Little Havana Transit Benches

About Have a Seat – Little Havana Transit Benches

The Have a Seat project aims to enhance the transit experience for Little Havana residents who ride the Miami-Dade County bus and City of Miami trolley. Little Havana residents use public transit three times more than the general population in Miami-Dade County, but because of constraints in the right-of-way, there are many locations without a bench to wait for the service. We’ve heard from Little Havana residents that there is a need for a better public transportation system, including more amenities at transit stops. Through this project, 35 narrow benches will be installed in and around Little Havana. The benches will not only enhance how current transit riders move around in their community but will encourage new residents to consider transit as a transportation option. Making this small change can have a positive impact on community health and increase social connection.

We would not be able to implement this type of project without the support of both the City and County Commissioner. The City of Miami District 3 Commissioner Joe Carollo has led a resolution that was adopted on February 24, 2020. The resolution provides the support of the City to accept the 35 benches and commits the City to installing and maintaining the asset.

This project is an expansion of an AARP-funded pilot project, which UHP led to install 12 benches in an area of Little Havana with a large older adult population.

AARP Community Challenge Grant 2018: Providing a Place to Sit While Waiting for a Bus

Here are the locations of the 12 that were previously installed:

About Funders:

This project was made possible by the 2019 Public Space Challenge, a program of The Miami Foundation with support from Target.

The Miami Foundation

The Miami Foundation partners with donors to champion their causes and improve local quality of life. Since 1967, we’ve done this by taking leadership on civic issues, investing in our community and nurturing philanthropy. Thanks to our more than 1,000 donors, we currently manage over $360 million in assets and have made almost $300 million in grants that create opportunities for residents, make Miami-Dade County more resilient and foster home-grown creativity.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner District 5 – Eileen Higgins

Eileen Higgins was elected on June 19th, 2018 to serve as the County Commissioner for District 5. A dynamic and vibrant district, she represents parts of Miami Beach, Downtown, and Brickell as well as Coral Way neighborhoods like the Roads, Silver Bluff, and Shenandoah — along with Little Havana and West Flagler to the north. From more reliable transportation to sea level rise, from affordable housing to better-paying jobs, she is a champion for the policies that help everyone in our community succeed.