Miami-Dade Transit suspends Metrobus late night service and announces Go Nightly ride option

The Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) is vigilantly working to combat the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while continuing to provide transportation services for essential travel, despite a continued decline in ridership.

At 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, DTPW is launching an alternative transportation solution for late night trips on routes 3, 11, 27, 38, 77, 112, 119, 246, and 500. Go Nightly provides an on-demand ride option, in partnership with Lyft and Uber, that will provide service along each of these route alignments between midnight and 5 a.m.

Additionally, effective 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 10, late night service hours for the aforementioned Metrobus routes will be adjusted and end at midnight until further notice.

The Go Nightly program is meant to ensure that those transit riders who are using the system for essential trips only, particularly to get to and from work during these late hours, are able to continue to rely on Miami-Dade Transit to get where they need to go safely. Since Miami-Dade Transit suspended fares as of March 22, these late night trips will also be fare-free for the transit rider until further notice.

The Go Nightly program details are as follows:

• Rides will be available between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., nightly
• Riders can request a ride via the Lyft or Uber app or by calling a dedicated number
• Rides can only originate along select late night service routes
• Rides are to/from destinations within ¼ mile buffer from the select route alignment
• Riders are limited to two trips per night per user
• Ride will closely follow the same path as the late-night route and cannot be used for trips longer than the specific route
• If a rider does not have a smartphone, he/she can call 786-469-5555 to request a ride
• Riders requiring wheelchair accessible vehicles should contact 305-871-1111

Smartphone users should follow the instructions posted at these late-night bus stops to launch either the Lyft or Uber app. If a rider requests a ride to/from a location not within the predetermined area, he/she runs the risk of paying the full trip fare.

Lyft users will need to open the app and enter a promotional code via the left-hand menu under “Promos.” In the space provided, enter the code GONIGHTLY. Details on the promotional code include the service coverage map and other restrictions. When the user is within the coverage zone and requests a ride also within the coverage area, the promotional rate will appear when requesting a ride.

Uber users will input a unique weblink that will direct them to a screen and prompt to accept the voucher by clicking a button. The voucher will only be valid if the user is standing within the specific geographical area where the Metrobus route typically travels, and if the destination is also within the geographical boundary. Once the app determines the voucher is valid and the rider enters an eligible destination, the voucher will appear as a payment method option when he/she requests a ride.

If a rider does not have a smartphone, he/she should use a mobile device to call 786-469-5555 and request a ride. Further communication will be done via text message, including ride confirmation.

Riders requiring wheelchair accessible vehicles should contact 305-871-1111.

The decision to introduce this Go Nightly program comes after a drastic decline in ridership. Every transit system nationwide has experienced significant declines in ridership and this decline creates a financial impact. Collaborating with ride share companies, such as Lyft or Uber, allows DTPW to continue to provide an essential service.

Metrorail and Metromover began operating on a new schedule, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., as of Saturday, April 4. Service adjustments were initially implemented on March 20, and further adjusted on March 24. All these measures taken are with the health and well-being of the community -- including transit riders and staff -- in mind. DTPW continues to urge riders to use transit for essential trips only, practice social distancing, and otherwise stay home, when possible, to help flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For more details on transit services and service adjustments, visit the service updates webpage.

DTPW will continue to follow the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Miami-Dade County to ensure the actions being taken are comprehensive and appropriate - including recommendations on the use of personal protective equipment.

Customers and employees are advised to follow the guidelines, recommendations and actions being taken by Miami-Dade County in response to COVID-19.