MIA Mover

The MIA Mover is an automated people mover (APM) system which opened at the Miami International Airport (MIA) in metropolitan Miami, Florida, United States on September 9, 2011. The MIA Mover is designed to quickly transport landside passengers between Miami International Airport's Main Terminal and the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC). The MIA Mover is one of three separate automated people movers operating at the airport. The others are the Skytrain, which operates within Concourse D, and the MIA e Train people mover connecting Concourse E's satellite building.[3]

MIA Mover
MIA Mover en route to the MIA Station
Overview
Type	People mover
Status	Operating
Locale	Miami International Airport
Termini	Central Terminal Miami Intermodal Center
Stations	2
Services	1
Operation
Opened	September 9, 2011
Operator(s)	Miami-Dade Aviation Department[1]
Character	Serves non-sterile areas of the airport
Rolling stock	Mitsubishi Crystal Mover vehicles
Technical
Line length	1.27 miles (2.04 km)[2]
Operating speed	43 miles per hour (69 km/h) (top)
Highest elevation	Elevated

History

In 2007, construction of a people mover instead of an extension of the existing Metrorail system to the airport became the preferred option for local authorities to provide greater connectivity to the airport terminals (Metrorail will connect at Miami Airport Station).[4] On March 2, 2009, ground was officially broken for the project.[5] Projected to transport 48,000 daily visitors by 2020, the MIA Mover construction utilized design-build methods and was paid for from a combination of revenue from the Miami-Dade Aviation Department’s Capital Improvement Program and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).[2][5]

In May 2012, MIA Mover suffered a minor derailment, and a breakdown in July 2017 required riders to walk along the tracks escorted by fire fighters.[6]

System

MIA Mover (black) connects to many transit systems at the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC).

Costing an estimated $259 million to complete, the 1.27 miles (2.04 km) link travels east from the MIA Station, to Central Boulevard and finally to NW 21st Street, where it curves north into the MIC Station.[2][7] The ride lasts approximately three minutes. The concrete guideways are generally elevated an average of 40 feet (12 m) above grade and are supported by concrete piers every 120 feet (37 m).[8] The vehicles used are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Movers (The same model also operates on the Skytrain in Concourse D).

Stations

Miami International Airport
Gates MIA e Train Gates E20–E33 Concourse E Satellite Skytrain Station 4 D40–D60 0E2–E11 Concourse E Maintenance facility Station 3 D26–D39 Concourse F Concourse G Concourse H Station 2 D20–D25 Concourse J Station 1 D1–D19 SR 953 ( Le Jeune Road ) Rental car center Miami Intermodal Center MIA Mover Metrorail Orange Line to Dadeland South Tri-Rail to Mangonia Park

Rendering of the now completed MIC

The MIA Mover has two stations: the MIC Station and the MIA Station.

'MIC Station' The MIC Station is the eastern terminus of the line located on the fourth floor of the MIC.[7] The station contains direct access to the MIC's rental car center and Miami Airport Station where connections can be made to Metrorail, Tri-Rail, buses and taxicabs.[7] The station is being constructed by FDOT.[2]

'MIA Station' The MIA Station is the western terminus of the line located on the third floor of the main terminal building between the Flamingo and Dolphin Parking Garages.[7] Constructed by MDAD, a storage and maintenance facility for the APM vehicles is located beneath the MIA Station.[2]

See also

• List of airport people mover systems
• Transportation in Miami
• Metromover
• Metrorail
• Tri-Rail
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

References

1. "Miami Intermodal Center". www.micdot.com. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
2. Schroeder, (2009) p. 128.
3. Miami-Dade Aviation Department. "Miami International Airport: MIA Mover & Rental Car Center (RCC)". Retrieved January 9, 2010.
4. Lebowitz, Larry (February 9, 2007). "People mover favored for MIA". The Miami Herald.
5. Staff Reporters (March 2, 2009). "MIA Mover breaks ground". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
6. Alex Harris (July 24, 2017). "MIA travelers walk along tracks after their airport train breaks down". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
7. Miami Intermodal Center. "Miami Intermodal Center: MIA Mover". Retrieved January 9, 2010.
8. Schroeder, (2009) p. 129.

Bibliography

• Schroeder, B.M. "MIA Mover APM: A Fixed Facilities Design-Build Perspective." Automated People Movers, 2009: Connecting People, Connecting Places, Connecting Modes: Proceedings of the Twelfth International Conference, May 31-June 3, 2009 : Atlanta, Georgia. Ed. Robert R. Griebenow. American Society of Civil Engineers.