Caught in a circle of traffic hell that’s Miami Art Week? You have options to get around

David J. Neal
·2 min read

Travelers leaving Miami Beach via the Julia Tuttle Causeway around 6:30 Tuesday night met a wall of traffic. The crawl up the Tuttle’s west hump revealed that the causeway-length gridlock stretched to the Biscayne Boulevard exit.

Welcome to Miami Art Week. Or rather, welcome to Miami Art Week Traffic.

While some residents will hole up in kitchens, couches, beds and balconies until traffic returns to its normal bad, here’s some getting-around information for people drawn to Miami Beach, Wynwood and other parts of Miami filled with art events.

READ MORE: What to know about free Metrobus fares and Miami-Dade’s new transit routes

Mass transit

Free rides: Miami-Dade Transit has been running fare-free on Metrorail, Metrobus and Metromover since Nov. 13 as the agency tries to get people to try its revamped Better Bus Network. Also free: parking at all Metrorail garages.

Extra Miami-Dade buses will be on standby in the downtown area should the crowds overflow the normal number of buses. You might want to consider the City of Miami trolleys also.

Miami-Dade’s Metroconnect shared ride service can get you places within its zones in the suburbs or to pickup points for Metrobus or Metrorail.
Miami-Dade’s Metroconnect shared ride service can get you places within its zones in the suburbs or to pickup points for Metrobus or Metrorail.

Connections: The agency’s suburban rideshare service, MetroConnect, can get you to Metrobus or Metrorail pickup points. If you’re coming out of or going to the downtown area, Metromover, which usually shuts down at midnight, will run Thursday night until 1 a.m. Friday.

READ MORE: Art Basel Miami Beach opened to VIPs. Miami artists and gallerist had a very good day

Wynwood

Rideshare stops: The city of Miami and Miami police would love it if you go to Wynwood any way other than your own car — foot, mass transit or rideshare. If you use Uber or Lyft to get there, police request you use the following dropoff/pickup zones Thursday and Friday 5 p.m. until 2 a.m., and Saturday and Sunday noon to 2 p.m.: Northwest Second Avenue and 29th Street; Northwest Third Avenue and 27th Street; Northwest Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street; and North Miami Avenue and 22nd Street.

Street closings: Expect street shutdowns on Northwest Second Avenue at 29th Street and Northwest Fifth Avenue at 24th Street.

Miami Beach

Free trolleys: In Miami Beach, especially in South Beach, locals who have been here more than a minute know to walk or take the free trolleys, which are running more often Wednesday through Sunday.

Venetian Causeway: Street construction will be stopped and don’t worry about getting stuck on the Venetian Causeway — both bridges will be locked down.

Traffic alerts: If you want to subscribe to MBAlerts for real-time information about traffic and major incidents gumming up traffic in the city, text “MBALERT” to 888777. An email from Miami Beach Mayor Steve Meiner said: “The city plans include enhanced traffic monitoring, signal timing changes, and coordination with navigation apps to keep you informed of street closures in real-time.”