Government Center (MDT station)

Government Center Metrorail metro station Metromover people mover station
Three modes of transit operating simultaneously at Government Center during afternoon rush hour.
Station statistics
Address	Metrorail: 101 NW First Street, Miami, Florida 33128 Metromover: 138 NW Third Street, Miami, Florida 33128
Coordinates	25°46′33″N 80°11′45″W
Lines	Metrorail:   Green Line   Orange Line (2012) Metromover:   Downtown Loop   Omni Loop   Brickell Loop
Connections	Metrobus: 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 21, 24, 51, 77, 93, 95, C (103), S (119), 120, 195, 207, 208, 246, 277 and 500 Broward County Transit (BCT): 95
Levels	4
Platforms	1 island platform (Metrorail) 2 side platforms (Metromover)
Parking	Privately owned spaces
Other information
Opened	May 20, 1984 (Metrorail) April 17, 1986 (Metromover)
Accessible
Code	GVT
Owned by	Miami-Dade County
Fare zone	Downtown Loop
Traffic
Passengers (2010)	3.1 million (Metrorail)  10%
Services
Preceding station   Metrorail   Following station Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre toward Palmetto Green Line Brickell toward Dadeland South Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre toward Airport Orange Line (2012) Preceding station   Metromover   Following station Miami Avenue toward Government Center Downtown Loop Arena/State Plaza One-way operation Arena/State Plaza One-way operation Brickell Loop Third Street toward Financial District Omni Loop Third Street toward School Board
Location

Government Center is a Metrorail and Metromover rapid transit transfer station in Downtown, Miami, Florida, United States.

It is the hub of most travel via Miami-Dade Transit (MDT), servicing the two metros, Metrobus, and Paratransit. Traffic at the Miami Central Station, opening in 2012, is expected to surpass that of Government Center and become the preeminent hub of MDT.

The station is located near the intersection of Northwest First Street and First Avenue, a part of the Stephen P. Clark Government Center Building, opening to service May 20, 1984.

History

View toward the southeast of the city center, with passenger trains and the Dade County Courthouse foreground, circa 1930s

Government Center was developed in the late 1890s as the southern terminus of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) from 1896 through 1905 (see Overseas Highway). FEC, and later, Seaboard Air Line Railroad intercity passenger rail (beginning in 1927 following the completion of the Dade County Courthouse two years prior), serviced the location continued through 1962.

Development of the civic center was reinvigorated during the 1970s and early 1980s during a Downtown building boom. The boom spurred the development and construction the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, Metrorail, Metromover, and the Miami-Dade Cultural Plaza, which currently includes the Miami Art Museum, the Historical Museum of Southern Florida and the Miami Main Library.

Construction on the present-day Government Center station began in June 1982. The station was primarily designed by the Cambridge Seven Associates in collaboration with Edward D. Stone. The station was built by the Frank J. Rooney Construction Company. Metrorail service, between Overtown and Kendall, following the precise route of the FEC, commenced service May 1984.

An unused, partially completed ghost platform for a future East-West Metrorail line is adjacent to the west side of the mezzanine level below the current Metrorail station and is easily visible to passengers transferring from Metromover to Metrorail. This platform was part of the original design concept which interfaced with the atrium of the Miami-Dade County Administration Building, and the people mover station.

Levels

A Metromover train waiting on the lower level of the Government Center station.

A Metrorail train is approaching the upper level of the Government Center station with the Dade County Courthouse in the background.

Level 1

The first floor of the Govenment Center complex is on the ground level of the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, which has access to the second level, and the Downtown (Inner) Loop platform of Metromover.

Level 2

The second floor of the Government Center complex includes the main fare control and operations of the metro system. It also features the Metrofare Shops area, which are open most weekdays and closed weekends and federal holidays.

Level 3

The third floor of the complex is a mezzanine for Metrorail and Metromover trains. Access to the Metrorail platform and both Metromover platforms provides for easy transfers. A ghost platform for the future east-west line is located on the floor.

Level 4

The fourth floor of the complex is the Metrorail platform. This section of the station is the highest transit platform of the Miami-Dade Transit system. The station is equipped with escalators and elevators.

