Type People mover Stations 2 | Status Currently Operating Services 1 | |
 | ||
Locale Miami International Airport Termini Central Terminal
Airport Metrorail station | ||
The MIA Mover is an automated people mover (APM) system which opened at the Miami International Airport (MIA) in metropolitan Miami, Florida, United States on September 9, 2011. The MIA Mover is designed to quickly transport landside passengers between Miami International Airport's Main Terminal and the Miami Central Station and Rental Car Center, as part of the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC). The MIA Mover is one of three separate automated people movers operating at the airport. The others are the Skytrain (which operates within Concourse D), and the people mover connecting Concourse E's satellite building.
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History
In 2007, construction of a people mover instead of an extension of the existing Metrorail system to the airport became the preferred option for local authorities to provide greater connectivity to the airport terminals (Metrorail will connect at Miami Central Station). On March 2, 2009, ground was officially broken for the project. Projected to transport 48,000 daily visitors by 2020, the MIA Mover construction utilized design-build methods and was paid for from a combination of revenue from the Miami-Dade Aviation Department’s Capital Improvement Program and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
System
Costing an estimated $259 million to complete, the 1.27 miles (2.04 km) link travels east from the MIA Station, to Central Boulevard and finally to NW 21st Street, where it curves north into the MIC Station. The ride lasts approximately three minutes. The concrete guideways are generally elevated an average of 40 feet (12 m) above grade and are supported by concrete piers every 120 feet (37 m). The vehicles used are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Movers (The same model also operates on the Skytrain in Concourse D).
Stations
The MIA Mover has two stations: the MIC Station and the MIA Station.
'MIC Station' The MIC Station is the eastern terminus of the line located on the fourth floor of the Miami Intermodal Center. The station contains direct access to both the Rental Car Center in addition to connecting by skywalk to the Miami Central Station where connections can be made to Metrorail, Amtrak, Tri-Rail, buses and taxicabs. The station is being constructed by FDOT.
'MIA Station' The MIA Station is the western terminus of the line located on the third floor of the main terminal building between the Flamingo and Dolphin Parking Garages. Constructed by MDAD, a storage and maintenance facility for the APM vehicles is located beneath the MIA Station.