Coral Gables trolley system expansion New trolley system plan improves accessibility to public transportation by expanding hours and local routes BY PENELOPE ACEVEDO, STAFF WRITER
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ORAL GABLES CITY officials are requesting two grants to be used to expand the already existing trolley system. The city is requesting $130,450 over the next three years to fund the first project, which will offer Saturday trolley service. A second application, requesting $170,299 per year for three years—which would be matched by Coral Gables for $340,598 annually—would add two more hours of operation to the trolley system at night. If the grants are approved, Coral Gables will begin this expansion at the start of 2021. According to Miami Today, the overall plan—proposed by Coral Gables Vice Mayor Vince Lago last year with the idea of expanding the trolleys’ hours of operation—covers several key issues which address limitations of the current trolley system. These include, but are not limited to, increasing access to jobs and recreation, connecting commuters to other transportation facilities, reducing transportation costs and allowing residents and visitors access to businesses without having to rely on automobiles. Many people already rely on public transportation, with the growth of Coral Gables’ downtown, public transportation has become even more desirable for residents. “[It] is important because the trolley could be used by many people who don’t own a vehicle and in a way solves their [transportation] problems,” senior Maria Victoria Rojas said. Expanding the trolley system would also provide more access to those who live in the suburbs in Coral Gables, as well as
those looking for transportation between different hours of the day, particularly in the evenings when many residents come home from work or students finish extracurricular activities, when the trolley is not available. The residents who have farther jobs and longer work hours will be able to come home at night using public transportation.
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The new trolley system will also connect with the Bus Express Rapid Transit and the Douglas Road Metrorail Station. Source: MiamiDade.gov
“As someone who lives with just their mother it allows [my] single parent to worry less about how [she is] going to be able to take [me] to school’’ junior Alexis Hernandez said. According to Lago’s application, approximately 1.2 million passengers ride the Coral Gables trolley annually and currently serves about 1,200 passengers a day. The goal is to have an average of 2,500 citizens using the trolley on Saturdays with this new expansion of hours and days. If more people use the trolley system rather than their vehicle then there should be less automobiles on the road during the weekends. With fewer residents using their own vehicles and taking the trolley to work and school instead, this
should result in more open lanes for cars and less people on the road at the same time. This would greatly reduce weekend traffic, which is one of the main goals of the grant. The new trolley hours would be from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Officials hope that with additional trolleys, there will be less traffic for passengers in the Central Business District, which includes 19 blocks of Coral Gables, including Miracle Mile. Along with reducing traffic, the extended trolley system would connect with the Bus Express Rapid Transit and the Douglas Road Metrorail Station, a popular station that serves roughly over one million residents a year. By extending their current route to connect with other regions of Miami, the trolley will allow for commuters living in areas other than Coral Gables to take advantage of their transportation. By doing this, the trolley will no longer be limited to people only living in the Gables. The new routes would also significantly cut out the use of automobiles due to the increased range and accessibility of the trolley. Residents would also have the ability to use public transportation to get to and from their homes, workplace or anywhere else they would like to use recreationally. Commuters will also be able to get around town seemlessly, as they would not have to rely on several different bus routes “We need to make sure that people have the ability to go from point A to point B and transportation has been a real weakness in Miami-Dade County,” Lago said. h
by the numbers
2,500
1.2 mil
civilians are expected to use the trolley on Saturdays
people use the Coral Gables trolley annually
Alma Martinez/highlights
$130,450 is needed to fund the first project Source: Miami Today News
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