The Metromover Station at Stephen P. Clark Government Center. Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Miami-Dade County is scrapping a proposed $1.3 billion plan to build a monorail across Biscayne Bay, choosing instead to pursue an extension of the Metromover to connect Miami and Miami Beach.
Why it matters: For decades, county officials have discussed building rapid transit between mainland Miami and the Beach as a way to reduce traffic congestion and ease travel between the major hubs for tourists and hospitality workers.
Driving the news: Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced Wednesday that the county has opted for a "one-seat" transit solution she said will be cheaper than the monorail and make commuting across Biscayne Bay more seamless.
Catch up fast: Former Mayor Carlos Gimenez struck a preliminary deal with casino owner Genting Group in 2020 to build a privately operated, publicly funded monorail connecting the company's waterfront property in Miami to South Beach, according to the Miami Herald.
- The projected cost to operate the monorail doubled from about $60 million a year in the initial bid to about $117 million this year, which marks the deadline for the county to finalize its agreement with Genting, the Herald reports.
What they're saying: Levine Cava said in a statement that the county didn't strike an agreement due to the "significant increases in proposed costs over the course of the negotiating period."
- "My administration is committed to providing our residents with innovative transit solutions that better connect residents to jobs and opportunity, while delivering maximum value to taxpayers," she said.