MIAMI (WSVN) - A special ceremony was held to celebrate the start of Tri-Rail service into downtown Miami.
Friday morning’s ceremony was held by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority and included a train ride from the Tri-Rail Corridor into MiamiCentral Station, located at 600 NW 1st Ave., where the system will share the station with Brightline.
The station needed to be retrofitted for the Tri-Rail trains, which cost $70 million.
7News’ Brandon Beyer was on the first Tri-Rail train to downtown Miami. The inaugural ride left Dania Beach at 10 a.m. and arrived in downtown Miami just 40 minutes later.
“I think it’s awesome. It’s a decent ride,” said passenger Deanna Gray. “I can read my book along the ride, and now I can get to Miami very easy.”
The new route is meant for people who are in Broward County, as well as Palm Beach, who want a quick and convenient way to get to the heart of the Magic City.
“Helps taking people off [Interstate] 95 and coming on the train,” said passenger Dione Morgan. “This could never be a better time.”
Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado said the project was something they’ve been working on for years.
“Today, we get one step closer to being that tri-county region that [Florida Department of Transportation] and the state tasked us to become in 1989, and we’re excited to do that,” Regalado said. “So, to my Broward and my West Palm partners, my Palm Beach partners, thank you so much. This really is such an important moment for us.”
Commuters will be able to use the new service daily starting on Saturday.
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