THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND TRANSIT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
This item supports the Board's Value to cooperatively deliver an efficient and accessible regional intermodal transportation network and its goal to enhance our efficient, safe, clean, attractive, and interconnected multi-modal transportation systems by providing more efficient uses of transit resources.
In compliance with federal and county regulations, policies and procedures, this public hearing will allow public comment on the proposed elimination of the 95 Express fixed-route bus service (Route 107) that travels weekdays during peak travel times between Pembroke Pines and Miami with an effective date of February 24, 2019.
Elimination of the 95 Express - Hollywood (Route 107) - This route provides weekday (Monday through Friday) Express fixed-route bus service for commuters from the Pembroke Commons Shopping Center in Pembroke Pines and the Hollywood Hills Park & Ride in Hollywood to the Miami Civic Center and Downtown Miami during morning and afternoon peak travel hours (Exhibit 1 is the route map). This route travels along Pines/Hollywood Blvd. and the I-95 Express lanes. Due to ridership levels that have dropped and remained below agreed upon performance standards for Express bus services with our funding partner, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), this service is being proposed for elimination (Exhibit 2). Efforts were made to increase ridership; however due to faster travel times on other 95 Express routes, ridership continued to fall below standards.
In addition to other outreach efforts, BCT, FDOT and South Florida Commuter Services (SFCS) staff will be riding the route to notify affected passengers in advance of the proposed elimination of the 95 Express - Hollywood (Route 107) and to make them aware of the alternative transportation options available to them for traveling between Pembroke Pines and downtown Miami. These four options include: 1) utilizing Route 108 via the North Perry Airport Park and Ride in Pembroke Pines; 2) utilizing Tri-Rail via either the Hollywood or 3) Sheridan Street stations from either of the Miami Dade Transit 95 Express routes that serve the Sheridan Street Tri-Rail Station; or 4) registering with SFCS (
www.1800234ride.com) for their carpool or vanpool programs. In addition, the riders of the service will be notified in advance of the time and date of the public hearing. Information will be published in the newspaper, posted on Broward County Transit’s website and Facebook page, and communicated through e-blasts, e-newsletters and social media.
Upon discontinuation of the route, FDOT funding will be reallocated to improve schedule issues on other Express routes. Additionally, BCT and FDOT will explore pilot projects for new Express routes.
As background, at its January 8, 2008 meeting, Item No. 56, the Board approved Broward County Transportation Department’s Transit Division’s (BCT) participation as a key partner for the transit component of the I-95 Express Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) between the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Florida Department of Transportation Districts IV and VI (FDOT). Phase 1A of this UPA project converted the northbound high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes along I-95 in Miami-Dade County from I-195 to the Golden Glades Interchange into high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes. Tolls are variable priced based upon demand and collected electronically via "SunPass" transponders. Phase 1B converted the southbound I-95 lanes in Miami-Dade County from the Golden Glades area to just north of S.R. 836. Phase 2 converted the lanes from Golden Glades to I-595 in Broward County. As part of the overall project, BCT implemented an express bus system in cooperation with Miami-Dade Transit to transport commuters from Broward County to Miami-Dade County using the HOT lanes. Tolls from the HOT lanes are utilized by FDOT to fund the Express Bus systems.