Miami-Dade’s Metrorail has introduced temporary changes in its schedule to accommodate construction and testing of the AirportLink extension, effective until the fall.
The changes include:
Weekdays:
Service frequency, as well as arrival times, have changed from every 7½ minutes to every 10 minutes, 6-9 a.m., 3:30-6 p.m.
Arrival times have changed but the frequency will remain the same, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., service every 15 minutes; 6 p.m.-midnight, service every 15 minutes until 7:30 p.m. when service will be every 30 minutes.
Weekends:
There will be no impact on weekend service, which will remain every 30 minutes.
The AirportLink project is a 2.4-mile elevated Metrorail extension running from the existing Earlington Heights Station to the Miami Intermodal Center – a transportation hub being constructed adjacent to the Miami International Airport.
The AirportLink, scheduled to open for service in spring 2012, will provide a Metrorail connection to the airport for millions of residents, visitors and employees who travel to and from the airport every year.
The $506 million project, which is funded mostly by a half-penny surtax from the People’s Transportation Plan, also will provide a boost to the local economy by creating jobs, facilitating work-related travel, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transportation officials said.
During construction of the AirportLink, Metrorail will use part of the existing 22.6-rail line for single tracking; that is, using one rail track for both north and southbound trains.
Once the extension to the airport opens, Metrorail peak-hour service will be adjusted to the following:
• Service frequency southbound from the Palmetto Station will be every 10 minutes.
• Service frequency southbound from a new Miami International Airport Metrorail station at the Miami Intermodal Center will be every 10 minutes.
• Improved combined southbound service from Earlington Heights Station to Dadeland South Station will allow for service frequency of every five minutes.
• Northbound service from the Dadeland South Station to Earlington Heights Station will improve to every five minutes. The Earlington Heights Station will become the transfer point for alternating service to the airport, northbound to the Palmetto Station or southbound to the Dadeland South Station.
To ensure Metrorail commuters arrive at their destination on time, they are encouraged to plan their trips through Miami-Dade Transit’s online trip planner, or by viewing the new Metrorail guide, both available at www.miamidade.gov/transit. Metrorail users also may call Customer Service at 305-891-3131, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
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