LTC 452-2023 Miami-Dade County Better Bus Network – Discontinuation of Route 115
LTC #
Honorable Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
October 11, 2023
Miami-Dade County Better Bus Network – Discontinuation of Route 115
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (“LTC”) is to provide information on the upcoming
discontinuation of Route 115 as part of the Miami-Dade County (“County”) Better Bus Network.
The County’s Better Bus Network is a revamp of the regional bus service based on a
comprehensive countywide study conducted by the Miami-Dade County Department of
Transportation and Public Works (“DTPW”) in collaboration with Transit Alliance Miami, a non-
profit organization. The Better Bus study was initiated in June 2019 and approved, as amended,
by Resolution No. R-920-21 of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners (“BCC”)
on October 5, 2021. The Resolution authorized the implementation, by the County, of service
adjustments and route changes to the Better Bus Network. The County is planning to launch the
approved route changes on November 13, 2023. The changes include several new bus routes in
Miami Beach including routes 14, 15, 20, and 100 as well as improvements to service frequency.
As part of the upcoming changes, and based on the County’s analysis, the County will
discontinue Route 115 (Attachment A) due to historically low ridership (approximately 140 riders
per day) and low productivity. The County is introducing new routes, including Route 14 from
Omni Terminal in Miami to Mount Sinai Medical Center via the MacArthur Causeway, Alton Road,
South Pointe Drive, Washington Avenue, Collins Avenue, and 41 Street, which will somewhat
serve the areas affected by the discontinuation of Route 115. Details and maps of the County-
approved route changes to be implemented as part of the County’s Better Bus Network can be
found here: (Better Bus SHIFTS Into Gear (miamidade.gov).
Based on the County’s assessment, frequency and reliability of County bus service in Miami
Beach is expected to improve overall as a result of the Better Bus Network. However, the City
Administration initially and consistently expressed a few concerns with the plan, as originally
proposed by the County, including loss of County bus service in the South of Fifth neighborhood
and the elimination of Route 115 without providing an alternative transit service for the affected
communities, such as an on-demand service.
At the September 17, 2021 City Commission meeting, the City Commission discussed the Better
Bus Network, and, in particular, the City Administration’s outstanding concerns with the plan as
proposed at that time. The City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2021-31866 (Attachment B)
on September 17, 2021, which urged the County to 1) provide reliable transit service in the South
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2889F3F2-4896-45FF-8D60-2485EA617595
of Fifth neighborhood; 2) provide on-demand transit service in lieu of Route 115; and 3) closely
coordinate with City officials any consolidation of bus stops in the City. On September 24, 2021,
the City Clerk transmitted a copy of City Commission Resolution No. 2021-31866 to Miami-Dade
County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, the members of the Miami-Dade Board of County
Commissioners, and the Director and Chief Executive Officer of DTPW.
Following approval of BCC Resolution No. R-920-21 in October 2021, the County experienced
challenges with implementing the amended Better Bus Network countywide. Accordingly, the
County proposed a series of service adjustments to implement the majority of the network in or
after November 2023. On July 6, 2023, the BCC authorized, via Resolution No. R-607-23,
implementation of the bus service adjustments set forth in the revised Better Bus Network. As a
result of the City Administration’s advocacy and collaboration with DTPW, the County agreed to
maintain bus service in the South of Fifth neighborhood as well as Route 150/Airport Express
service, which were originally slated to be eliminated. With regard to Route 115, however, the
County has remained steadfast in its plans to discontinue the route.
To help mitigate the impact of the County’s upcoming discontinuation of Route 115 and provide
a suitable public transit option to the affected customers, City staff has been working with DTPW
on a plan to augment the City’s Freebee on-demand service in the affected area. The enhanced
Freebee service would be funded by the County through an Interlocal Agreement with the City.
After an evaluation of alternatives, the City Administration believes enhancing the current Freebee
service can more efficiently serve the historically low transit demand in the area and provide direct
service to Mount Sinai Medical Center. The details of the enhanced Freebee service are currently
being developed between City and DTPW staff. In addition, pending further correspondence from
DTPW, the City Administration anticipates including an item on the October 18, 2023 City
Commission meeting agenda to obtain authorization to implement the enhanced Freebee service
concurrently with the County’s discontinuation of Route 115 as part of the upcoming launch of the
Better Bus Network on November 13, 2023, so as to provide uninterrupted public transit services
to the affected community.
The County has advised that it is in the process of providing information to riders and drafting and
disseminating notifications, newsletters, and e-blasts with all forthcoming changes to its bus
routes and other relevant Better Bus Network information. Once the collateral is received from
the County, the City’s Marketing and Communications Department will assist with disseminating
the information to our community.
