Downtown Miami - Transportation

Transportation

Public transportation in the Downtown area is used more than in any other part of Miami and is a vital part of Downtown life. Metrorail, Miami's heavy rail system, makes 3 stops in Downtown at the Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre Station, Government Center Station, and the Brickell Station. In addition to Metrorail, the Metromover train system runs 3 lines (the Downtown Loop, the Omni Loop, and the Brickell Loop) with 22 stations throughout Downtown. The Metromover is free and stations can be found at roughly every two blocks in Downtown and Brickell.

Downtown Miami is served by Metrobus throughout the area, the Miami Metrorail, and the Metromover:

Metrorail:

• Government Center (NW 1st Street and 1st Avenue)
• Brickell (SW 11th Street and 1st Avenue)
• Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre (NW 8th Street and 1st Avenue)

Metromover:

• Downtown/Inner Loop
• Omni Loop
• Brickell Loop

Metrorail has stops throughout Miami with connections to Miami International Airport, all Metrobus lines, Tri-Rail and Amtrak. The main bus station in Downtown is located next to the Arsht Center at the Adrienne Arsht Center Station.

As an urban and pedestrian-friendly area with an extensive public transit network, Downtown (along with Brickell, Omni, and South Beach) is one of the areas in Miami where a car-free lifestyle is commonplace. Many Downtown residents get around by foot, bicycle, Metromover or by taxi. The Metromover is a popular alternative to walking in the area, especially on rainy, hot or cold days, as the Metromover is free, and stations are located roughly every two blocks throughout the area.

Recently, the City of Miami, along with the Downtown Development Authority, has begun bicycle initiaves promoting city-wide bike parking and bike lanes, that have made bicycling much more popular for residents. Bike lanes and bike sharrows are currently planned for the majority of Downtown streets to be painted by the end of 2010. The Venetian Causeway is a popular bicycle commuter route that connects South Beach to Downtown. The Rickenbacker Causeway is very popular on weekends for recreational bicyclists, and oftentimes, bicycles can outnumber cars on the causeway.