By Coral Gables Gazette staff
The Coral Gables trolley remains at the center of the city’s transportation strategies, with officials continuing to expand partnerships aimed at making public transit a more practical alternative to driving and reducing the city’s burdensome through traffic, especially during rush hours.
That focus dominated discussion during the Transportation Advisory Board’s July 21 meeting, where members discussed the city’s trolley system, regional mobility initiatives and efforts to improve connections with neighboring communities. Although the board was unable to take official action because it failed to reach a quorum, board members took the opportunity to give updates on several transportation and trolley-related issues.
Regional talks explore a trolley connection across US 1
Board member Henry Pinera discussed a recent meeting with county officials and other representatives about creating a Transportation Management Association (TMA) or Transportation Management Organization (TMO) to ostensibly to extend the trolley across US1 to South Miami.
“It was a meeting with South Miami, part of an interagency (effort) to be able to use the trolley for South Miami, the Gables, and University of Miami,” Pinera said. “It’s setting the rules of what, where, when, how, and all that other stuff (to do it).”
Southern Loop ridership rises but remains far below Ponce
Such a move is now closer to becoming a reality because of the meetings and because of the recently instituted Southern Loop trolley route, which started operating late last year. According to city officials, the new route has continued to gain traction month over month, nearing 2,000 riders a month, according to the last verified stats given in May.
Board members discussed the ridership numbers and acknowledged the increases, even though they still paled in comparison with the Ponce route, which typically nears a million riders annually.
County agreement sets the terms for trolley service
During his comments, Chair Roland Rodriguez also informed his colleagues that the city had recently approved a new interlocal agreement with Miami-Dade County for the provision of circulator services.
The agreement, which started in 2010, sets the conditions for the trolley program and how it interacts with county transportation services. Among the provisions of the agreement is a definition of “circulator” as a service “where at least 70 percent of the route is within the municipality, and is operated by the municipality.”
Pedestrian plan, scramble crossing and annual report remain pending
More transportation issues discussed
Rodriguez said he would begin preparing the Transportation Advisory Board’s annual report to the City Commission, which is due Oct. 1. He noted that last year’s report was largely generic, saying that he would have a draft for the board to look at during an upcoming meeting.
Rodriguez said the city had received $60,000 to help fund its Pedestrian Master Plan, although city staff clarified that they were still executing the agreement to receive the funding. The chair also noted that the City Commission recently postponed action on a resolution related to the scramble crossing at Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Miracle Mile after commissioners requested additional review. The concept is modeled after the scramble intersection at Sunset Drive and Southwest 57th Avenue, where pedestrians are allowed to cross in every direction while vehicle traffic is stopped.
No quorum, no votes: Board has met only twice this year
The meeting also highlighted the board’s attendance challenges. With more than half of 2026 complete, the Transportation Advisory Board has held only two official meetings. Because the July 21 session failed to attract a quorum, members were unable to approve minutes, vote on agenda items or make formal recommendations to the City Commission.
The scramble in South Miami is ridiculous. There’s not enough pedestrian traffic to justify making both directions of traffic wait. It makes sense in a megacity like Tokyo. Why is this even being considered for Coral Gables (Miracle Mile @ Ponce). There’s not that much pedestrian traffic there either to justify stopping traffic. Is it just me?! It’s always just me . . . SMH
I’m very upset that we in north gables have no transportation while they are trying to expand to So Miami. We pay taxes as all Coral Gables residents and should receive the same benefits. We are seniors and really could use it.
The pedestrian scramble idea is ludicrous! We’ll be creating greater traffic delays for the two pedestrians who cross diagonally. Just like in South Miami.
Both the freebee and the trolley need to be expanded south on Le Leune to reach the Cocoplum circle and from there go through to Sunset Place through Sunset Drive , returning the same way. This will connect both cities and take and bring back people to these hubs.
I second that. I live in south Gables and would love to pick trolley here and get to downtown.
I like Frank’s idea, but go down maynada or hardee. We have no parks or transportation in South Gables. And with the multitude of new high rise residential projects south of US1, ridership will increase.