If you have any questions, please contact José R. González, P.E., Transportation and Mobility
Department Director.
Attachments:
A: Map of Route 115
B: City Commission Resolution No. 2021-31866
ATH/RW/JRG
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miamidade.gov/transit 311 or 305.468.5900 TTY/Fla Relay: 711
@GoMiamiDade GO Miami-Dade Transit
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miamidade.gov/transit 311 or 305.468.5900 TTY/Fla Relay: 711
@GoMiamiDade GO Miami-Dade TransitMID-NORTH BEACH CONNECTION115
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5
WEEKDAYS | ENTRE SEMANA | LASEMÈN
SOUTHBOUND
RUMBO SUR
DIREKSYON SID
MORNING
MAÑANA / MATIN
AFTERNOON
TARDE | APREMIDI
Collins Ave & 87 St 7:20 8:10 9:00 9:50 10:40 11:30 12:20 1:10 2:00 2:50 3:40 4:30 5:20 6:10 7:00
Abbott Ave & 69 St 7:34 8:24 9:12 10:02 10:52 11:42 12:32 1:22 2:12 3:02 3:52 4:42 5:32 6:22 7:12
Mt Sinai Hospital 7:47 8:37 9:25 10:15 11:05 11:55 12:45 1:35 2:25 3:15 4:05 4:55 5:45 6:35 7:22
Lincoln & Washington 8:04 8:54 9:44 10:34 11:24 12:14 1:04 1:54 2:44 3:34 4:24 5:14 6:04 6:54 7:37
WEEKENDS | FINES DE SEMANA | WIKENN
SOUTHBOUND
RUMBO SUR
DIREKSYON SID
MORNING
MAÑANA / MATIN
AFTERNOON
TARDE | APREMIDI
Collins Ave & 87 St 7:20 8:10 9:00 9:50 10:40 11:30 12:20 1:10 2:00 2:50 3:40 4:30 5:20 6:10 7:00
Abbott Ave & 69 St 7:30 8:20 9:11 10:01 10:51 11:41 12:31 1:21 2:11 3:01 3:51 4:41 5:31 6:21 7:10
Mt Sinai Hospital 7:40 8:30 9:22 10:12 11:02 11:52 12:42 1:32 2:22 3:12 4:02 4:52 5:42 6:32 7:20
Lincoln & Washington 7:54 8:44 9:38 10:28 11:18 12:08 12:58 1:48 2:38 3:28 4:18 5:08 5:58 6:48 7:33
NORTHBOUND
RUMBO NORTE
DIREKSYON NÒ
MORNING
MAÑANA | MATIN
AFTERNOON
TARDE | APREMIDI
Lincoln & Washington 8:06 8:56 9:46 10:36 11:26 12:16 1:06 1:56 2:46 3:36 4:26 5:16 6:06 6:56
Mt Sinai Hospital 8:21 9:11 10:00 10:50 11:40 12:30 1:20 2:10 3:00 3:50 4:40 5:30 6:20 7:10
Collins Ave & 69 St 8:35 9:25 10:14 11:04 11:54 12:44 1:34 2:24 3:14 4:04 4:54 5:44 6:34 7:22
Collins Ave & 87 St 8:51 9:41 10:30 11:20 12:10 1:00 1:50 2:40 3:30 4:19 5:09 5:59 6:49 7:37
NORTHBOUND
RUMBO NORTE
DIREKSYON NÒ
MORNING
MAÑANA | MATIN
AFTERNOON
TARDE | APREMIDI
Lincoln & Washington 7:56 8:46 9:40 10:30 11:20 12:10 1:00 1:50 2:40 3:30 4:20 5:10 6:00 6:50
Mt Sinai Hospital 8:08 8:58 9:52 10:42 11:32 12:22 1:12 2:02 2:52 3:42 4:32 5:22 6:12 7:02
Collins Ave & 69 St 8:20 9:11 10:05 10:55 11:49 12:35 1:25 2:15 3:05 3:55 4:46 5:36 6:26 7:13
Collins Ave & 87 St 8:34 9:25 10:19 11:09 11:59 12:49 1:39 2:29 3:19 4:09 5:00 5:50 6:40 7:25
AM
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Scheduled times are approximate. Actual arrival and departure times may vary depending on traffic and road conditions.
Las horas publicadas son aproximadas, pues dependen del trafico y otras condiciones de las vias. Ore yo apwoksimatif. Vre le bis yo ap rive oswa deplase ka varye selon kondisyon sikilasyon sou wout yo.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2889F3F2-4896-45FF-8D60-2485EA617595
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2889F3F2-4896-45FF-8D60-2485EA617595
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2889F3F2-4896-45FF-8D60-2485EA617595