Miami-Dade is over reliant on private cars and lacks sufficient public transportation. Over decades, the gradual expansion of Miami’s urban sprawl has led to transportation accounting for 55% of our county’s CO2 emissions. Public policy promoting affordable, environmentally sustainable mobility options will be necessary to achieve net-zero goals.

• Making transport carbon free is key in limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees celsius. In 2020, transporting people and goods from one place to another accounted for 26% of total U.S. energy consumption. Petroleum products accounted for about 90% of the total U.S. transportation sector energy use. 

• Relying on private cars alone is not a viable long-term solution. Cars continue to become more dangerous, while also causing major environmental issues such as air pollution. Electric cars are a step forward; however, they carry environmental concerns of their own, depending on how their batteries are produced and the source of their electricity. And fewer cars lead to a happier population.

• Public transportation reduces CO2 emissions by 45%. Improving public transport also carries a positive economic impact. Every $1 billion invested in public transport could create 50,000 jobs.

• Miami-Dade County’s 2.7 million residents are spread across almost 2,500 square miles. Because of this low density, Miamians need multiple modes to connect distinct urban centers and suburban populations. Intercity links are especially critical in South Florida. The combined annual GDP of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach is $361 million, making Greater Miami one of the top 15 metro areas by GDP in the US.

Despite Miami-Dade’s overreliance on private cars, we are making progress on adopting nine carbon-free mobility modes, outlined below. These alternatives are increasing in popularity – and have government support – but Miamians remain dependent on cars for their daily mobility needs.

Electric vehicles

• In 2019, 76.7% of work commutes in Miami-Dade County consisted of people driving to work alone. 8.75% of Miamians carpooled to work, while only 3.82% took public transit. This is roughly on par with similar places like Houston and Los Angeles.

• There are over 60,000 electric vehicles in Florida, making it the state with the second highest number of electric cars – or 14th on a per capita basis. Local leaders have responded to this outsized interest in electric cars by increasing the number of charging stations. Miami Beach is home to the company with the fourth largest car charging network in the country.

• Relying on electric cars alone will not bring carbon-free mobility. Electric cars with automated driving features may also be more dangerous than their gas-guzzling predecessors. But our high uptake of electric vehicles signals Floridians’ willingness to experiment with more environmentally-conscious mobility options.

Trains

• The Brightline – a train connecting West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami with plans to expand to Orlando – recommenced service in late 2021. Ridership is rapidly growing, signaling consumers’ willingness to experiment with new public transport options.

• There are some local and regional rail options: the Tri-Rail, Metrorail, and Metromover span a combined 100 miles. This system is currently in the process of being expanded. The most recent expansion – a 2.4-mile track to Miami International Airport – was completed in 2012.

Buses

• Currently, Miami-Dade County has 799 buses in its Metrobus fleet. An additional 75 buses, all of which are electric, are slated to arrive in Miami later this year. Miami-Dade plans to make at least half of its buses electric by 2030.

• These electric buses reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 230,000 pounds a year compared to diesel buses. 

• Once all these new electric vehicles have been delivered, 10% of Miami-Dade County’s Metrobus fleet will consist of zero-emission vehicles.

• There are 192 diesel-powered trolleys running across 24 municipalities in Miami-Dade, according to the County.

eVTOLs

• Archer Aviation, Lilium, Joby, and Supernal are working to deploy electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts in Miami. 

• The first companies set to lift off are Joby and Archer Aviation, both of whom aim to start service in 2024.

Bikes

• Miami-Dade has 201.71 miles of bike lanes (plus an additional 177.49 miles of paved paths and trails).

• Citi Bike Miami, a bike rental program, has 160 stations across Miami and Miami Beach.

• However, the lack of bicycle infrastructure and city planning makes cycling an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous proposition.

Boats

• Water taxis, such as SeaBubbles, have come and gone over the years. However, currently ferry service in Miami is very limited.

• Ferries succeed under particular scenarios, some of which Miami has (e.g., direct routes to high-density areas), while some of which we do not (e.g., low competition from bridges and tunnels).

