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According to Eulois Cleckley, the director and CEO of Miami-Dade County’s department of transportation and public works, the county is working against a strict deadline to construct a groundbreaking all-electric bus maintenance and transit operations center. This facility has the potential to be the largest and most innovative of its kind in the entire country.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the South Dade Transit Operations Center took place on June 25. Spanning across a 20-acre site, this state-of-the-art facility will serve as an integral hub for the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works. It will encompass various essential features such as charging stations, maintenance facilities, driver training areas, bus dispatching services, and an emergency command center. Moreover, the center will prioritize sustainability by incorporating solar power and a water reclamation system specifically designed for bus washing.
In a recent interview, Angel André Chavarria, Senior Vice President and Alternative Delivery Project Director at WSP, assured that construction of the utility vault for the new bus operations and maintenance center in South Florida is on schedule. Workers have a 90-day timeframe to complete this crucial component, which will serve a fleet of 100 60-foot articulated battery-electric buses for Miami-Dade County.
The county currently possesses a fleet of 800 buses and aims to electrify 20% of it, according to Cleckley. Among the existing fleet are 69 40-foot electric buses manufactured by Proterra, which unfortunately went bankrupt in 2023. Cleckley mentioned that the addition of 100 articulated buses to the fleet will be sourced from New Flyer. Notably, New Flyer has a substantial backlog of orders worth nearly $12 billion, partly due to the exit of Proterra and another competitor from the U.S. transit market. Cleckley also highlighted the presence of two test buses ready for evaluation.
Building a safe, resilient maintenance depot
According to Chavarria, powering the buses will necessitate approximately 10 megawatts of available energy, while an additional five MW will be required to operate the rest of the facility. He mentioned that WSP has been collaborating with Florida Power & Light since November 2022. Once the utility vault is completed, FPL will proceed with the installation, testing, and commissioning of the required equipment.
The charging equipment will be positioned on the roofs of the buses. To ensure the safety and convenience of workers, retractable platforms will be available for easy access to the equipment, explained Chavarria. Due to the fire hazard associated with lithium-ion batteries, the structure will be heat-insulated to minimize the risk of damage in case of a fire. Additionally, sprinklers will be activated near the fire, rather than throughout the entire building. Chavarria emphasized, “Considering the size of the facility, which spans 100,000 square feet, it is not feasible to trigger the sprinklers for the entire building.”
Chavarria explained that due to the high risk of hurricanes in South Florida, his firm conducted a thorough analysis of sea-level rise and took proactive measures to address climate hazards. One such measure involved designing the floor slab to be elevated well above the natural level of the land.
Benefits extend beyond the bus facility
Contractors have a tight timeline of 300 days to complete the first phase of the project, according to Chavarria. The reason for this urgency is the upcoming opening of a new bus rapid transit route, slated for next summer. The South Dade Transitway buses will be based at the new operations center.
Miami-Dade is set to launch its inaugural bus rapid transit line that will span a 20-mile corridor, running from the Dadeland South Metrorail station in Pinecrest, Florida, to Florida City, Florida. This new line will feature 14 level-boarding stations to ensure ease of access for all commuters. Additionally, traffic signal preemption will be implemented to facilitate smooth bus transit through intersections, while gate arms with warning lights will be installed at intersections to enhance safety. The northern terminus of the line will seamlessly connect with Miami-Dade’s Metrorail system, which serves downtown Miami and the Miami International Airport. Cleckley emphasized the significant time savings that this development will bring to the community.
Miami-Dade has bigger plans for the site than just the bus facility, according to Cleckley. When the second phase is finished in 2026, the facility will employ 270 individuals. Additionally, the county owns seven adjacent acres where an entertainment center will be built. Cleckley clarified that this project is seen as an economic development initiative. He stated, “The entertainment district is expected to not only offer entertainment but also provide much-needed job opportunities in this community.”