Miami-Dade Gets $10 Million Transit Grant

New hybrid buses, airport rail station in the works

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was in Miami Wednesday to announce a $10 million transit grant for Miami-Dade.

The money is earmarked for new diesel hybrid metrobuses, which consume less fuel and lower costs to taxpayers.

"We're going to buy diesel electric buses which are going to be more efficient, quieter, more fuel efficient so it's a win-win for everybody," Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said at a news conference Wednesday to announce the grant.

"These new buses are going to provide cleaner air for all the people of Miami-Dade and the surrounding area," federal transit administrator Peter Rogoff said.

Though the buses may be exciting, the new Metrorail service stole the limelight. This weekend, the new Orange Line starts running to the brand new station at Miami International Airport.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will be Saturday morning, with train service beginning in the afternoon.

"Saturday at 10 o'clock we're dedicating the line, the first time a Metrorail user can actually go to the number one leading economic generator in Miami-Dade County,  which is the airport," Gimenez said. "Thousands of people work here, thousands of people, millions of people use the airport so it's another convenience, and hopefully we can do some more expansion of the systems."

From the Dadeland South Station, the Orange Line runs directly to the Airport Station in 33 minutes. It will take 34 minutes to get to the airport from Palmetto Station at the north end of the county.

"Transit in Miami-Dade is on the grow, we see it in this beautiful new facility. We're expanding rail in Miami-Dade," Rogoff said. "This new Orange Line extension is going to do huge things to connect the airport to the greater economy, and provide greater accessibility for the people."

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