Metrorail Finally Connects to MIA, But Good Luck Getting From the Airport to South Beach

By Jacob Katel Tue., Aug. 7 2012 at 11:46 AM

video by Jacob Katel

Gimenez's answer: "No."

When Miami's Metrorail finally reached the city's airport last week via a half-billion dollar expansion, our town's leaders weren't exactly humble. The 2.4 miles of track now make Miami "one of the great cities," County Mayor Carlos Gimenez crowed. But the long-overdue expansion can't cloud a bigger problem: The train system still doesn't take tourists where they most want to go.

How hard is it for a clueless visitor to get from MIA to South Beach? We devised an experiment to find out. Click through for the video.

New Times' writer Benjy Caplan posed as a confused Canadian tourist -- clad, of course, in a winter coat and boots -- and wandered around the airport posing a simple question: "How do I get to South Beach?"

The results were harrowing. You can read about them here, or watch this video of the lowlights of Miami's still-deficient public transit:

Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes.

Tags:

Carlos Gimenez, Metrorail, Orange Line

We Recommend

Phil Ramirez

Bullshit! proposing a rail line to SoBe, will be like asking Coral Gables to incorporate the Grand Avenue projects to their city: IS NOT GONNA HAPPEN!! For starters, where would this rail station be located... 1-) Alton & 5th?! will deface the entire SoFi neighborhood all the way to Ocean Drive, facilitating the arrival of 'undesirables'. 2-) would it run through Venetian Causeway, so that the Estefans don't complain, like the Kennedys in Hyannys over a proposed wind turbine project in the sound?!?! Ask the adjacent island residents, like those in Rivo Alto, and see what they'd think about the idea. 3-) Julia Tuttle?!?!?! Which part of JEWISH institutions in the area, along with the waterfront homes right off Alton, will be tore down under "Inminent Domain", using the New London CT case as a reference... Mt. Sinai or the Yeshiva School, in order to 'accomodate' this station for the common good?!?! before the SoBe line is ever built, they'd rather run one to cater to the 'Cuban Voting Elders' down Flagler-West Miami-Westchester-Fountainebleau-BUT NOT SWEETWATER, to cater to the voting constituents in their respective districts and, not to be a logistics expert, those tracks would run through the very heart of many County commisioners' vital districts.

Josef

What's wrong with you guys? Too cool to take the freakin' bus?

Joshua Greg Osorio

uhhhh not that hard to get to sobe ppl. just get off at govt center and take the beach max rapid bus.

Wenceslao Fernandez Jr

Ahhhhh....the missing link! :-/

Donnie Donnie

HAHA...THATS WHAT I SAID ON YOUR LAST POST ABOUT THE NEW TRAIN LINE...first they should stop putting train routes thru the ghetto second of all, they should make a route to south beach...this is where i say "i told you so"

Nicole Cabrera

It appears that the last thing that our County officials have in mind when they make decisions regarding transit is what people who live and work in Miami-Dade need or want.

Kyle Pineda

FIU was offered an extension a few years ago and then-President of the university Maidique rejected it, citing he didn't want FIU to "become a commuter school". Really stupid. Still hoping for an extension one of these days.

Clemente Morales

It still doesn't take you anywhere significant. The people who need ride it don't need to get to the airport. The metrorail should be for the people of Miami, NOT the people who are flying OUT of Miami. When there are enough stops where anyone can go to work, or school, then I'll be impressed. It should be able to go as far west as possible (think SW 157 Ave) and have trains running north and south (Hialeah to Homestead).

Ryan Johnny Thayil

What about Kendall, or anything west of US1? Also shouldn't the metro rail have some way to get to FIU?

Ekram 'Tarik' Taufiq

I travel to & from NYC every two months, and getting to SOBE is not that difficult. Take the airport flyer and it will take you straight to SOBE. Just google map it click the public transportation directions...If a tourist can't manage to do that, they should not be traveling anywhere.

Kzm Ufc

Brillyunt move for the car rental industry, metrofail n gimenez!! That's Like the MTA dropping you off at the avis on the other side of each entryway to Manhattan!! ROFL