About time, Miami! In my travels, I've always been amazed by transit systems in other major cities where passengers can easily get from an airport to the major tourist destinations. I've come home and wondered why we, as a city, were so behind the times. Well, now we're at least a little bit caught up!
I'm totally impressed by the connectivity this station provides so far. I work right by a metrorail station, so I was able to park my car at work, get on the Orange Line train heading northbound and head straight to the airport. The Orange Line doesn't go to all stops on the regular northbound (Green Line) metrorail line, so listen out for announcements. Once the train stops at the airport, get off and head up the escalators, following the signs to get to the terminals.
What I loved is that once you arrive at the airport, there are a plethora of signs to keep you going in the right direction. While it's a short hike to get to the terminals (I remember thinking that the distance might be difficult for elderly and disabled), it's manageable. From the metrorail, there's a tram that takes passengers to a walkway that leads to the various terminals. A great feature of this way of getting around is that it's mostly air-conditioned and all enclosed, so other than getting off and on the metrorail, you're inside for the majority of the journey.
One-way fare is $2.25. As many have mentioned, that "EASY" ticket machine? Not easy at all. It's downright confusing. Tip: Put on your best helpless act & ask a security guard or attendant for assistance with paying the one-way fare. Otherwise, you can end up paying $6 to $8 for one-way. There are specially designated attendants to help passengers get on from inside the airport but these attendants are not available at any of the other stations passengers would get on from.
4-stars because I'm looking forward to Miami getting new trains to match this very modern facility. The decades-old trains that service this 21st century facility are in need of an upgrade.
All in all, this is a great option for travel to and from the airport. It removes the hassle of arriving and departing via a car, much less the hassle and expense of parking at the airport.
P.S. I noticed that there is a large parking lot for tri-rail passengers that stood completely empty. It may be worth it to look into parking vehicles there and catching the tram to the walkway to the terminals. read more