The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), operator of Tri-Rail, told the Miami-Dade TPO on Oct. 30 that it will end a first/last-mile pilot that had matched FDOT funds with Uber, Lyft and taxis after data showed the program cost more than the ridership benefit it produced.

SFRTA staff said the agency will request permission from FDOT to reprogram the pilot funding toward capital projects. The agency also said it will bring a fare-structure proposal to its December meeting that could include a flat fee that would replace zone-based fares; staff noted success with a $5 weekend fare that gave riders an incentive to try the system.

SFRTA said it is studying fare-collection improvements and that a flat fee could be applied systemwide or with different pricing for express services; the board did not take a formal action on fare policy during the TPO meeting but the report indicates those changes will come through SFRTA’s governing process.

Why it matters: Redirecting pilot funds to capital projects and simplifying fares could affect Tri-Rail’s ridership dynamics, capital program and funding requests to FDOT and other partners.

Next steps: SFRTA will seek FDOT approval to reallocate funds and will return to its board in December with a formal fare proposal and capital-prioritization recommendations.