Miami-Dade scrambles to find healthy bus drivers

The Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works had 115 vacancies for full-time bus drivers as of Jan. 18, and 71 Metrobus drivers were out due to a positive Covid-19 test. “That’s 4.59% from the 1,545 bus operators in our workforce,” said Luis Espinoza, department spokesperson.

More than 50 Metrobus operators volunteer to run extra service on a daily basis, which still leaves a gap of 21 drivers not on the road for Covid-19 related reasons. The department is actively recruiting bus operators and currently, 33 trainees are expected to graduate and become part of the drivers’ fleet by February.

As of Jan. 20, Miami-Dade suspended two routes, the 39 Express, which travels between the South Dade Government Center and Dadeland South Metrorail station, serving on average 247 weekday passengers; and route 103/C, traveling from Mt. Sinai Medical Center to South Beach along Indian Creek Road/Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue, which serves on average 227 weekday passengers. The alternative routes are 31 Busway Local and 38 Busway MAX, and 113/M, respectively.

Additionally, the 95 Golden Glades Express downtown northbound trips’ schedules were modified, as were the Dolphin Express route eastbound and westbound.

“As we continue to assess the current situation, we are taking a proactive approach to minimize service impacts to our riders,” said Eulois Cleckley, department director and CEO, in a press note.

The daily average of Covid-19 cases in Miami-Dade as of Jan. 18 reached 13,332, according to a report from The New York Times. In the past 14 days 34% of covid tests have been positive, and since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 at least one in three county residents has been infected, for a total of a little over 1 million reported cases.

Those interested in driving buses for the county can visit www.miamidade.gov/transit to learn about eligibility requirements, salaries and benefits. Updates about changes in any ridership service can be found at www.miamidade.gov/alerts.