On-demand public transit use rises, service expands

Miami-Dade County’s GO Connect on-demand public transit services are now averaging 8,000 riders per month and have exceeded 77,000 riders since their October 2020 inception.

The ridership has grown significantly in recentt months with more than 30% of pickup/drop-off locations at transit stations, according to the county’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW).

The first GO Connect area was in Dadeland. New zones were phased in, adding the West Kendall and Civic Center areas as well as Cutler Bay. The department has also expanded service areas to Douglas Road Metrorail, the University of Miami and Baptist Hospital.

With a fleet of four GO Connect minivans, Cutler Bay was the most frequent pickup/drop-off location with 3,700 average monthly riders and 200 average daily riders as of May, said Luis Espinoza, special projects administrator for the department.

In November, GO Connect had had about 34,500 rides since beginning service and an average ridership service of over 5,000 rides monthly.

In partnership with Via Transportation, the county is using the app technology to expand access to public transit countywide, alleviating congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving affordable mobility options without the need for a private vehicle.

GO Connect app’s main functionality is to connect Miami-Dade riders to public transit hubs for $2.25, which is equal to a public bus fare, Mr. Espinoza added. The app extends the existing mass transit infrastructure while providing flexible and affordable mobility when and where passengers need to go.