Latest news with #Tri-Rail
Miami Herald
14 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Tri-Rail has made two recent changes. What to know if you ride the train
South Florida's commuter train has had added a new route and is also reminding riders to pay up. In 2024, Tri-Rail rolled out an extension to downtown Miami, which runs from Hialeah to the Brightline station. And without a turnstile and a potential budget crisis, the railway in 2025 has issued reminders on signs, conductor announcements and more random checks on board to buy a ticket to ride. Here's what to know: Tri-Rail to downtown Miami Tri-Rail, which runs mostly along the I-95 corridor from Palm Beach County to Miami International Airport, has rolled out a leg that takes travelers to downtown Miami. Route extension to downtown: The nine-mile extension runs from the Tri-Rail Metrorail Transfer Station, 2601 E. 11th Ave. in Hialeah, for the trip to downtown Miami. The $70 million taxpayer-funded new leg runs along the FEC railway corridor. The last Tri-Rail route expansion was to Miami International Airport in 2015. Stations: Tri-Rail trains from Hialeah will stop at MiamiCentral station, 600 NW First Ave. in downtown Miami. Brightline trains run from that station, with stops in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando. The downtown Miami station connects with Miami-Dade Transit buses, Metrorail, and Metromover. MORE: Things to know about riding the rails in Miami Tri-Rail's traditional route Train service: Tri-Rail service, which started in 1989, stops at 18 stations through Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, from Miami International Airport through Golden Glades in Miami-Dade County, Hollywood through Deerfield Beach in Broward County, and Boca Raton and on to Mangonia Park Palm Beach County. More information: Tri-Rail fare Unlike Metrorail or your favorite theme park, Tri-Rail doesn't have a ticket turnstile to board. What to know about paying your fare: ▪ Cards: Monthly paid passengers can tap their card before and after boarding at a station kiosk. ▪ Station: Paper tickets can be purchased at station kiosks. ▪ App: Daily or monthly passes can be purchased electronically on the Tri-Rail app. An electronic wallet holds the passes. Daily electronic passes are valid for four hours from time of purchase. ▪ Cost: Tri-Rail charges by zone ($2.50 to $8.75 one-way depending on trip length) and also offers discounts, including for students, seniors, and for a child or a person with a disability. Frequent riders can buy 12-trip and monthly passes. Enforcement: Security officers on board make random ticket checks. Conductors also make occasional announcements on having a ticket to ride and signs are posted at stations. Taking Tri-Rail to South Florida airports Tri-Rail has stations that serve the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports: ▪ Miami: If you take Tri-Trail to the Miami airport station, the MIA Mover, an elevated people mover, will take you to the terminals. Several transit options converge at the Miami Airport Tri-Rail station, including Miami-Dade Transit buses, Metro Connect car service and the Metrorail Orange Line. ▪ Fort Lauderdale: Broward airport shuttle: Free, seven-day-a-week shuttle bus service operated by Tri-Rail takes passengers from the Fort Lauderdale Airport station to theterminals at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Are Publix and Costco open? Malls? What to know about shopping on Memorial Day
Off for Memorial Day? You can head to the stores and malls. The beach, too, because there's just a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with highs near 90 on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. All of the above are open. But courts, public libraries, and mail service observe the holiday and will be closed. So will Costco. Here's what's open, closed or running differently on Memorial Day in South Florida. Supermarkets Most supermarkets are open regular hours. Some individual store hours vary: ▪ Aldi will be open but closing earlier at 6 p.m. ▪ BJ's Wholesale will be open. ▪ Costco Wholesale will be closed on Memorial Day. ▪ Fresco y Más will be open. ▪ The Fresh Market will be open. ▪ Milam's Market will be open. ▪ Presidente Supermarket will be open. ▪ Publix will be open. ▪ Sedano's will be open. ▪ Sprouts Farmers' Market will be open. ▪ Trader Joe's will be open. ▪ Walmart will be open. ▪ Whole Foods Market will be open. ▪ Winn-Dixie will be open. Pharmacies ▪ CVS stores will be open, but pharmacies may have reduced hours or be closed for the holiday. Check your store. ▪ Publix pharmacies will be closed on Memorial Day but the grocery stores are open. ▪ Navarro will be open holiday hours. ▪ Walgreens stores will be open, pharmacies may be closed or with reduced hours. Check your store. Recreation and Shopping ▪ Beaches will be open in Miami-Dade and Broward. ▪ Parks will be open. ▪ Malls: Aventura Mall, Dolphin Mall and the Simon-owned malls (Dadeland Mall, The Falls, Florida Keys Outlet Marketplace, Miami International Mall, Sawgrass Mills, Coral Square, Town Center at Boca Raton) will be open regular hours. ▪ Restaurants are open on Memorial Day. Some places, however, may have reduced hours. Transit, Banks, Garbage Mass transit Miami-Dade: Metrorail and Metromover and Metrobus will run on a Sunday schedule on Memorial Day Monday. Mass transit Broward County: Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule on Memorial Day. Tri-Rail: Trains will run on a weekend schedule, which means they won't 'have the flexibility to wait on late comers,' Tri-Rail says on its website. Passengers should get to the station 20 minutes before their departure. Garbage: Miami-Dade, Broward counties will be collecting as usual. Banks: Closed. Mail delivery: USPS, UPS and FedEx services will be closed on Memorial Day. Because Amazon uses these couriers to deliver packages, your items may not arrive on Monday. U.S. stock markets: Closed. Schools: Closed. Libraries: County libraries in Miami-Dade and Broward are closed on Memorial Day. Online resources are always available. Courts, City Government Miami-Dade County Offices: County offices, including courthouses, will be closed on Memorial Day. Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida: Closed. Broward County Offices: County offices, including courthouses, will be closed on Memorial Day.
