Miami is studying how it will buy and manage its trolley services as the city works to replace an aging fleet with a more efficient, electric system.
The city commission directed City Manager on Sept. 24 to complete a comprehensive market study before choosing a procurement method. The study must review the existing fleet, operating costs, service levels and the vehicles and service the city will need as it grows.
The effort supports a longer-term plan to replace the trolleys with battery-electric buses by 2035, at an estimated cost of $56 million. Depending on the method chosen, a single company could be responsible for running the service and for providing and maintaining the vehicles.
Miami’s trolley program dates to 1906, when electric streetcars first ran on city streets, and ended in 1940. The city restarted it in 2012 to ease traffic and offer free rides in underserved areas.
A December 2023 study by Kimley-Horn counted 56 trolleys in the fleet, each averaging about 25,971 miles a year. It recommended battery-electric buses over fuel-cell models, citing cost, proven performance and easier access to charging. The city has also bought replacements with state and grant money, including $1.8 million from the state in 2024 and a $1.1 million Florida Department of Transportation grant accepted in November 2025.
The resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Rolando Escalona, requires the manager to consult the chief procurement officer. The manager must present findings and a recommended approach to the commission before moving forward. The resolution does not set a deadline.