Walking

• Land use is the most important factor in carbon-free mobility. Denser neighborhoods are more walkable. Density varies greatly in Miami – from 5,561/square mile in Coconut Grove to 30,681 in Brickell.

• Miami still must make strides to become a more walkable city. South Florida is ranked as the 13th most hazardous U.S. metropolis. In 2021, cars hit and killed 1,675 pedestrians in the tri-county area (excluding bicyclists) – a number that has risen during the pandemic. 

• Tree cover is also a crucial component of walkability, providing shade and reducing crime. Trees bring a host of public health, social, environmental, and economic benefits to cities and their residents including reducing stress, enhancing economic stability, and sequestering CO2. Municipalities such as Miami Beach are working to bolster their canopy. 

Rideshare

• On top of the proliferation of private companies connecting Miamians with rideshare drivers, municipalities in Miami-Dade are currently running 34 electric on-demand vehicles.

• Research suggests that using ridesharing apps can play a role in decarbonization.

• Lyft, Ford, and Argo have come together to bring self-driving cars to Miami.

Scooters

• Scooters have been a contentious issue in local politics. Advocates point out the benefits for last-mile transportation, while detractors underscore safety and accessibility issues.

• Currently, only two providers are operating in the City of Miami. However, up to nine scooter companies were active in the city during a previous pilot program.

• In March 2022, Miami-Dade County launched its first scooter pilot program, covering an unincorporated area in Dadeland.

Dive into some of the latest local, national, and international research about carbon-free mobility.

To learn about our local governments’ plans to reach net zero, look here:

• Miami-Dade’s Climate Action Strategy.

• The City of Miami’s Miami Forever Climate Ready strategy.

• The City of Miami Beach’s Sustainability Plan and other master plans, including its urban forestry strategy and stormwater management plan.

• The City of North Miami Beach’s Comprehensive Plan for sustainable development.

• The City of Coral Gables’ Sustainability Management Plan.

• The City of Aventura’s commitment to going green.

For perspectives on the future of transport nationally, look here:

• Research on the benefits of high-speed rail, according to the American Public Transport Association.

• Analysis of what makes ferries successful from public transit consultant Jarrett Walker and the team at his consultancy, Human Transit.

• Morgan Stanley’s research on flying cars and autonomous aircraft.

• Data from the US Energy Information Administration on America’s energy use for transportation.

To read some studies on the future of transport from a global perspective, look here:

• C40, a global network of mayors, on the benefits of public transport for people and the planet.

• A study undertaken by Finnish academics, noting that people are more satisfied with their life when they use private cars less.

• Empirical evidence showing that financial incentives to promote cycling work to motivate citizens to cycle more.

• In-depth analysis of the role governments – and government procurement – can play in decarbonization.

• A report from Miami-based Core Finance, outlining their outlook for the mobility market from a tech and innovation perspective.

The future of mobility will be multimodal. Here are some articles, podcasts, and videos providing a glimpse into what that future might look like.

The uptake of electric scooters continues to increase in South Florida, both through app-based rental services and personal devices. 

• Swiftmile scoots into Miami, enabling sustainable transport options

• Micromobility provider Wheels rolls out expanded coverage in Miami-Dade

• e-Scooter curious? A visit to Fluidfreeride may make you want to hop on to this e-mobility craze

• Scooters come to the suburbs after crackdown in Miami over safety, clutter complaints

• SunVessel offers elegant, electric solution to Miami’s mobility mess

Innovators and public sector officials are collaborating to change the way we approach car-based transport. Take a look at the latest news about electric vehicles, self-driving cars, and rideshare services.

• Miami is home to one of the top companies powering the EV revolution

• City of Fort Lauderdale to consider bid from Elon Musk’s Boring Co. to build tunnel to alleviate gridlock

• Ford, Argo AI to bring self-driving Lyfts to Miami by year’s end

• Electric vehicle chargers at or near top of many condo community wish lists

• Florida, No. 2 in nation for electric cars, about to get a boost to its charger network 

• Should gas stations or utilities control electric vehicle charging? 