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
U.S. government is loaded with Floridians. Great. How about they stop Trump?
Florida's failures Mary Anna Mancuso, in her May 7 Miami Herald column, 'Trump puts Florida at the heart of U.S. leadership,' seems to take pride in that the most crooked and incompetent presidential administration in U.S. history is loaded with Floridians. We have not seen any Florida Republican in the federal government do anything to try to stop President Trump's destruction of our Constitution and our democracy. America's all time hypocrite, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has disgraced himself by suddenly backing autocrats. We have seen U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi flagrantly upend the rule of law. Not one Florida Republican has shown a spine. In normal times, it might be fine to write a column about congressional Floridians using their influence to get money for Tri-Rail, for example. Today, however, it is far more appropriate to write about the failure of Florida's federal politicians to protect us from autocratic rule. Martin Kleinbart, Aventura Man of wisdom Our community lost a leader, a true trailblazer. Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar, of blessed memory, laid the foundation for what would become the revolution of Jewish life in Bal Harbour, Surfside and Bay Harbor. He built The Shul (of Bal Harbour) and he built it big. Rabbi Lipskar founded the Aleph Institute — an organization that provides material spiritual support and advocacy for Jews who are incarcerated and later expanded to provide for Jewish military personnel. Rabbi Lipskar was a giant and well known throughout the Jewish and secular world. He was a leader with never-ending wisdom, a muse for all and trusted advisor. Above all, he was a friend to all and you knew that when he was speaking with you, you were the center of attention, always with a twinkle in his eyes. As Rebbetzin Chani Lipskar told me, 'he loved all people.' Rabbi Lipskar was the Chaplain of the Bal Harbour Police Department, a role he took very seriously. He was always present and will be missed. It is with deep sorrow that I am writing this. At the same time, I know that his legacy lives on through the institutions he founded, all the lives he touched and all the righteous work he did. His impact goes well beyond the Surf-Bal-Bay area. All of us are better for him. Our hearts go out to Rebbetzin Chani Lipskar, his children, grandchildren, siblings and family. May his memory be for a blessing. Jeffrey P. Freimark, mayor, Bal Harbour Village History will judge Gov. Ron DeSantis has instructed maintenance crews to shut off the flow of fluoride in our public water supplies, even though thoughtful people appreciate the dental benefits of fluoride in drinking water, which no doubt also protects the health of our 'confused' (to be generous) governor. Given that DeSantis graduated from Yale and Harvard, to issue such an order implies either illness or deeply nefarious intent. We, the people, have allowed bullies to cause too much damage to America recently. We are all responsible for this mess. Bullies will go as far as we let them, as they attempt to satisfy their psychopathic need to rule over others. Those who control the flow of fluoride must take a stand and just say 'No' and keep the fluoride flowing to protect the children. Winston Churchill, statesman and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, had a message for DeSantis: 'Let all of us who are here remember that we are on the stage of history, and that whatever our station may be, whatever part we play, great or small, our conduct is liable to be scrutinized, not only by history, but by our descendants.' Rick Soskis, Havana Mother, daughter grads The captured moment, photographed between a mother and daughter graduating college together from Barry University, in the May 6 Miami Herald, was touching and inspiring. How their shared support, achievement and joy brought them closer than the years that separate them. Congratulations to Maratha Irene Ternier and Hilary Pierre, who demonstrate that reaching milestones and achievements don't have an expiration date. Wishing each of them the best in their chosen career paths! Enid Garber, Palmetto Bay Next step If President Trump has forgotten that he swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, it is time to invoke the 25th Amendment. Charles Sanders, South Miami No vacation spot I regret not visiting El Salvador in the past decade, especially when it seemed that, after years of hardship, the country was finally becoming a destination to enjoy, offering opportunities for surfing, beautiful beaches and hiking. Today, sadly, I have little desire to visit. I'm reminded of a political cartoon I saw from 1980. The image depicted then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan handing a soldier of El Salvador's National Guard an armful of assault weapons, with the caption, 'No more priests and nuns, okay?' That cartoon could be re-imagined today, but with a disturbing twist: El Salvador President Bukele would be shown handing President Trump an armful of cash, with the caption, 'No more breastfeeding mothers, bakers, hairdressers, makeup artists, or union members, okay?' Jacqueline Gross, Key Biscayne