For decades, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce has championed Miami-Dade's transportation agenda, working alongside government partners to turn ambitious visions into tangible realities. This week's opening of the South Dade Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor represents more than just a new transit line; it's a testament to what sustained advocacy, strategic leadership, and unwavering commitment can achieve. This milestone marks the culmination of nearly ten years of dedicated effort that began on our CEO, Alfred Sanchez's, very first day as president of the Chamber.
Major infrastructure doesn't happen overnight, and frankly, it shouldn't. Projects of this magnitude require careful planning, coalition building, and persistent advocacy through multiple budget cycles and administrative changes. The Chamber understood this from day one, and we were prepared to champion this project for as long as it took.
Alfred vividly recalls that initial meeting with Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, then Chair of the Congressional Transportation Appropriations Committee, along with local transportation leaders Alice Bravo and Aileen Bouclé. The Representative's words were both a challenge and an opportunity: "I've funded scores of projects in other states and not one in my district!"
The Chamber took that challenge and ran with it, immediately mobilizing and taking a leadership role in shaping the vision for what would become the South Dade BRT corridor. Less than a year later, Alfred was back in the Representative's office, finalizing the schedule for a Small Starts grant application. But that was just the beginning. Over the next several years, the Chamber remained intricately involved, advocating for BRT adoption at every level, navigating federal funding processes, coordinating with local and state partners, and ensuring this project stayed on track even when challenges arose.
This is what our mission has and always will be - working behind the scenes to turn community priorities into reality. Projects like this require a long-term commitment, and we were honored to play that role. The Chamber's leadership was instrumental in securing that critical $110 million in federal funding, matched by state and local contributions. We were at the table, in the meetings, working alongside our partners and making the case for why this project mattered for South Dade and for our entire region.
This level of sustained, strategic involvement reflects the Greater Miami Chamber's commitment to our community. We identify what our region needs, build the coalitions to make it happen, and work tirelessly to keep momentum going, even when projects face inevitable obstacles. And when hard work pays off, we celebrate together with the partners who made it possible.
Today, that early collaboration and years of persistent advocacy have materialized into something truly special: a state-of-the-art, fully-electric bus rapid transit line—like a train on rubber wheels—running from Dadeland to Florida City. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that this is the only fully-electric BRT system in the country.
This new corridor does more than move people; it transforms lives and connects communities. Residents from Florida City can now seamlessly travel to Dadeland Mall and connect with the Metrorail system, completing their commute into downtown Miami and beyond. This means better access to jobs, education, healthcare, and opportunity. As the first corridor of the SMART Plan's six proposed routes to be fully funded and built, it sets the stage for the future of transit in Miami-Dade County, and the Greater Miami Chamber will continue to be deeply involved in bringing those remaining corridors to life.
Standing at today's ribbon-cutting ceremony, surrounded by the partners who made this possible, the significance of this moment was profound. In under nine years, we've moved mountains in transportation terms. But more importantly, we've proven what's possible when business leaders remain committed to long-term community impact.
For the Chamber, this project represents the heart of our mission: advocating for infrastructure that drives economic growth, improves quality of life, and positions Miami-Dade for the future. For our community, it represents connection, opportunity, and progress.
Alfred Sanchez emphasizes the broader lesson: "The opening of the BRT shows that transit solutions are possible for us in Miami-Dade County; we just have to work together to do it."
Yes, it took nearly a decade. But that's the reality of transformational change, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Because when you're building something that will serve generations to come, patience paired with persistence isn't just necessary, it's the only path forward.
This is what we do. This is why we're here. And as we celebrate this hard-won achievement, we're already looking ahead to the next chapter in Miami-Dade's transportation story - ready once again to lead, to advocate, and to deliver.
The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce continues to lead the charge for smart, sustainable transportation solutions that connect our communities and drive economic growth across Miami-Dade County. Want to learn more about our priorities?