Miami-Dade County transit riders will pay more to use Metrobus and Metrorail starting in January 2027, as county officials look to preserve some bus routes while other service reductions remain on the table.
The Miami-Dade County Commission voted 9-4 on Oct. 6 to increase the standard fare from $2.25 to $2.75, marking the county’s first transit fare increase since 2013. The 50-cent increase is expected to generate approximately $9.2 million and help preserve service on 13 routes that were scheduled for elimination as part of the county’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget.
However, the decision has raised concerns about affordability for riders who depend on public transportation to get to work, school and other daily destinations.
Which routes will be restored?
According to the county’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), the additional revenue will help preserve late-evening service along several major corridors, Route 279 and five routes serving areas with limited or no alternative transit options.
The restorations include 24-hour service on Routes 11, 79, 77, 3 and 27. Additional coverage will serve areas around 42nd Avenue, Biscayne Park, Florida City west of U.S. 1, 125th Street, and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and West Miami.
The changes are expected to benefit approximately 4,200 daily riders and account for more than 1.3 million trips annually. The county said the restored services will reach residents across all 13 County Commission districts.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the increase will help maintain transportation options for residents while acknowledging the added expense for working families.
“While this is our first fare increase in more than 13 years, we recognize that every dollar matters for working families,” Levine Cava said in a county statement.
DTPW Director and CEO Stacy L. Miller said the department worked with county leaders to find a way to preserve service for riders who rely on the system daily.
Commissioners, riders raise concerns over higher fares
The fare increase passed with nine votes in favor and four opposed. Commissioners Roberto Gonzalez, Vicki Lopez, Natalie Milian Orbis and Chairman Anthony Rodriguez voted against the measure, according to the commission’s official legislative record.
Opponents have questioned whether transit riders should shoulder additional costs while the county continues to address its transportation funding needs.
Riders have also expressed concern about how the increase will affect their budgets. In an Oct. 6 report by WSVN 7News, one public commenter estimated that someone riding Metrorail twice a day would pay an additional $240 annually under the new fare.
Another rider, Michael, told the station that commuters would have to adjust their lives to accommodate the increase. Other riders acknowledged the need to fund transit but said the added cost could create hardship for people who depend on it.
In a separate report published by CBS Miami on Oct. 7, bus rider Brian Villa said the increase could be worthwhile if service improves, but questioned whether the additional expense would make sense if service remained the same.
Transit Alliance Miami, a public transportation advocacy organization, has also warned that the increase could weigh heavily on regular riders. The organization noted that eligible passengers who are not enrolled in existing free or reduced-fare programs may be missing out on assistance.
The county has said the additional revenue will help preserve routes and late-evening service that otherwise would have been eliminated. Still, the increase does not resolve all of the system’s funding challenges.
Other bus service cuts are still planned
While the fare increase will help preserve 13 routes, additional reductions approved as part of the FY 2026-27 budget will continue.
DTPW identified 17 low-ridership routes for service adjustments beginning in March 2027. Sixteen routes will continue operating but will no longer provide service after 10 p.m. Route 132, which has alternative routes available, was already scheduled for elimination as part of a November 2026 service change.
Those adjustments are expected to affect about 250 daily passengers and save approximately $1.7 million annually.
Other approved reductions include eliminating weekend service on Route 338, discontinuing limited-stop Routes 203, 204, 272 and 288, and cutting late-night service on 18 additional routes. The county estimates that these remaining changes will affect just over 3,000 riders annually.
An additional $7.7 million would be needed to preserve the remaining services, according to the county.
The combination of restored routes and continued reductions means the fare increase will preserve some transportation options without preventing all of the service changes planned for 2027.
Free and reduced fares remain available
Miami-Dade County will continue offering free and reduced-fare transit programs for eligible residents, including seniors, veterans, students, people with disabilities and residents with limited incomes.
Riders can visit the county’s Transit Pass Program webpage to review available programs, check eligibility and learn how to apply.
DTPW said it will continue working with the County Commission on immediate and long-term solutions to address the department’s recurring funding needs.
With the new fare scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, riders will face higher standard fares while the county works to maintain select routes and moves forward with other planned service reductions.
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