75 Express Bus

No. The PD and E study completed in 2011 recommended five (5) separate park-and-ride lots along I-75 including both Griffin Road and Royal Palm Boulevard. 

While transit ridership in recent years has declined nationwide, Broward to Miami Express bus services and park and ride lots usage continues to grow. This has mainly to do with the commute challenges one faces while traveling from Broward to Miami. With growing congestion, these challenges are expected to increase. Park and rides form one part of the several solutions that FDOT is investigating to provide commute options other than driving alone.

There are 8 express bus park and ride lots in Broward County. They are BB&T Center Park and Ride, Miramar Regional Park, C.B. Smith Park and Ride, Ansin Sports Complex, Davie Mobility Hub, Sheridan Street Park and Ride, Broward Blvd Park and Ride and North Perry Airport. They are all very well utilized. Over the last three years, vehicle counts conducted at these lot indicate 80+% utilization rate (observed vehicles over number of available spaces). In comparison, nationally, park and ride lots averages approximately 65%.

FDOT will install 911 call boxes, lighting and cameras at the new Park and Ride lot.

The park-and-ride lot will be maintained by FDOT. 

The existing lots that serve express buses are very well utilized and the growing express bus demand warrants additional park-and-ride lots in southwest Broward County. To meet the growing demand for express bus service, Davie Park-and-Ride Lot was recently expanded by FDOT.

The lot in Sunrise has approximately 340 spaces designated for park and ride. But for most Weston residents who are commuting to Miami, driving to the Sunrise lot is not desirable as the lot is in the opposite direction  from their destination.

Express buses travel in the express lanes and often times travel at speeds that are faster than the cars sitting in traffic in the general purpose lanes on heavily congested I-95, I-75 and Palmetto Expressway. Riders utilize their time in the Express bus (often times more than hour long commute by automobile) by either relaxing or doing productive work in the [free] Wi-Fi equipped buses. Riding the regional express buses also represent significant cost savings for most riders by avoiding wear and tear on their cars, purchasing gas, tolls and parking costs at their destination.

Over 95% of existing express bus riders own or have access to a car but choose to ride the express bus.

A series of public meetings were held consistent with the I-75 managed lanes Project Development and Environmental (PD and E) study where information was collected and shared regarding the alternatives for implementing managed lanes on I-75 (including park and ride lot locations). The park-and-ride project information was also shared at a public workshop in March 2019 at City of Weston Branch Library.

The project cost, based on FDOT Long Range Estimate (LRE) analysis is $12,178,871. The additional cost for wrong-way prevention will be another $150,000, resulting a total cost $12,328,871.

While all FDOT-owned park and ride lots are available for use by the general traveling public, the I-75 and Royal Palm Boulevard Interchange park and ride would be especially beneficial to Weston residents who are looking for alternate modes of commuting to Miami in order to avoid hour long commutes and save costs in toll and parking. Express buses help provide additional capacity to the congested highways and alleviate traffic by avoiding drive alone automobile travel.