Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Miami > Metrorail

Miami, Florida: Metrorail

Description

Miami-Dade County Transit operates Metrorail, a standard modern "heavy-rail" rapid transit line which runs mostly on elevated tracks. A single 22.5-mile line starts at the Palmetto station in Medley in the northwest, zigzags to downtown Miami, and finally follows Dixie Highway (US 1) to the Dadeland South station in the southwest. Downtown Miami has only one station, Government Center, at which passengers transfer to the Metromover to reach other parts of the downtown area. Most of the line opened in stages during 1984-85. A 1.5-mile extension westward from Okeechobee to Palmetto opened on 30 May 2003.

Passengers may transfer to the Tri-Rail commuter rail line to West Palm Beach at the Tri-Rail/Metrorail Transfer station, near the Hialeah end of the Metrorail.

In November 2002, Miami-Dade voters approved a half-cent sales tax to provide funding for public-transportation improvements. A Metrorail extension northward along 27th Avenue to the county line is now in the engineering design stage. A second extension to the proposed Miami Intermodal Center near the airport is in the planning stage. Other extensions are being considered.

Other Sites

Pictures

[R] indicates pictures that I have re-scanned from film beginning in 2006.

[picture] A "northbound" (actually westbound) train approaches the Tri-Rail transfer station, in a view from the end of the station platform. Here Metrorail runs above the median of N.W. 79th Street. The Northside station is visible in the distance. (December 1998)

[R] [picture] The Government Center station in downtown Miami, in a view from the State Plaza Metromover station. Metrorail trains use the upper level, Metromover cars use the lower level. (June 1993; scanned March 2006)

[picture] A closer view of the Government Center station, from the courthouse across the street. (December 2000)

[picture] South of the Government Center station, the Metrorail and Metromover elevated structures meet in a tangle of concrete, with a Metrorail train on top. (December 2000)

[picture] South of Government Center, Metrorail crosses the Miami River on a high bridge. (December 2000)

[picture] Looking north from the Brickell station platform, we see a departing train starting to climb towards the Miami River bridge. (December 2000)

[picture] A northbound train at the Douglas Road station, in a view from ground level. (December 1998)

[R] [picture] A southbound train approaches the University station, in a view from the end of the platform. (June 1993; scanned March 2006)

[R] [picture] Passengers wait to board a train at the University station. (June 1993; scanned March 2006)

[picture] A northbound train approaches the Dadeland North station, in a view from ground level on the other side of South Dixie Highway. The large building is a parking structure. (December 1998)

[picture] The southern end of the Metrorail line, a few hundred yards past the Dadeland South station, in a view looking up the tracks through the fence at the end. A couple of extra trains are waiting on storage tracks. (December 1998)

[picture] The South Dade Busway begins at Dadeland South and extends south to Cutler Ridge. This bus is a short distance from Dadeland South. (December 1998)

This page was last updated on 23 May 2005, and reviewed on 1 December 2007.

Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Miami > Metrorail

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