Executive Summary

In August 2024, Miami-Dade County voters considered a non-binding ballot question on expanding the County’s rapid mass transit system. Seventy-eight percent voted in favor.[1] Although the question had no funding or concrete action attached to it, the results prove there’s ample public support for advancing rapid transit projects. Miami-Dade has experienced increasing traffic congestion as well as demographic growth over the past few decades . These are factors that underscore the urgency of enhancing regional mobility and make the results of the straw ballot more significant.

Background & Context

Miami-Dade County is home to more than 2.7 million residents.[2] It is the most populous county in Florida and ranks among the top ten most populous counties in the United States.[3]

Public transportation is operated by Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) and includes three core services: 24 miles of heavy rail known as Metrorail, the fare-free Metromover urban core elevated people mover, and a Metrobus network of more than 90 routes, which was recently redesigned to offer better service to residents by increasing reliability and frequency.[4][5]

Congestion remains severe despite these assets. Drivers lose 105 to 147 hours per year in traffic, average commutes exceed 33 minutes, and rush-hour speeds fall to about 25 mph. [6][7]

Previous referendums have shaped Miami-Dade’s transit landscape. In 2002, voters approved the half-penny sales surtax under the People’s Transportation Plan (PTP), accompanied by the creation of the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT). While the surtax supported major service improvements, proposed Metrorail extensions have not materialized, eroding public trust.[8] Another step taken to move transportation forward came in 2016 with the launch of the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan.[9] The plan outlines six priority corridors—Beach, East– West, Kendall, North, Northeast, and the South Dade TransitWay—as the foundation for future expansion. The SMART Program is now advancing those corridors to expand and enhance the County’s transportation options. It represents a long-term vision for the region: strategic and far-reaching, designed to create a network of transportation options by leveraging existing infrastructure and integrating technology at the highest levels.

The Ballot Measure

In December 2023, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution R-1174- 23,[10] which authorized the placement of a non-binding straw ballot question on the August 20, 2024, primary election ballot. The purpose was not to approve specific projects or funding, but to capture a clear indicator of public opinion on whether the County should expand its rapid mass transit system.

Voters were asked:

“Does Miami-Dade County need to expand its existing rapid mass transit system? (Rapid mass transit is defined here as elevated Metrorail, passenger rail, and/or Metromover).”

This framing is significant for several reasons. First, it explicitly tied the question to Miami-Dade’s existing and planned fixed-guideway systems, distinguishing rapid transit from buses or other transportation modes. Second, by leaving out references to funding mechanisms or project timelines, it reduced the risk of voter resistance linked to tax increases or cost uncertainty. Instead, the question isolated the issue of need and allowed the electorate to deliver a clear yes-or-no response.

Importantly, the resolution emphasized that the vote would be advisory only. Legally, no action was directed by the result. However, politically, the vote was intended to strengthen the County’s hand by guiding priorities, leveraging state and federal support, and building public trust. Thus, while the measure itself did not allocate a single dollar, its weight was considerable.

Results

The August 20, 2024 straw ballot produced a decisive outcome: 78 percent of voters supported the expansion of rapid mass transit, while 22 percent opposed it.[1] The margin of victory was consistent across the County, with majorities in all thirteen commission districts, including areas not directly adjacent to planned rail corridors. The straw ballot reflected a strong consensus, suggesting that mobility challenges have become a unifying issue across geography, income, and political affiliation.

There was particularly high support in precincts near SMART Program corridors, such as the Beach and Northeast alignments, where voters could expect direct service improvements. Still, the fact that support was broad-based—even in communities less directly served—indicated recognition that regional mobility is a countywide concern.

Straw ballot results overlaid with SMART Program corridors

The 2024 straw ballot’s success is notable given the constraints of Florida election law, which prohibits the use of public funds to promote or oppose ballot measures.[11] Because taxpayer  resources could not be used for advocacy, the campaign to place the question before voters relied  heavily on grassroots organizations, civic groups, and the efforts of individual elected officials.  This coalition-driven approach proved effective: despite the absence of publicly funded outreach,  the question drew overwhelming approval at the polls, underscoring the depth of community support for expanded rapid transit in Miami-Dade.

The results also arrived at a pivotal moment in project delivery. The South Dade TransitWay, the  first of the SMART corridors under construction, is scheduled for completion in 2025, making the  straw ballot an endorsement of tangible progress.  

While non-binding, the outcome strengthened the County’s ability to pursue external funding.  Federal and state transportation agencies often consider community support when awarding competitive grants, and the 2024 vote offered unambiguous support.  

Finally, the straw ballot served as a barometer of public trust. After years of skepticism about  unrealized rail promises, the resounding “yes” vote suggested that residents are prepared to give  County leadership another opportunity—provided that new commitments are matched with visible  results. 

The Conclusion

The 2024 transportation straw ballot confirmed that expanding rapid transit is a priority for Miami-Dade residents. Nearly four out of five voters endorsed the idea, despite the legal and political limits of a non-binding measure. That support builds on decades of debate over congestion and mobility, from the unmet rail promises tied to the 2002 surtax to the launch of the SMART Program in 2016. 

Such broad support gives county officials room to advance projects now underway and to press for the next set of corridors. The vote also improves Miami-Dade’s standing in the competition for state and federal funds. What matters most, however, is converting this approval into concrete results that relieve congestion and reassure residents that their expectations will be met. 

Notes

[1] Primary Election Summary Results, Election Night Reporting (Florida), Aug. 20, 2024. https://enr.electionsfl.org/DAD/3616/Summary 

[2] U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census Data; Profile of Miami-Dade County:  https://data.census.gov/profile/Miami-Dade_County,_Florida?g=050XX00US12086 

[3] World Population Review, “US County Populations 2025.”  

https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-counties 

[4] Miami-Dade Transit official site, description of Metrobus, Metrorail, and Metromover.  https://www.miamidade.gov/transit/ 

[5] Miami-Dade County, “Better Bus Program.” Miami-Dade County Transportation. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/better-bus.page

[6] Axios, “Miami drivers spent 105 hours stuck in traffic in 2022,” Jan. 2023; TomTom Traffic  Index (2024); The Beat Florida (iHeart), March 2025 rush-hour study; CBS News Miami on  INRIX global congestion ranking. https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/01/11/miami-traffic congestion-2022 

[7] WLRN, “Ballot question to gauge voter support for expanding rapid transit in Miami-Dade  County,” July 12, 2024. https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2024-07-12/ballot-question to-gauge-voter-support-for-expanding-rapid-transit-in-miami-dade-county 

[8] Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust (CITT), “History of the People’s Transportation  Plan (PTP).” https://www.miamidade.gov/citt/history.asp 

[9] Miami-Dade County, “Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Program.” Miami-Dade  County Corridor Plans. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/transportation/corridor-plans.page 

[10] Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, Resolution R‑1174‑23 (Dec. 12,  2023). https://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legistarfiles/MinMatters/Y2023/232414min.pdf 

[11] State of Florida, “Florida Election Code – Campaign Financing,” Florida Statutes, §106.113,  Prohibition on use of public funds for political advertising or electioneering communications.  https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&UR L=0100-0199/0106/Sections/0106.113.html