Miami-Dade County's proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget would cut 12 Metrobus routes serving roughly 4,400 weekday riders and redirect a dedicated rail expansion reserve toward day-to-day transit operations, raising alarm among transit advocates about the long-term future of regional rail growth.

Which bus routes would Miami-Dade eliminate under this budget?

The proposed budget targets 12 Metrobus routes for elimination: routes 16, 25, 42, 57, 70, 132, 203, 204, 272, 279, 288, and 338. Together, these routes account for approximately 4,400 weekday boardings, representing about 2 percent of Miami-Dade Transit's total system ridership — a modest share of overall volume but a meaningful lifeline for the specific communities each corridor serves.

  • Routes 203, 204, 272, 279, 288, and 338 are among the dozen slated for elimination.
  • The 12 routes collectively represent roughly 2% of total system ridership.
  • No replacement or alternative service has been announced for affected corridors.

Why would Miami-Dade drain the Transportation Infrastructure Improvement District reserve?

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's office has argued that drawing down the Transportation Infrastructure Improvement District (TIID) reserve — a fund previously set aside for future rail expansion, including corridors under the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan — is necessary to prevent even steeper reductions to transit service countywide. Under the proposed budget, the TIID reserve would be fully exhausted by the start of fiscal year 2027, leaving no dedicated capital cushion for new rail development.

  • The TIID reserve had been earmarked specifically for SMART Plan rail corridor expansion.
  • Spending the reserve on operations rather than capital projects effectively delays or defunds planned rail lines.
  • The fund is projected to reach zero before FY2027 begins if the budget passes as proposed.

What does this mean for the SMART Plan and Miami-Dade's rail future?

Depleting the TIID reserve deals a significant blow to the SMART Plan, Miami-Dade's framework for expanding rapid transit along six high-priority corridors across the county. With the reserve redirected to plug operating budget gaps, the county loses its primary local financing mechanism for new rail construction at a time when federal and state capital funding partnerships typically require demonstrated local commitment.

  • The SMART Plan corridors include proposed rapid transit lines spanning multiple Miami-Dade communities.
  • Loss of TIID reserves could jeopardize eligibility for federal capital grant programs that require local match funding.
  • No alternative funding source for rail expansion has been identified in the proposed budget.

What happens next for Miami-Dade Transit riders and advocates?

The proposed FY2026-27 budget is not yet approved and will be subject to Miami-Dade County Commission review and public input before adoption. Riders on the 12 targeted routes and transit advocates will have opportunities to weigh in during the budget process. The outcome will shape both near-term bus service availability and the county's ability to advance rapid transit expansion for years to come.

Mass Transit Magazine originally reported the details of Miami-Dade's proposed budget and its implications for bus service and rail funding.