The Miami Metrorail, a 39.2 kilometre dual-line system with 23 stations, opened in 1984. Depending on the day, service begins between 5 and 6 a.m. and ends between 11 and 12 p.m. Metrorail provides connections to Metrobus, Metromover and Tri-Rail. Tickets cost $2.25, with a variety of fares available for regular users. Metrorail’s Orange Line conveniently serves Miami International Airport.
Commonly referred to as ‘Metrorail’, this transit system serves approximately 49,300 passengers per day. The fare for a single trip is $1.66. However, the Metrorail does not operate on a 24-hour schedule. The trains are air-conditioned for passenger comfort. Unfortunately, passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms. The Metrorail has been using driverless trains since 1986, specifically a downtown people mover with rubber tyres. The platforms do not have screen doors.
The Metrorail has an average speed of 106 km/h and is operated by Miami-Dade Transit. It operates from 5am to midnight, Monday to Sunday. The fare is $2. For more information, visit the Miami Metro Official Website.
Miami Metro Map
Map of Miami Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it.
Metros in the United States: Miami Subway
Miami is a cosmopolitan, multicultural and tropical city, often described as extravagant. Ranked as one of the seven most important cities in the United States, Miami offers locals and tourists alike a wide range of activities, from theatre productions and nightclubs to concerts featuring popular artists.
Approximately 5.5 million people live in the metropolitan area. As with most large cities, the pace of life is fast, and long distances often separate key locations. Miami is widely recognised as the ‘capital of Latin America’ due to its large Hispanic population. This population density has led to an enormous demand for mobility. In response, in 1971 the city council recommended the construction of a comprehensive transport system to meet the needs of its citizens.
However, construction didn’t begin until 1980, after the proposal had been reviewed and approved by the relevant authorities. Three years later, the first section of the Metrorail, consisting of 10 stations, was completed. However, commercial operation didn’t begin until 1984. The service was free on the first day of operation. The system was designed to serve Miami’s suburbs, encouraging people to park their cars at the various stations and use the trains, which is why many of the stations have large car parks.
Today, the system carries more than 70,000 passengers daily on its two lines, traversing the city from north to south and connecting with several other modes of transportation at central points. The Metromover monorail has become an iconic feature of the city and has been featured in numerous films and television shows set in the city.
Lines and Stations
With a total length of 39.2 kilometres, Metrorail serves the area from the village of Medley in the north of Miami-Dade County to the Kendall district in the south of the city. It consists of two commercial lines, the Green and the Orange, with a total of 23 stations. Both lines share 15 stations from the Dadeland South Station terminal to the Earlington Heights station, where the Orange line turns west towards the city’s airport, while the Green line continues north.
Stations
Dadeland South Station: Opened on 20 May 1984, this station is located at the intersection of Dadeland Boulevard and Datran Boulevard, about three blocks from the Dadeland Mall. Both the Green and Orange lines serve this station.
Dadeland North Station: Opened on 20 May 1984, this station is located in the Dadeland area, specifically at the intersection of South Dixie Highway and Southwest 83rd Street, two blocks from Kendall Drive. Both the Green and Orange lines serve this stop.
South Miami Station: Opened on 20 May 1984, this station is located at the intersection of South Dixie Highway and Sunset Drive in South Miami, two blocks from Red Road. Both subway lines serve this station.
University Station: This station is located in the Coral Gables neighbourhood, south of Miami, on Ponce de León Boulevard, just between South Dixie Highway and Mariposa Court. It opened on 20 May 1984 and serves both lines of the system.
Douglas Road Station: Opened on 20 May 1984, this station is located southwest of Coconut Grove, between Douglas Road and South Dixie Highway, just three blocks from Bird Road. Both the Green and Orange lines serve this station.
Coconut Grove Station: This station serves residents of the Coconut Grove neighbourhood. It’s located on Grapeland Boulevard between South Dixie Highway and West 27th Avenue. It opened on 20 May 1984 and is served by both Metrorail lines.
Vizcaya Station: Opened on 20 May 1984, this station is located in The Roads neighbourhood between Southwest First Avenue and 32nd Road Street. Both the Orange and Green lines serve this station.
