Tri-Rail, on the verge of providing Miami service, is already seeing a ridership surge

Mike Diamond, Palm Beach Post
·3 min read
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Tri-Rail is seeing a surge in ridership, experiencing ridership levels that are within 10% of its record, pre-Covid level of 4.5 million in 2019. Weekend ridership is already equal to 2019.

And with the rail line on the verge of providing service to downtown Miami, Tri-Rail officials are hopeful that 2024 will break the 2019 ridership record. The commuter railroad that, for the most part tracks I-95, is expected to break the 4 million-passenger mark in 2023 for the first time since 2019.

In November, ridership twice topped 14,000 weekday passengers for the first time in nearly three years.

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), which operates Tri-Rail, averaged more than 300,000 monthly riders between January and November of 2023, an overall 18% increase from the same time in 2022.

The southbound Tri-Rail train departs from the Delray Beach Tri-Rail station on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Delray Beach, Fla. Tri-Rail is experiencing a surge in ridership as levels are beginning to approach the pre-pandemic period.
The southbound Tri-Rail train departs from the Delray Beach Tri-Rail station on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Delray Beach, Fla. Tri-Rail is experiencing a surge in ridership as levels are beginning to approach the pre-pandemic period.

Tri-Rail users can get to the Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) through a complimentary shuttle bus. In November, nearly 37,000 passengers used the Tri-Rail shuttle bus. And at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), Tri-Rail offers users a  $15 voucher by Uber/Taxi to get to the airport from its West Palm Beach station.

Tri-Rail trains are already arriving into Miami Central without passengers

“We are happy to see that riders continue to entrust Tri-Rail as a viable means to get them to work, school, the airport, important appointments and wherever life takes them in South Florida,” said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, SFRTA Governing Board Chair.

SFRTA focused its efforts on increasing airport ridership this past year, updating the FLL shuttle service to 15- to 20-minute frequencies and providing the Uber/taxi voucher for PBI. It also developed a strong marketing campaign that it says has paid dividends.

Brightline alternative: You will be able to soon take Tri-Rail from WPB to downtown Miami

Tri-Rail has had to modify its current schedule as it prepares to begin service into Miami Central.

The new schedule keeps Tri-Rail's 50-weekday and 30-weekend train service but the times have been slightly adjusted to account for the system's schedule to operate in Miami central. The 9.05-mile extension, known as Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Link, will provide passenger service to downtown Miami.

The goal was for the service to start at the end of this year, but that will not happen. Tri-Rail had to modify its schedule to ensure that its trains arrive in Miami without disrupting the plans of Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline. Tri-Rail is working to ensure a seamless operation, according to David Dech, executive director of SFRTA Tri-Rail.

Tri-Rail trains have been coming in and out of Miami Central on a test basis for months now. Dech said thus far there have been no issues. The adjusted Tri-Rail schedule is available on its web site, www.tri-rail.com/scheduletable.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him atmdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism.Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tri-Rail sees ridership surge as it prepares for downtown Miami service