Best Way To Get To The Parade Of Champions
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Thousands of people are expected in downtown Miami for Monday's Parade of Champions featuring the NBA's 2012 champs - our very own Miami Heat.
Everything starts at the corner of SW 8th Street & 2nd Avenue at 11 a.m. The parade then moves east on 8th Street, then north on Brickell Avenue across the bridge and north on Biscayne Boulevard into the AmericanAirlines Arena via NE 8th Street.
At 12:30 p.m., the team will go inside the AAA for the private party for season ticket holders only.
COMPLETE COVERAGE: MIAMI HEAT NBA CHAMPIONS
For those planning to go, parking downtown will be a real challenge. The City of Miami announced that the following parking lots opened at 7 a.m. on Monday for parade-goers:
- Along Biscayne Boulevard, between N.E. 4th and 1st Streets, Lot 19 ($20)
- Chopin Plaza, area of Hotel InterContinental Miami, Lot 20 ($20)
- Old Port Boulevard, adjacent to north side of Bayside Marketplace, Lot 301 ($20)
- Adrienne Arsht Center, off N.E. 13th Street and 2nd Avenue, Lot C ($20)
- College Station Garage, off N.E. 3rd Street and 2nd Avenue, Garage 3 ($15)
The best way to get to the parade route will be to use mass transit. To handle the increased demand, the City of Miami has issued a revised transit schedule.
Metrorail Service:
- Trains will run every 15 minutes, but service will be supplemented with additional trains to facilitate travel to the celebration. Patrons are encouraged to use the web-based 'Train Tracker' service to see when the next trains will be approaching their station.
Metromover Service:
- Metromover will be running frequent service with two-car trains on the Inner, Brickell and Omni loops.
Paying Metrorail fare:
- At select Metrorail stations, one faregate will be designated as an 'express pay' lane where passengers can drop $2 in a cash box to pay for a one-way trip on Metrorail without having to use an EASY Card or EASY Ticket. Parking at a Metrorail station is $4 per day.
An 'express pay' lane will be available at the following stations from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.:
- Dadeland South
- Dadeland North
- South Miami
- Tri-Rail (transfer station)
- Hialeah
- Okeechobee
And at the following stations, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for the return trip from the parade:
- Brickell
- Government Center
If using an 'express pay' lane, parade-bound patrons are asked to bring the exact fare in cash as no change will be provided. No receipts or transfers will be issued, and all those using cash to pay their fare will receive assistance to exit at the Government Center and Brickell stations where they can transfer free to Metromover.
Patrons can exit at the following Metromover stations to reach the various parade locations:
- Brickell
- Eighth Street
- Fifth Street
- Bayfront Park
- College/Bayside
To reach the American Airlines Arena:
- Freedom Tower
- Park West
Patrons who have a 1-Month EASY Card, or a loaded EASY Card or EASY Ticket, can still use their cards or tickets to pay for their Metrorail fare at the regular faregates. Patrons who need to transfer to Metrobus will need to use an EASY Card or EASY Ticket to pay for their bus transfer.
Due to road closures in the downtown Miami and Brickell areas, several Metrobus routes will be detoured, including routes 3, 11, 77, C and S.
For more information on the enhanced Metrorail and Metromover service, or on the Metrobus routes being detoured, patrons can call 305-891-3131, weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. TTY users can call 305-499-8971.
Transit patrons are also encouraged to visit www.miamidade.gov/transit, or download the free iPhone app 'Miami-Dade Transit Tracker'.