Brickell Station: Opened on 26 May 1994, this station serves the Brickell financial district in central Miami, between SW 1st Avenue and SE 11th Street. Both the Green and Orange lines serve this station.
Government Center Station: Opened on 20 May 1984, this station serves the Government Center district in downtown Miami. It’s located at the intersection of Northwest First Street and First Avenue and is served by both lines of the system.
Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre Station: Also located downtown, this station opened on 20 May 1984. It’s located between Northwest Sixth Street and First Avenue, just south of the Overtown neighbourhood. It’s served by both the Green and Orange lines.
Culmer Station: This station serves residents of the Spring Garden neighbourhood and is located between Northwest 11th Street and Seventh Avenue. It opened on 17 December 1984 and is served by both lines in the system.
Civic Center Station: Opened on 17 December 1984, this station serves the Health District and is located between Northwest 12th Avenue and 15th Street, with service from both the Green and Orange lines.
Santa Clara Station: Established on 17 December 1984 to serve the residential neighbourhood of Allapattah. The station is located between Northwest 12th Avenue and 20th Street and is served by both Metrorail lines.
Allapattah Station: This station, which also serves the Allapattah neighbourhood, opened on 17 December 1984. Both subway lines serve this station, which is located between Northwest 12th Avenue and 36th Street.
Earlington Heights Station: Located in the Brownsville neighbourhood, this station became operational in July 2012. It’s on Northwest 21st Avenue at the intersection with the Airport Expressway. It is the last station served by both lines.
Miami Airport Station: This is one of the newest stations on the system and serves not only the metro but also numerous bus routes. Located on West 37th Avenue near Northwest 21st Street, it’s served exclusively by the Orange Line and also serves as the terminal station. It has been in operation since 28 July 2012.
Brownsville Station: This station serves the Brownsville neighbourhood and is located at the intersection of Northwest 27th Avenue and 52nd Street. It is served exclusively by the Green Line and opened on 19 May 1985.
Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza Station: Opened on 19 May 1985, this station serves the Gladeview neighbourhood and is located between West 27th Avenue and North 62nd Street. It is served exclusively by the Green Line.
Northside Station: Located between the Gladeview and West Little River neighbourhoods at Northwest 31st Avenue and 79th Street, this Green Line station opened on 18 May 1985.
Tri-Rail and Metrorail Transfer Station: This station serves the Hialeah area and is located at East 25th Street and 11th Avenue. It is served by the Green Line and opened on 5 June 1989.
Hialeah Station: Also serving the Hialeah area, this station is located between East First Avenue and 21st Street, just south of the Hialeah Park Race Track complex. Only the Green Line operates from this station, which opened on 19 May 1985.
Okeechobee Station: Located in Medley, between Northwest 77th Street and 79th Avenue, this is the terminus for the Green Line and opened on 30 May 2003.
Operating Hours and Connections
The Miami Metro system operates Monday through Sunday with the following schedule:
- From Monday to Thursday, the system operates from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm.
- On Fridays, the system starts at 5:00 a.m. and provides continuous service until midnight.
- On Saturdays, services are available from 6:00 am to midnight.
- On Sundays, services run from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
In addition, Metrorail provides connections to Metrobus (bus lines serving areas near stations) at all stops. It also connects with the Metromover and the Tri-Rail. The Metrorail connects to the Metromover at Brickell Station via a transfer to the Brickell Loop line. It connects with the Inner Loop, Brickell Loop and Omni Loop lines of the Metromover at the Government Center station, located in downtown. The Tri-Rail connection is at the Tri-Rail and Metrorail station, which serves outlying areas in north Miami.
Fares
To use Metrorail, passengers must obtain an EASY Card, which costs $2, or an Easy Ticket pass. Both can be purchased from vending machines at each station, at authorised sales locations or at the Miami Transportation Services Center. The ticket and card have different sales methods, although the ticket is not rechargeable. The standard fare for the metro is $2.25, but there are several attractive special fares for frequent users. They are classified as follows:
- 1-Day Pass: Allows unlimited travel for one full day for $5.65, available for purchase any day of the month.
- 7-Day Pass: Offers seven days of unlimited travel from the first day of use for $29.25.