Government waste As President Trump eliminates essential agencies and lays off more than 275,000 federal workers, including those who keep his powers in check, he's throwing millions at shameful projects, such as a $90 million military parade for himself and spending $6 million to send refugees to an El Salvadoran prison. His golf games at Mar-a-Lago have cost taxpayers $30 million, while his Oval Office/West Wing decorations amount to nearly $2 million. This is not our democracy; it's DOGE: Destruction of Government for Ego. Ossie Hanauer, Miami Interesting thoughts I was moved by the Miami Herald's May 11 special section, 'Remembering our Triumph,' a commemoration of the end of World War II and the heart-breaking sacrifices made in defeating Adolf Hitler who, of course, accomplished his monstrous crimes with the willing help of those citizens who elected him Chancellor. I wonder what the 141,000 U.S. soldiers who died in Europe during that war would have thought about a future president of the United States instructing American neo-Nazis to 'stand-by,' or of that president's unelected right-hand man twice giving an enthusiastic Nazi salute during a world-wide speech. I wonder, too, what's next from that president who has now threatened to forcefully annex countries beyond our borders and has disappeared people from our streets and placed them in faraway detentions because they are, in his words, 'poisoning the blood' of our country. Steve Kronen, South Miami May again The merry-go-round at the old Crandon Park Zoo in Key Biscayne played Juventino Rosa's 'Over the Waves' on spring days in the 1950s. My sisters and I wore sundresses with ruffles at the hem that caught the breezes off Biscayne Bay. Fifth grade, third grade and kindergarten were winding down as we rode our favorite painted horses on the carousel — the white one, the palomino and Big Chocolate. Our parents, taking a rare day off from the mango grove in Kendall, waved and smiled in the crowd of grown-ups. Then, the world turned on and on. The century changed and Miami rearranged itself, but some spring afternoons go on forever. Miriam Rosen, Miami Refugee status Because Elon Musk is a Donald Trump confidant and a native South African, I wonder if the South African White Refugee program is a means for Musk to immigrate his relatives into the USA, much as Melania Trump's status expedited the immigration of her parents from Slovenia? Don Deresz, Miami
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Take this survey: How can Tri-Rail improve onboard travel, safety and getting to stations?
Anyone who wants to influence South Florida's publicly funded passenger train, Tri-Rail, to make it more convenient to go to and from its Palm Beach County train stations has until Friday to share their thoughts in a special survey. The Palm Beach Transportation Agency is taking answers in a survey online at and in person at Tri-Rail's stations in Mangonia Park, downtown West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton. Survey questions include: What would make your trip to the train station easier? How safe do you feel getting to the station? How would you describe your travel experience to and from Tri-Rail stations? The Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency will send survey results to Tri-Rail; Palm Beach County's public bus operator, Palm Tran; and the local and state government agencies that maintain roads. The agency will include recommendations on how to improve the stations, bus connections and roadways to make it faster, easier and more convenient for Tri-Rail passengers to drive or take the bus to its stations and find parking. It will also include recommendations on improving passengers' feeling of safety at the stations. Tri-Rail express vs. Brightline: How prices food, ride, timing, other amenities compare A Tri-Rail leaves the station in West Palm Beach in 2024. "If more people can walk, bike, and use the transit system safely and conveniently, then all, including drivers, will benefit," said Brian Ruscher, deputy director of multimodal for the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency. The Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency helps shepherd tax money from state and federal agencies to road and transit projects in Palm Beach County. Federal law requires urban areas seeking federal money to have such agencies. Also: 5 things to know about Tri-Rail's new express route from West Palm to Miami Tri-Rail carries an average of 385,000 passengers monthly on its 73.5-mile rail line between Mangonia Park and Miami, the rail service reported in April. More than 4.4 million people rode the train in 2024, about 30,000 short of its record high of about 4.5 million in 2019. Tri-Rail faces a possible $30 million yearly budget deficit that it has been asking the governments of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade to plug. COVID-19 relief money from the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan in 2021 has been bolstering Tri-Rail's budget but will run out by the end of 2026. The commuter rail service would have to dip into its savings, which would be depleted by the end of 2028, Tri-Rail officials have warned. All of Palm Beach County's members of Congress at the time, except Republican Brian Mast, voted for the