• How The Auto Industry Carjacked The American Dream

Within the next couple of years, you might be able to ditch gridlock entirely and hop in an electric-powered aircraft to get you from point A to point B. 

• Joby’s deal with REEF could bring air taxis to Miami as soon as 2024

• Embraer’s Eve, with local partner GlobalX, wants to bring green air taxi transit to Miami. Here’s how they hope to do it

• Getting crowded up there: At least 4 air taxi companies are now circling the Miami market

• Getting closer to air taxi reality: Archer partners with REEF for access to vertiport locations

Miami mobility changes by the day. Delve into these articles providing further insights into trends on carbon-free mobility solutions in Miami.

• Miami’s menu of mobility modes multiplies. How can tech-enabled transport support our growing region?

• Bridging Tech, Mobility, and Social Divides in Miami with Tina Brown

• Talking Headways Podcast: Technology and Mobility in Miami

• Miami-Dade's New Transit Director Is a Cyclist Who'd Rather Not Drive

• Analysis of how Miami-Dade has benefitted and can further benefit from public transport subsidies, including a video presentation.

Achieving carbon-free mobility will not be easy, but it is necessary. With governments, the private sector, and citizens working together, we can gradually reduce our dependence on carbon-intensive transport modes. 

Government

The majority of the responsibility for carbon-free mobility can be attributed to our policymakers. Here are some steps that policymakers can take to make mobility a help, not a hindrance, to net-zero efforts.

• Double down on current public transport options. Increase the frequency of buses, trains, and trolleys. Continue to replace diesel buses with electric alternatives. Investigate the benefits of a congestion tax.

• Promote the use of new mobility solutions. Take space away from cars while building safe lanes for bikes and tree-lined walkways for pedestrians. Deploy economic incentives for electric vehicles such as exclusive parking spots and inexpensive charging stations. Provide eVTOL providers with the accommodations necessary to get their plans off the ground. Enable electric scooter and bike companies to operate, and make it easier for them to expand their zones across municipal lines. Commission a study on what it would look like to create an extensive ferry system along the intracoastal waterway.

• Subsidize alternative transport modes. Follow the lead of cities such as Prague, where the local government pays up to 80% of the cost to operate public transportation. Create economic incentives for cycling like a bike bonus or bike to work scheme.

• Take advantage of national legislation. Florida stands to receive almost $20 billion in new federal funding from the Infrastructure Bill. Per capita, Florida is the state that will benefit least from this federal funding. Still, the Infrastructure Bill will likely have a positive effect on local mobility.

• Put the right people in place. Every transportation-focused government organization should have a Chief Decarbonization Officer to ensure real progress towards responsible decarbonisation.

Companies and industry

Miami is a top destination for mobility innovators. Our rise to prominence as a global tech hub has the potential to accelerate this trend.

• Advocate. Continue to push the local government to make policy decisions that reflect the interests of the majority of Miamians (e.g., deploying electric scooters).

• Collaborate. Partner with our local universities to further develop the innovations that will change transportation for the better. Work with local citizens and organizations that are passionate about alternative mobility solutions.

• Promote. Spread the word about how your approach to mobility disrupts the status quo. Communicate clearly your value to our whole community; don’t focus solely on early adopters.

• Incentivize. Seek to locate offices in locations with ample transit options, and provide subsidized passes to incentivize public transit use.

Citizens

While achieving carbon-free mobility requires systemic change above all, we the people are far from powerless.

• Keep an open mind. Try swapping a drive for a train ride. Take a spin on an electric scooter. Leave for your appointment a bit early and walk.

• Ditch the gas guzzler. Consider sharing a car with your roommate, spouse, or neighbor. Crunch the numbers on what it would look like to replace your private drive with a mix of public transportation and ridesharing. Investigate purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle if necessary.

• Share your experiences using alternative mobility modes. Tell your friends and family about the benefits of new ways of getting around town. Write or call your elected officials to hold them accountable for enabling carbon-free mobility.