MIAMI -- It's not going to be easy getting South Floridians out of the driver's seat.

First of all, automobiles offer drivers a sense of autonomy.

Then there's the social status many South Florida drivers like to emphasize via their vehicles.

Finally, there's the simple fact that South Florida's mass-transit system doesn't really appeal to the masses -- but like rush hour, it's slowly getting there.

Mass-Transit Makeover Goes Tri-County

Cross-county commuters now have more options getting to work, while saving gas money and time stuck behind the wheel.

Tri-Rail recently introduced an expanded train schedule. The train now offers service every 20 to 30 minutes during rush hours since the completion of a double-tracking project and the construction of the New River Bridge in Fort Lauderdale.

Tri-Rail has also added 10 new trains to its fleet, allowing the struggling rail service to expand its schedule, according to a Miami-Dade Transit news release.

Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) provides a rail connection to Tri-Rail at the Metrorail/Tri-Rail station. Commuters can board a Tri-Rail train from as far away as West Palm Beach and transfer to Metrorail for free at the Tri-Rail/Metrorail transfer station in Hialeah.

They can then continue their trip to downtown Miami, the Civic Center, Dadeland or any other station on the Metrorail line.

Broward and Palm Beach commuters also can take Tri-Rail to the Golden Glades station, where they can connect to one of many MDOT bus routes, according to Tri-Rail.

Metrorail passengers can transfer to Tri-Rail at the Metrorail/Tri-Rail station to access all three of South Florida's major airports: Miami International, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International, and West Palm Beach International.

Bus Pilot Program Succeeding On Shoulder

If you take the Don Shula or Snapper Creek expressway on your way to work and see a Miami-Dade Transit bus traveling in the shoulder, don't be alarmed.

Buses on MDT's KAT routes started using the shoulders of both expressways in March in order to bypass congestion, improve on-time performance, and encourage more commuters to use transit as an alternative to gridlock.

The pilot program allows buses using the two expressways to enter the shoulder whenever speeds on the regular lanes drop below 25 mph, according to the MDT July newsletter.

The buses can travel on the shoulder up to 35 mph, and they must re-enter the main travel lanes whenever there is a breakdown or emergency vehicle on the shoulder, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

According to the MDT, the pilot program eventually could be expanded to other expressways and has already shown signs of success, with a significant improvement in on-time performance.

Downtown Miami Condos Cater To Mass Transit

There isn't much separating the massive amount of new condos cluttering downtown Miami's skyline.

But the developer of the four loft concept condo projects located one block west of Biscayne Boulevard, has found a selling niche in mass transit.

The Related Group reported $1.4 billion in residential sales in 2006 -- a large chunk of the change was thanks to the sell-out of the "Loft" projects, which cut building costs by eliminating parking garages, forcing residents to rely on Miami-Dade's mass-transit system.

All four buildings are within one block of the Metrorail station -- one of the buildings actually has the Metromover running through the center of it.

The Related Group considers the loft concept such a success. They plan to take the model nationwide, with projects planned for Tampa, Charlotte, N.C.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Toledo, Ohio.

To see the new Tri-Rail schedule, click here. or call 1-800-TRI-RAIL.

For Metrorail and Metrobus schedules, click here or call 305-770-3131. (Residents south of Southwest 216th Street should call 305-891-3131.)