Accessible (ADA) Transit Services

Miami-Dade County’s goal is to provide access on all of its sidewalks located in public right-of-ways as stipulated in the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). In order to accomplish this goal, an inventory of access problems within the public right-of-ways has been recorded. Learn more.

Persons using wheelchairs have priority boarding and exiting Metrobus. Wheelchair lifts or ramps permit both inboard and outboard facing. Ask the bus operator if you need assistance in boarding and/or alighting as well as in securing your wheelchair or mobility aid.

Stop announcements are made either via a recording in the Public Announcement system or by the bus operator. In addition, bus operators will announce any stop, transfer points, large intersections and major destinations upon request.

If a Metrobus is full to capacity, its ramp or lift is inoperable, or both wheelchair securement locations are occupied, back-up accessible transportation service will be made available if the headway between buses exceeds 30 minutes.

All Metrorail stations are accessible to individuals with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

Metrorail’s Public Announcement system will inform passengers whenever elevators are out of order, and in which stations. If a passenger with disabilities enters a Metrorail station and finds that the elevator to the station’s platform is out of order, the department will provide back-up accessible service within 30 minutes upon request.

To receive that accommodation, passengers must contact the Custom Protection Officer (CPO) at the station entrance and request back-up transportation. If the passenger is at the platform level, they must board the train to the next station with a functioning elevator and request accessible back-up transportation from the CPO upon arrival.

Metrorail riders with a state-issued parking permit or license plate for people with disabilities may park free in spaces designated for disabled riders.

If a passenger using a wheelchair or mobility aid enters a Metromover station and finds an inoperable elevator, the department will provide back-up accessible service within 30 minutes upon request.

To request and receive back-up accessible service, passengers must use the call box provided at the entrance of the station or adjacent to the elevator.

Service animals are allowed to board Metrobus, Metrorail, Metromover and STS, as long as the animal does not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others or cause a significant disruption in service.

Bus Operators or Transit Operations Supeprvisors may ask any passenger if their animal is a service animal and/or which tasks it is trained to perform, but cannot require certification or identification for service animals. Documentation that the service animal is trained is not a precondition for providing service to an individual accompanied by a service animal. [FL Statutes - Chapter 413 (a)].

Under Miami-Dade County's Leash Law, all service dogs must wear a leash.

• Persons with disabilities who use service animals are allowed to board the bus/rail with the service animal provided that the animal does not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others or cause a significant disruption in the service (a service animal that barks or growls at other passengers).
• Service animals must remain at the owner's feet or on the owner's lap. A service animal cannot sit on a vehicle seat.
• The animal owner is responsible for any damage or soiling caused by the animal.
• The animal must remain under the owner's control at all times and must not be aggressive towards people or other animals.

Miami-Dade residents who require daily skilled nursing care, assistance with daily living, or have life-saving medical equipment dependent on electricity should register for the Special Needs & Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program for transportation and/or shelter assistance in case of hurricanes or other disasters.

The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (the "ADA"), as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, are the civil rights statutes that provide individuals with disabilities equal access to employment, education, state and local government programs and services, businesses, telecommunications, and public transportation.

The regulations implementing these statutes recently have been amended to provide specifically that transportation entities, such as the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), are required to make reasonable accommodations/ modifications with regard to their policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination and to ensure that their programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

This includes the creation of a procedure whereby customers may submit complaints to suggest ways in which transportation entities may improve their service to ensure equal access for all individuals.

This procedure hereby is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act Of 1990 (the "ADA"), as amended. It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in DTPW's provision of its services, activities, programs, or benefits.

The Complaint should be in writing and contain information about the alleged discrimination such as the name, address, and phone number of complainant, and the location, date, and description of the alleged discrimination. Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews or tape recording of the complaint by DTPW Compliance Staff, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request. Tape recording of complaints will be done only with the consent of all parties involved in the recording.

The average response time for an ADA grievance is fifteen days, following DTPW's investigation.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) is committed to providing quality service to all of our customers and does not tolerate discrimination against individuals with disabilities who participate in its services, programs, or activities. We have worked to make our public transit system increasingly accessible to members of our community who have physical or cognitive disabilities.

Generally, upon request, DTPW will, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for eligible persons with disabilities so they may participate equally in DTPW's programs, services, and activities. DTPW will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.

Please note, however, that the ADA does not require DTPW to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services or impose any undue financial or administrative burden.