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Sunny Isles Beach to pursue integrated on‑demand microtransit pilot, staff recommends Via
Summary
City staff recommended an integrated microtransit and shuttle package that would combine on‑board cameras, GPS tracking, a new rider app and curb‑to‑curb service; commissioners directed staff to pursue procurement and work with Miami‑Dade for half‑penny sales tax funding.
At a City Commission meeting of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, staff presented a plan to add on‑demand microtransit while retaining a core shuttle service and asked for direction to move toward procurement.
City staff said a year‑old transit study and a recent resident survey support replacing a low‑use “blue line” with on‑demand service and increasing capacity on the existing “orange line.” Staff recommended a hybrid package from Via — the operator used by Miami‑Dade County’s MetroConnect — that would bundle a new rider app, GPS fleet tracking, on‑board cameras, automated passenger counting and a customer service center.
The recommendation matters because the changes will affect how residents travel within Sunny Isles Beach and connect to regional destinations such as Aventura Mall and Intracoastal Mall. Staff said adopting an integrated platform will be a condition for using the county half‑penny sales tax (CITT) funds and requires an interlocal agreement with Miami‑Dade County.
Staff described key survey results: 89% of respondents said they would use microtransit if available; 48% said they would wait 15–29 minutes for an on‑demand ride; and 67% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the city’s current shuttle service. Staff proposed operational parameters including a maximum wait window of about 20–30 minutes for shared rides, a quarter‑mile maximum walking distance to stops for the pooled service (with ADA curb‑to‑curb pickup available on request), a 15‑minute detour allowance for shared routing, and an initial peak fleet of three on‑demand vehicles. Staff estimated funding of roughly $1.5 million from the half‑penny sales tax for the coming year and said the hybrid approach should remain near the current transit budget while improving frequency and coverage.
Linda Morris, chief of service planning and scheduling for Miami‑Dade County, told the commission MetroConnect already operates zones that include parts of the city and that county experience with on‑demand zones informed staff’s recommendation. Commissioners pressed for details on procurement, age or eligibility controls in vehicles, how curb‑to‑curb service would work for senior or less‑mobile riders, and whether the city should put the service out to competitive bid rather than select a single vendor immediately.
Several commissioners said they preferred a public bidding process; staff responded that a formal procurement is possible and would take longer but welcomed by staff. Commissioners also asked that any final proposal include clear parameters for accessibility, customer education/outreach and performance reporting.
The commission directed staff to continue pursuing the integrated solution, to work with Miami‑Dade County on the required interlocal agreement for CITT funding, and to proceed with procurement steps (including going to bid) and return with contract recommendations to the commission.
Staff said an award could plausibly be presented to the commission in late winter or early spring if the procurement is started promptly; a direct noncompetitive contract would shorten that timeline but commissioners expressed preference for a bidding process to ensure competition and transparency.
Implementation details — including exact annual cost, contract length, driver management and final fleet sizing — will be set in procurement documents brought back to the commission for approval.
