Proposal for Miami-Dade County public buses raises concerns among riders
MIAMI - Miami-Dade County Commissioners will host a public hearing Thursday on the budget proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal year submitted by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Part of the plan moves $11.2 million.
Mayor Levine Cava's office did not immediately respond to emails or calls seeking comment. However, the mayor's staff sent a statement Thursday. They also said 36 jobs would remain within the department and nearly $11 million shifted to a different line item in the budget for administrative reasons but would remain in the transit department's budget.
"Transit has been one of the priorities in my proposed budget every year since the beginning of my administration, and this year is no different," Mayor Levine Cava said in a statement Thursday. "Despite confronting a challenging year as the county faces one of the largest transformations in its history, our proposed budget for the next fiscal year makes important investments that allow the continuation of our SMART Program and the building of our five transit corridors. The budget also maintains $11 million for operations and maintenance to ensure the continuation of our services to a growing number of transit riders in our community. We look forward to a continued collaboration with advocates like Transit Alliance Miami to keep building the public system our residents deserve."
"What we're concerned about with the budget is that we need more resources to address those concerns that the community has addressed to us directly," Mark Merwitzer, associate director for Transit Alliance Miami, said.
The non-profit works to secure faster, more reliable transit. Over the last six months, as the county rolled out its "Better Bus Network," which aims to deliver more routes to more people, Transit Alliance Miami surveyed 1,000 passengers. On-time delivery is a problem for them, Merwitzer said.
"It's not just with this administration, but it's been suffering for very, very long for our bus passengers," Merwitzer said. "Buses getting delayed, equipment challenges; a lot of operators are calling out sick and also just in general when there's a shortage of both buses, parts, and operators (demonstrates that) the county needs more."
Ashley Betancourt lost her car in a crash two months ago. While she works downtown to earn and save money for repairs, the Miami-Dade College biology student dreaming of becoming a doctor depends on Metrobuses to carry her to class on time. She is 30 minutes too late too often, Betancourt said.
"It's awful," she said. "Sometimes my mom comes and picks me up. The other times I have to wait."
Merwitzer encouraged riders who feel the same to share their concern during the Miami-Dade County Commission Public Budget Hearing Thursday.
