Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) will keep Metrorail and Metromover trains running at least one hour beyond their normal closing times on the nights of two county budget hearings — September 3 and September 17 — to help Downtown attendees get home after late sessions.

Why is Miami-Dade Transit extending service on those two nights?

MDT is extending Metrorail and Metromover hours so that residents attending the Miami-Dade County fiscal year 2026-27 budget hearings at Government Center can use transit if meetings run past midnight. The extension applies on both hearing dates — September 3 and September 17 — and takes effect automatically if a session extends beyond the normal last-train window.

  • Metrorail parking garages will also stay open at least one hour after the final train departs on each hearing night.
  • The extended hours apply to the full Metrorail system, not only the Government Center station.
  • No additional fare or reservation is required to use the extended service.

What happens at the September 17 hearing that makes it especially significant?

September 17 is the final date on which Miami-Dade County commissioners can amend the proposed budget, making it the last opportunity to reverse or modify planned cuts to bus service before the spending plan is adopted. Riders and transit advocates who want changes to the bus-cut proposals must appear or submit testimony before that meeting closes.

  • Commissioners retain full amendment authority only through September 17.
  • Proposed bus reductions remain part of the draft FY2026-27 budget until commissioners vote otherwise.
  • Advocates have flagged the cuts as a potential hardship for low-income residents who depend on bus routes with no Metrorail alternative.

What should riders know before traveling to Government Center on hearing nights?

Riders planning to attend either hearing should check MDT's standard schedule for their specific line, then factor in the one-hour extension buffer if the meeting is expected to run long. Government Center station sits at the heart of the downtown Miami Metrorail and Metromover network, giving attendees direct access to both systems for the trip home.

  • Metromover, which circulates through Downtown, Brickell, and the Omni loop, is also covered by the extended hours.
  • Riders driving to a Metrorail station should note that parking facilities will remain staffed until at least one hour after the last departure.
  • MDT has not announced any changes to bus service hours on the hearing nights.

Original reporting on the extended service hours was provided by the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW).