LTC 506-2023 MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BETTER BUS NETWORK DISCONTINUATION ROUTE 115 - UPDATE #2 (EXPANSION OF THE FREEBEE ON-DEMAND TRANSIT SERVICE)
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Honorable Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE: November 13, 2023
SUBJECT: MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BETTER BUS NETWORK DISCONTINUATION
ROUTE 115 - UPDATE #2 (EXPANSION OF THE FREEBEE ON-DEMAND
TRANSIT SERVICE)
The purpose of this Letter To Commission (“LTC”) is to report on the newly implemented
expansion of the City of Miami Beach (“City”) Freebee On-Demand Transit Service to mitigate the
discontinuation of Miami-Dade County (“County”) Bus Route 115 as part of the County’s Better
Bus Network.
As noted in LTC #452-2023 dated October 11, 2023, effective November 13, 2023, the County
launched the Better Bus Network, which marks the largest overhaul of countywide bus service in
County history. The Better Bus Network includes changes to bus routes in the City which are
expected to result in increased service frequency. As part of the changes, the County
discontinued Route 115, which historically served the North Beach and Mid Beach communities
with a direct connection to Mount Sinai Medical Center. The County’s decision to eliminate Route
115 was based on a comprehensive analysis highlighting historically low ridership and productivity
along the route.
I am pleased to report that on November 13, 2023, pursuant to City of Miami Beach Resolution
No. 2023-32821 (Attachment A), adopted by the City Commission on October 18, 2023, the City
launched an expanded Freebee on-demand transit service to mitigate the impact of the County’s
discontinuation of Route 115 on the North Beach community. City staff worked with the County to
fund (at the County’s cost) the operation of one (1) additional Tesla X SUV vehicle as part of the
City’s Freebee on-demand transit service and expand the service area to serve the portion of
North Beach previously served by Route 115 (Attachment B). The County’s pledge to fund the
expanded service will be formalized via a forthcoming Interlocal Agreement.
This expansion demonstrates the City’s continued commitment to providing convenient,
accessible, and efficient public transportation options to our residents, workforce, and visitors.
City staff installed signage (Attachment C) at each of the affected bus stops along Route 115 in
North Beach to notify riders of the expanded Freebee on-demand transit service. In addition, City
staff issued an official email notification to all registered emails on Constant Contact (Attachment
D).
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The City will work with Freebee to monitor the new expanded service and make adjustments as
necessary to meet passenger demand. Customers can request a free Freebee ride by calling
855.918.3773 or through the Ride Freebee mobile app. For more information, visit
www.mbfreebee.com.
As part of the Better Bus Network, the County is introducing new bus routes, including Route 14,
which will partially serve areas in South Beach and Mid-Beach affected by the discontinuation of
Route 115. Additionally, new routes 15, 20, and 100, among others, will provide transit options
for the South Beach, Mid-Beach, and North Beach communities. For more information on the
County’s Better Bus Network, including all new routes in Miami Beach, please visit
miamidade.gov/BetterBus.
Please feel free to contact José R. González, P.E., Transportation and Mobility Department
Director, if you have any questions or concerns.
Attachments
A: City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2023-32821
B: Map of Expanded Freebee On-Demand Transit Service Area
C: Rider Notice Bus Stop Sign
D: Official City of Miami Beach E-mail Notification
ATH/RW/JRG
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