Miami-Dade Expands On-Demand Transit Service

The new MetroConnect service brings on-demand microtransit to more of the county’s residents and streamlines service to shorten trips.

1 minute read

October 9, 2023, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Black and green MetroConnect microtransit van in front of mural of boom box on Miami building.

Via / MetroConnect

Miami-Dade County’s on-demand transit service has a new name and expanded service. According to a press release from technology provider Via, the new MetroConnect service “is integral to the County’s commitment to the Better Bus SHIFTS into Gear plan, which is set to improve Metrobus service for more people with more frequency, as well as greater access to jobs and education throughout the County starting on November 13, 2023.”

The new program expands service to North Dade, South Dade, Westchester, and the TransitWay. “With a few taps on the MetroConnect app, riders can book a ride to be paired with others headed in the same direction. MetroConnect meets passengers wherever they are as long as it is within the service zone” and includes ADA accessible vehicles. “Since its inception, the service has increased the community’s access to 57% percent more jobs within a 45-minute commute by connecting people to Miami-Dade Transit hubs. The average MetroConnect rider books 10 trips per month, and 65% report they do not have access to a car,” states the press release.

On-demand transit has become a popular way for cities and transit agencies to expand service  to more areas and connect residents to existing transit lines at a lower cost than introducing new fixed-route bus lines.

Monday, October 2, 2023 in Via

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

2 hours ago - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

4 hours ago - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation