South Florida’s Central Station Kicks Off

By Georgiana Mihaila, Associate Editor

Tuesday, September 27 marked the construction start for the first complete transportation hub in South Florida—work began on the Miami Central Station. Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad joined local officials and representatives of Amtrak, Greyhound, Miami-Dade Transit Metrorail and Metrobus, and Tri-Rail for the “shoveling of dirt” ceremony that marked the beginning of the final component of the massive $2 billion Miami Intermodal Center Program.

Rendering of the Miami Central Station, Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation, MIC Program

With the completion date set for 2013, the Miami Central Station calls for a $147 million investment; it aims at providing choices for travelers at a safe, centralized location and a first-ever linkage between all forms of ground transportation in South Florida, connecting them to Miami International Airport via the recently opened MIA Mover train. The MIA Mover, opened September 8, is the elevated platform that will transport travelers from the airport terminal to the rental car center; traveling 1.25 miles from the third floor of the airport terminal, across LeJeune Road to the MIA Car Center, the mover can transport up to 3,000 passengers per hour in its eight train cars. According to the South Florida Business Journal, Metrorail will also connect to the station via the 2.4-mile AirportLink extension that is to be completed in April 2012.

Set to become a major transfer point between rail and bus services alike, the Miami Central Station will be offering connections to courtesy shuttle services, taxis and private vehicles, while also accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians.