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North Bay Village plans to expand Freebee, add trolley and revive circulator using surtax funds
Summary
North Bay Village'''s public works director outlined plans to expand the village'''s Freebee on-demand service, introduce a regular trolley program and revive a local bus circulator; the village expects $493,405 in PTP surtax funding next year to support operations and infrastructure repairs.
North Bay Village officials presented their transportation priorities to the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust, saying the small village will use surtax revenues to maintain infrastructure and expand local on-demand and fixed-route services.
Steven Buckland, public works director for North Bay Village, told the trust the village serves about 8,000 residents and maintains roughly five miles of roadway. He said the village projects it will receive $493,405 in surtax funding in the coming fiscal year and plans to continue using those funds for on-demand services, infrastructure repairs and maintenance.
Buckland described three near-term transit priorities: expand the Freebee on-demand rideshare service (which the village reports serves about 11,000 users a year), pursue a full-time trolley program that has so far operated on a limited basis for special events, and reintroduce a village-operated bus circulator.
Member Mary Street, first vice chair and a Miami Beach resident, praised coordination between North Bay Village and the City of Miami Beach, saying a permanent trolley connection would improve links between the North Beach and North Bay Village communities and support event access at Normandy Fountain and the Bandshell.
The presentation noted the village has previously used surtax funds for a circulator and for infrastructure projects. Buckland said the village is "looking to expand that to add another Freebee" and to move the trolley and circulator projects from planning toward permanent service as funding and procurement allow.
Ending: Buckland said North Bay Village will continue coordinating with neighboring municipalities and with the county to finalize plans; the projects discussed are in the planning and procurement stages and will proceed through normal county and municipal processes for implementation.
