We, the undersigned – residents of Miami Beach, the City of Miami, and Miami-Dade County – strongly and enthusiastically support the plan to build the Baylink Metromover, which will finally connect Miami Beach to the region’s public transportation system after 30+ years of discussion and broken promises. South Beach needs Baylink!

As part of unprecedented transit investments by county leaders, the Metromover is being expanded in the City of Miami. Baylink will connect Miami Beach to Brickell, Downtown, Miami International Airport, and South Miami. Planned future connections include Wynwood, the Design District, and Hard Rock Stadium. Moreover, Brightline and Tri-Rail provide regional connectivity to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, and many other cities. We cannot afford for Miami Beach to miss out on the opportunity to be connected to these destinations.

The Baylink route was chosen after years of comprehensive studies on various transit options for Miami Beach. It has the best ridership estimates and will connect the most people to the most jobs, arts and culture, and commerce throughout the county. This maximizes grant and funding opportunities for the project.

Miami-Dade is suffering from both an affordable housing crisis and a traffic crisis. At the same time, both Miami Beach and the mainland communities are investing in diversifying our industries and commerce. Baylink would provide Miami Beach residents access to a broader range of jobs without requiring them to suffer through traffic that keeps getting worse. Baylink would also enable Miami Beach residents, mainland residents, and visitors to access recreation and entertainment on both sides of Biscayne Bay without worrying about driving and parking. And, by providing an alternative transit option, it would reduce the traffic choking our streets during special events.

“Providing a high-quality transit solution that take[s] residents and visitors between Miami’s urban core, Miami Beach and the economic engines of Miami International Airport and PortMiami is critical to creating a thriving, more resilient Miami-Dade,” said DTPW Director & CEO Eulois Cleckley. “This one-seat ride will connect more riders to more parts of our County through a convenient and continuous Metromover expansion.”

Opponents will say we need more time and to look at more options, but these are classic delay tactics that have been used to kill prior projects and that attempt to consign this one to the same fate. An analysis conducted by the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) indicated that an extension of the County’s existing Metromover system to Miami Beach via 395 would provide the greatest rider experience and create the highest overall value.

We need this project, and we need it as soon as possible. We urge the Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County Commissions to bring Baylink to South Beach.