American Rescue Plan. More: Nearly 1,000 Tri-Rail riders take advantage of $180 monthly discounts for Uber, Lyft, taxi Without other sources of money to replace the COVID relief money, the rail service might have to cut service and nix long-discussed plans for expanding north to the VA Medical Center in Riviera Beach. Tri-Rail announced in April it would crack down on fare dodgers as part of its attempt to persuade local politicians to fund the commuter service. Tri-Rail has expanded service in recent years to include subsidized rides on Uber, Lyft and taxi services to and from train stations, along with an express train for morning and afternoon rush hour commuters, late-night trains and special trains for big events such as SunFest in West Palm Beach, Ultra Music Festival in Miami and Taylor Swift's Eras tour concert in Miami Gardens. One-way fares for nondisabled adults, express train or not, range from $2.50 to $8.75, depending on the length of the ride. Weekend and holiday fares are $5. The line runs mostly on tracks running next to Interstate 95. Tri-Rail started in 1989 to relieve traffic on that highway. Chris Persaud covers transportation in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email news tips and ideas to cpersaud@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Take this survey: How can Tri-Rail improve train stations, travel?
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Miami Herald
02-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Thanks to Trump, Florida is running the country. We should reap the benefits
When I first got started in Florida politics, it was a battleground state and served as a bellwether for the nation. These days, Florida has become a Republican stronghold — and a political kingmaker, when it sent its first president to the White House in 2024. President Donald Trump hasn't disappointed in his appointments. Since taking office, Trump has appointed Floridians to top posts such as Marco Rubio as secretary of state — and now acting national security advisor — Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general and Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, putting Florida squarely in the center of national and global policy. Earlier this week, I was talking with George LeMieux, former U.S. senator from Florida, about how Florida is practically running the country. He told me, 'We've never had a better opportunity to influence federal policy — in fact, world policy.' And he's right. Florida has an unprecedented opportunity to leverage its position — and we shouldn't waste it. I'm hoping that translates into Florida industries such as aerospace, military and infrastructure seeing federal investment. Moving NASA's headquarters to Florida makes sense. As I've previously written, Florida is home to NASA shuttle launches and moving the headquarters would promote economic opportunity as well as bring more jobs to the state. In Miami-Dade County, this could offer a chance to get more momentum for funding commuter rail projects through the Department of Transportation, such as a high speed train from Aventura to Broward and further north to Palm Beach. In addition, the Tri-Rail would benefit from additional funding once the stimulus money runs out because the commuter rail system will experience a $90 million deficit. Federal funding could help relieve traffic congestion and reduce accidents on I-95. As LeMieux notes, 'funding these projects would tremendously benefit Southeast Florida to provide more connectivity in an area that's extremely dense.' Outside of space and trains, more federal attention on Florida could offer benefits in the form of additional defense contracts. Florida is home to the U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Command (SOUTHCOM, CENTCOM and SOCOM) and more than 20 major military installations. It makes sense to ensure that the state is at the forefront of strategic military investments by the administration. It's probably a long shot, since Florida's leaders haven't exactly embraced the idea of climate change, but the state also could use help from the federal government on resiliency. In 2023, Broward County experienced 20 inches of rainfall in less than 24 hours, causing the Fort Lauderdale airport to close for two days. Florida needs federal partnerships to upgrade storm water systems, elevate roadways and streamline post-storm permitting. These opportunities are more than short-term gains. They are a chance for Florida to establish itself as something more than a tourist destination — an innovation hub and a policy powerhouse. Trump appointing Floridians to top jobs makes it clear that his attention is on the Sunshine State. Trump has to be president for everyone, not just Floridians, of course. But a president playing favorites with his home state isn't unheard of — it's part of politics. When Ronald Reagan was president, his home state of California benefited — specifically from his Strategic Defense Initiative, aka 'Star Wars,' which gave the Golden State more money for its aerospace and defense industries. Today, Florida is no longer a battleground state; it's a launchpad for leadership. And having Floridians in the White House is just the boost we need. Mary Anna Mancuso is a member of the Miami Herald Editorial Board. Her email: mmancuso@
