Dangerous Metromover

Follow-up: Downtown News contacted Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, District 5, regarding the 4 brutal attacks that took place within two weeks in the Metromover.

DN: Many downtown residents are concerned — scared is a better word — about the recent violence in the Metromover. A young lady was brutally attacked, and Sunday morning a 74-year-old gentleman was also attacked and sent to the hospital. I’d like to know what Commissioner Higgins thinks about this?

Commissioner Higgins’ Office: Commissioner Higgins just sent the attached memo to Mayor Gimenez regarding this exact issue. Our office is working to coordinate a community meeting later this week with residents, DTPW, Miami-Dade County Police, and the Mayor’s office to discuss the immediate adjustments to safety protocols on public transit that need to be made.

The Memo to Mayor Gimenez

Early this month, a female resident suffered a horrific attack on our Metromover system and this weekend an older gentleman suffered a similar attack. Today, I received a statement from the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) where they indicated they were “appalled by the recent incidents.” They did not, however, make mention of how security measures were improved between the first and second attacks to keep our residents safe.

After hearing of the attack this weekend, I rode the Metromover system on Sunday and again today. At the stations I entered and exited, there were no visible increases in security on either day nor at most stations in between. That’s why I am requesting information on these attacks and additional safety protocols put in place to keep county residents safe while utilizing public transportation.

Please be advised that I am calling for a District 5 Community Meeting on Metromover Safety to take place this week. My staff has already reached out to the Miami-Dade Police Department, DTPW, and your office to coordinate the details of the Zoom Community Meeting. I have called this meeting so that DTPW can listen firsthand to riders’ experiences with safety on the Mover and so that the DTPW can share how it intends to immediately adjust safety protocols to keep our transit riders safe.

The safety of our residents is paramount. It’s equally important for them to feel safe using our transit system. I urge the Department to move swiftly and decisively to address this issue.

The Meeting

Sep 25, 2020 04:00 PM. Please register here http://bit.ly/metromoversafety

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in conversation those in charge of safety.