Places of interest

• Downtown Miami
  • Neighborhoods: Omni, Park West, and Miami Jewelry District
• Miami Art Museum
• Historical Museum of Southern Florida
• Miami Main Library
• Stephen P. Clark Government Center
• Miami-Dade County Courthouse
• Museum Tower
• Courthouse Center
• U.S. Courthouse Building
• Freedom Tower
• The Congress Building
• Downtown Omni Bus Terminal
• American Airlines Arena
• Bayside Marketplace
• Flagler Street
• Bayfront Park
• Bicentennial Park
• Miami Art Museum
• Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
• New World School of the Arts
• Miami Dade College - Wolfson Campus
• Olympia Theater

Government Center with the Dade County Courthouse in the background and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida in the foreground on the right

Stephen P. Clark Government Center

Transit connections

Metrobus

Route #	Route Name	Route Map	Note
2	The Mall at 163rd Street via NW 2 Ave and North Miami Avenue	Map	Weekend service terminates at NE 84 St and 2 Ave
3	Aventura via Biscayne Boulevard	Map	24-hour service
7	Dolphin Mall via NW 7 St	Map
9	Aventura via NE 2 Ave	Map
11	Downtown Miami ↔ Florida International University (FIU) Modesto Maidique Campus via Flagler Street and West 107 Ave (SR 985)	Map	24-hour service; alternate terminus at Mall of the Americas
21	Northside station via West 12 Ave	Map
24	Westchester via Coral Way	Map	Interval service to FIU
51	Flagler MAX (Downtown Miami ↔ West Miami to West 137 Ave via Flagler St)	Map	Weekdays only; limited-stop
77	Downtown Miami ↔ Miami Gardens at Miami Gardens Drive/North 183 St or 199 St via NW 7 and 2 Aves. (US 441)	Map
93	Biscayne MAX (Aventura via Biscayne Boulevard)	Map	Weekdays only; limited-stop
95	95 Express (Golden Glades Tri-Rail station and Park and Ride Lot via I-95)	Map	Afternoon rush hours only
C (103)	Miami Beach via MacArthur Causeway	Map
S (119)	Aventura via Miami Beach and Collins Avenue	Map	24 hour service
120	Beach MAX (Aventura Mall via Miami Beach and Collins Ave)	Map	Limited-stop; weekend service terminates at Haulover Park
195	Dade-Broward Express (Ft. Lauderdale at Sheridan St or Broward Blvd via I-95)	Map Map	Weekday peak-hours only
207	Little Havana Connection (Downtown Miami ↔ Little Havana via SW 7 St & 1 St)	Map
208	Little Havana Connection (Downtown Miami ↔ Little Havana via Flagler Street & SW 8 St)	Map
246	Night Owl (Downtown Miami ↔ The Mall at 163rd St via Civic Center)	Map	Overnight service only
277	NW 7th Ave MAX (Downtown Miami ↔ Golden Glades station via NW 7 Ave)	Map	Weekday rush hour only; limited-stop
500	Midnight OWL (to Dadeland South station)	Map	Southbound overnight service only

BCT

Route #	Route Name	Route Map	Note
95	95 Express (Downtown Miami ↔ Pines Boulevard (SR 820) at Flamingo Road (SR 823) via I-95 and Pines Blvd)	Map	Weekday rush hour only; limited-stop

Gallery

• 

  The Government Center Metromover transfer station

• 

  A Metromover train is approaching Government Center station

• 

  Passengers exit a northbound Metrorail train during rush hour

• 

  Platforms overlooking the contemporary US Courthouse building.

• 

  The ghost platform that is on the mezzanine level

• 

  A closer view of the ghost platform

• 

  A Metrorail sign in the plaza

• 

  View toward the southeast of the city center, with the FEC passenger trains and the Dade County Courthouse foreground, circa 1930s

• 

  Critical Mass Miami assembling at Government Center

External links

• MDT – Government Center (Metrorail)
• MDT – Government Center (Metromover)
• 1st Street entrance from Google Maps Street View