South Dade TransitWay

Service began on February 3, 1997, on an 8.3-mile (13.4 km) segment between Dadeland South station of Metrorail and Southplace Mall (then Cutler Ridge Mall).^[3] The busway was constructed parallel to U.S. Route 1 (South Dixie Highway) on a former Florida East Coast Railway right-of-way by the Florida Department of Transportation at a cost of US$21 million (equivalent to $42.1 million in 2025), after purchasing the land from the Florida East Coast Railway in 1988 for $35.8 million (equivalent to $97.5 million in 2025).^[4] The line included two park-and-ride lots at Cutler Ridge Mall and Southwest 152nd Street and incorporated traffic signal preemption.^[5][6] Despite these measures, buses had to slow to 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) after more than 100 accidents involving transit buses, including four fatalities. End-to-end travel times still reached as little as 25 minutes, matching the fastest speeds of cars on the parallel highway.^[7] The corridor was served by a mix of local and express Metrobus routes.^[6]

The line was extended 5 miles (8.0 km) to Southwest 264th Street on April 24, 2005,^[7] and the final 6.5-mile (10.5 km) southern extension to Southwest 344th Street in Florida City opened on December 16, 2007.^[8] Several park-and-ride lots were added, and the total budget for the 11.5-mile extension was approximately $105 million.^[7]

In 2018, under the administration of then–Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez, the county opted to upgrade the corridor to a bus rapid transit (BRT) system rather than pursue a rail extension, citing ridership levels considered insufficient to justify rail and the high cost of constructing a rail guideway.^[9] The decision drew criticism from residents who favored rail-based transit.^[10] Construction of the South Dade TransitWay reconstruction project, including new BRT stations and supporting infrastructure, began in early 2021 under the Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works^[11] and was completed on October 27, 2025, at a total cost of approximately US$368 million.^[12] The rebuilt corridor was designed to reduce peak-period commuting times—northbound in the mornings and southbound in the afternoons—by roughly half compared with automobile travel on U.S. Route 1.^[10]

In the early months of Metro Express service, some riders reported that buses still stopped frequently at traffic signals despite the preemption system,^[13] and nearby residents noted that the crossing gate arms, caused delays of 10–15 minutes for vehicles entering U.S. Route 1.^[14] The Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works implemented a 90-day "optimization" period to refine operations, signal timing, and overall system performance.^[13]

A 10-foot-wide (3.0 m) shared-use path called the South Dade Trail runs the length of the South Dade TransitWay, providing a continuous north–south corridor for cyclists and pedestrians. While a more basic "side path" for bicycles existed alongside the original busway, it was significantly upgraded as part of the TransitWay reconstruction project, including new paving, landscaped areas, and the addition of shade trees.^[27]

At the north end of the TransitWay corridor, the South Dade Trail connects to the MetroPath, a 10-mile-long (16 km) shared-use path heading north to Brickell, which is scheduled to be fully converted into a linear park called The Underline in 2026.

Each bus rapid transit station includes designated bicycle amenities, including standard bike racks and a self-service bicycle repair stand. Stations also feature a separate secured bicycle storage area, along with designated parking for shared bicycles and electric scooters. In addition, TransitWay buses are equipped with two interior bicycle racks.^[27]