The Seaport Connection

Destination Sign:
SEAPORT CONNECTION (Placard)

Vital stats:
Division- Paratransit
Service began October 15, 2000. 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Headway: 20 min. peak, 40 min. base. Runs 7 days a week.
Vehicles used: 11 passenger Dodge high-top vans.
Transfers punched as C43

This route is currently running but under a cloud of controversy. It was originally called the Seaport Shuttle, and had the same routing as the old Seaport Cruiser (Route 129) which ran from 1994 to 1996. Originally scheduled to start on September 24th, it was suspended with a lawsuit threat from a private van service that was charging ship crew members 3 bucks for a ride to and from the port. They say the 25 cent shuttle fare would've put them out of business. They have no type of contract with the county, by the way. And they do not pick up other port employees. They had to resort to hitchhiking or walking a mile into the port daily. Well they hired Sonny Holtzman, the all-mighty head of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, to represent them. And a deal was cut with MDTA. First the route's start point was moved from the downtown-CBD terminal over to the Government center a block away. Then the route was only allowed to serve the first island, the port occupies two. The fare was raised to $1.25, thus the name change. The usual two-week free introductory period was dropped. And the last one was a Friday thru Monday restriction on pickups. on certain hours downtown pickups are banned, while at other times there will be no pickups on the port. Sucks, huh? Well at least it's running, with nice ridership.