The farther you go, the more options you have for traveling green. It's logical -- the more passengers a vehicle can carry, the lower GHG emissions will be per person. Bus, light rail and traditional rail providers have made sustainability a top priority. Their fleets are updated continuously, and alternative fuel vehicles are becoming the norm.
Because we live in a large state, one that is 500 miles north-south by 160 miles east-west, it is even more essential that Floridians give mass transit a try. The following links provide you with general information, routes and schedules, fares, connectivity maps, and development plans for a variety of transit options in our region. Visit our Transportation and Mobility Department webpage on Moving Around for more information.
Broward County Transit (BCT) is the regional bus system offering over 1600 bus stops along fixed routes throughout Broward County. Many of BCT's buses are operating on alternative fuels. A single bus has the potential to take 40 cars off the road.
The I-595 Express Bus, run by BCT provides free commuter park-and-ride locations, and travel along the major interstate highways to Miami-Dade County and downtown Fort Lauderdale on weekdays during morning and afternoon peak travel hours. The service runs on hybrid buses. The Westgate Square park and ride location services Fort Lauderdale.
The I-95 Dade-Broward Express Bus is a similar service traversing a primarily north south direction. The service connects to Fort Lauderdale's Tri-Rail station.
TriRail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA). The initial 70.9-mile-long system has 18 stations along the Southeast Florida coast. It connects directly to Amtrak at numerous stations, and to Dade County's Metrorail at the Hialeah (Miami) transfer station. A second TriRail line, on the Florida East Coast Railway corridor, will extend TriRail service north to Jupiter, Florida, and south through Downtown Fort Lauderdale, terminating at Government Center in Downtown Miami. TriRail encourages sustainable travel by accommodating bicycles on board and by offering bicycle lockers or stands at stations.
All Aboard Florida is a development effort of Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) and will be a privately owned, operated and maintained intercity passenger rail service between Miami and Orlando with a planned stop in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It is a high speed rail service which is a mode of travel that has great potential to reduce fuel consumption.
AMTRAK is our nation's passenger rail service. With routes throughout the country, AMTRAK offers an economical and relaxing way to get cities throughout Florida and also out of state. AMTRAK connects with TriRail and Broward County Transit buses at the Fort Lauderdale Station on Broward Boulevard. In general, trains consume less energy and emit fewer pollutants than do car or air travel.
