rapid-bus routes would indefinitely defer the Metrorail expansion promised voters in 2002 during a referendum for a half-percent transportation tax.
When state inspectors visited Miami-Dade in late 2016, they concluded the county needed 84 working Metrorail cars a day but that mechanical problems left only 72 that could be deployed for service. State inspectors returned in late June and found Miami-Dade’s daily goal was to have only 60 Metrorail cars in service.
The cutbacks on Metrorail follow an announced plan to eliminate stops on some bus routes and contract out others to save money. Metrorail ridership is down about 6% this year, while bus boardings are down about 10%.
By expanding current rail systems, Miami-Dade could add about 30 miles of track for less than $4 billion, according to the latest estimate.
The service, part of the GM’s Customer Accountability Report initiatives, will be available for 45 days. After that time, the service will be suspended while the pilot program is evaluated.
Reported that it has conducted more than 100 inspections and directed millions in Federal funds to support safety priorities in its first six months of temporary safety oversight.
The unprecedented action follows the early Monday morning electrical fire involving a cable in the tunnel outside McPherson Square Station.
Installation of new fare gates, bus and parking payment targets for the pilot will begin in October. Metro will begin recruiting customers to participate in the pilot within a matter of weeks.
The funding includes $28 million for the purchase of four rail cars, which will double the capacity of the Red Line, allowing up to 2,400 additional passenger trips during morning and afternoon peak travel times.