Miami-Dade County, Via enter new phase of on-demand transit with more zones, free fares, improved UX
October 2, 2023 (MIAMI-DADE COUNTY) — Miami-Dade County’s on-demand, shared ride service now has a new name – MetroConnect. Starting October 2, the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) will roll out MetroConnect - formerly known as GO Connect - to provide improved free service and even more connections to Miami-Dade Transit.
The MetroConnect expansion is integral to the County’s commitment to the Better Bus SHIFTS into Gear plan, which is set to improve Metrobus service for more people with more frequency, as well as greater access to jobs and education throughout the County starting on November 13, 2023.
“MetroConnect underscores our commitment to ensuring that every Miami-Dade resident experiences enhanced connectivity and convenience in their daily commutes,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This is an important piece of the puzzle to improve mobility and create the public transportation system our community needs and deserves.”
With MetroConnect, transit riders will still have access to the same convenient service they have come to know and love from GO Connect — but even better. The new MetroConnect zones will include North Dade, South Dade, Westchester, and the TransitWay. Additionally, MetroConnect will introduce other service enhancements designed to shorten trip times while serving more riders than ever before.
“Launching GO Connect during the pandemic was a testament to our adaptability and resilience, and its success has been a shining example of what we can achieve even in challenging times,” said DTPW Director and CEO Eulois Cleckley. “With MetroConnect, we’re building on that success. We aim to expand our reach, ensuring that even more areas of our community experience the many benefits this innovative transportation solution has to offer.”
MetroConnect makes it easy to access Miami-Dade Transit stations or nearby destinations within the service area. With a few taps on the MetroConnect app, riders can book a ride to be paired with others headed in the same direction. MetroConnect meets passengers wherever they are as long as it is within the service zone. The service includes vehicles with ADA accessibility.
With MetroConnect, riders will experience faster trip bookings, benefit from enhanced security features, and enjoy the ability to view transit connections to the entire Miami-Dade Transit system. MetroConnect will retain its partnership with Transit Tech provider Via that has powered GO Connect since it first launched in October 2020. Additionally, Via and DTPW are working together with May Mobility, a leader in the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles (AV) technology, to include AVs in the Dadeland area later this fall. May Mobility and Via have a proven track record of safely and efficiently operating AV public transit deployments across the U.S.
Since its inception, the service has increased the community’s access to 57% percent more jobs within a 45-minute commute by connecting people to Miami-Dade Transit hubs. The average MetroConnect rider books 10 trips per month, and 65% report they do not have access to a car.
Miami-Dade County is an innovator and a leader in using technology to address today's toughest transportation challenges," said Daniel Ramot, Co-Founder and CEO of Via. "As a long-standing partner, we are proud to see MetroConnect expand to serve even more members of the community and look forward to the continued success of the service as it unlocks new social and economic opportunities through better connectivity to the region's public transit network."
The MetroConnect expansion will also create efficiency-focused zone changes designed to reduce trip times while serving more riders per hour. This includes the existing Dadeland zone being split into two distinct North Dadeland and South Dadeland zones and the existing West Kendall zone being split into North Kendall and South Kendall zones.
Customer service information is available Monday - Friday 6:30 a.m. -7 p.m. by calling 786-321-5842.
For more on DTPW services, visit miamidade.gov/transit or download the GO Miami-Dade Transit app. Stay connected and follow DTPW on social media on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.
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About Via
Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech categoryby using new technologies to develop public mobility systems — optimizing networks of buses, shuttles, wheelchair accessible vehicles, school buses, autonomous vehicles, and electric vehicles around the globe. Building the world's most efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation network for all passengers — including those with limited mobility, those without smartphones, and unbanked populations — Via works with its partners to lower the costs of public transit while providing transportation options that rival the convenience of a personal car while reducing environmental impact. At the intersection of transportation and technology, Via is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with sophisticated service design and operational expertise to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, providing technology in 650 communities and more than 35 countries and counting.