- 1-Month Pass: Provides unlimited travel for a full month, expiring on the last day of the month regardless of the date of purchase. This pass cannot be purchased between the 11th and 20th of the month. It costs $112.50.
- 1 Month + Parking: Similar to the 1-Month Pass, but includes parking at any station. It costs $123.75.
- College EASY Ticket: Full-time college students can receive a 50% monthly discount off the final price, reducing the cost to $56.25 instead of $112.50.
- K-12 EASY Card: Designed for high school students in Miami-Dade County, this programme offers a 50% discount on all trips and payment plans offered by the company that operates Metrorail. Children under 12 travel free.
- Golden Passport EASY Card: Any Miami-Dade County resident over the age of 65 can ride the subway and Metrobus system for free. This card is valid for 20 years and can be renewed.
- Patriot Passport EASY Card: This programme offers retired military personnel living in Miami-Dade County with combat-related disabilities free rides on the Metrorail and Metrobus systems.
- STS EASY Card: This special transportation service allows people with disabilities to access exclusive services, such as vans that can take them directly to their homes. Each trip on these special services costs $3.50, but travel on the subway is free.
Regulations
- Passengers must wear shoes and shirts at all times.
- Personal belongings or passengers’ limbs must not obstruct the aisles or trains.
- Blind passengers should inform metro staff of their destination for assistance.
- Running on platforms is strictly prohibited.
- Bicycles may be transported on Metrorail provided they are carried in the last car of each train.
- Personal music players must be used with headphones to avoid disturbing other passengers.
- Smoking is prohibited in all Metrorail facilities, including trains and stations.
- The use of illegal substances in Metrorail facilities is strictly prohibited.
- Graffiti, scratching or other damage to Metrorail facilities is punishable by law.
- Animals may be carried provided they are kept in their appropriate cages or containers.
- Unauthorised handling of personnel equipment is prohibited.
- Improper use of emergency equipment will result in a fine.
- It is strictly forbidden to interfere with the closing of train doors.
- Passengers should wait for the train to stop before approaching.
- Abusing or assaulting other passengers in any way, either physically or verbally, is strictly forbidden.
- The use of pyrotechnics is not permitted within the facilities of the system.
Airport Connections
The Miami metro provides a direct link to Miami International Airport. From downtown, simply take the Orange Line northbound. After approximately 16 minutes, passengers will arrive at the final station, Miami Airport Station, which offers a direct transfer to the airport.
Conversely, to travel downtown by metro, passengers simply need to buy a ticket at the station’s ticket machines and board the Orange Line. This line connects with the Green Line and the Metromover. It is important to note that several Metrobus routes also run from the station, complementing the train service.
Future Expansions
The Miami metro was designed with the intention of continually expanding its lines. Some proposed extensions include
Biscayne Corridor/Northeast: This 21.9 kilometre line aims to connect the city centre with the Aventura area.
East-West Corridor: This 27.7 kilometre route will connect downtown with the Port of Miami to the east and the Florida International University campus to the west.
A 34-kilometre extension of the Green Line south to Florida City.
The Kendall Corridor, a 24-kilometre route linking Dadeland North Station to the West Kendall neighbourhood.
Currently, city officials are prioritising the Orange Line extension, with plans to connect all extensions by 2030, depending on federal funding.
Nearby Tourist Attractions
Near Vizcaya Station is the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, a major museum, planetarium and aquarium in the city of Miami. It opened in 1949 as the Junior Museum of Miami. Its exhibits initially consisted of items donated by local citizens and others provided by the University of Florida. Renamed the Museum of Science and Natural History in 1952, it moved to a new location and underwent a final name change in 2015. It is a perfect destination for science and space enthusiasts.
Near Government Center Station, visitors can explore the Miami History Museum. This 70,000 square foot complex houses over a million historical images and thousands of artefacts from the 17th and 18th centuries. It is considered the most important history museum in South Florida. Permanent exhibits include the famous ‘Tropical Dreams: A People’s History of South Florida’, a historical journey through the communities that shaped the southern state of the American Union. This includes the earliest native settlements, the Spanish conquest, World War II and other major events. Located in downtown Miami, this is an ideal venue for history buffs.
