The start date for Tri-Rail's new service to Downtown Miami has been set for this month. This announcement comes from the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which is responsible for Tri-Rail operations. The service will begin from the MiamiCentral station complex, located at 600 N.W. 1st Ave., on January 13.
Raquel Regalado, a Miami-Dade County commissioner and member of the SFRTA governing board, expressed excitement about the development. She highlighted the years of effort and collaboration with various partners in the region, acknowledging the significance of this advancement for passengers and supporters.
Initially, the service will involve a train-to-train transfer at the Metrorail Transfer Station in Hialeah, with a shuttle train connecting the South Florida Rail Corridor to the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway. This new route will facilitate direct travel to and from MiamiCentral. Currently, Tri-Rail riders heading downtown must transfer to a Metrorail train at Hialeah Station, which makes several stops before reaching downtown.
For the first two weeks, there will be six inbound and six outbound trains from MiamiCentral, with plans to gradually increase this number. Eventually, there will be a full schedule of 26 weekday trains.
The Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Link, a nine-mile track connecting to the Brightline station, was constructed with $70 million from federal, state, county, and City of Miami funds. This project faced delays due to safety, design, and logistics issues, pushing back its original 2017 start date.
Tri-Rail currently operates 18 stations between Miami International Airport and Mangonia Park in Palm Beach County. The new MiamiCentral stop is a step towards establishing affordable commuter service on the FEC tracks, potentially extending as far north as Jupiter. Preliminary sites for this expansion are being considered in areas ranging from Wynwood to North Miami Beach, with a station platform already built at Brightline's Aventura Station in Ojus.
However, to proceed, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties must finalize easement agreements with the Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline. A proposed agreement suggests that Miami-Dade taxpayers could pay up to $50 million, plus an annual track access fee, for 30 years to Brightline for access. Similar negotiations are underway with Broward and Palm Beach counties.
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