Weather Forecast: Rain On Miami-Dade Bus

MIAMI, FL — No, it wasn't an open-air bus. But the union that represents Miami-Dade transit workers claimed it was raining on passengers inside a county bus on Monday. What's more, union officials said that "dozens" of Miami-Dade buses were taken out of service because of leaky buses or windshield wipers that weren't working properly.

"Is it any wonder bus ridership is down on Miami-Dade Transit," charged Transport Workers Local 291. "As this photo taken today shows, it’s raining outside — and inside — Miami-Dade Transit buses."

Miami-Dade transportation officials, however, insisted that the union had taken a wrong turn on its facts.

"Today, we only had one call regarding water entering a bus," Miami-Dade Transportation and Public Works spokesperson Karla Damian told Patch on Monday night. "That translates to only .006 percent of any issues dealing with buses leaking, or having any wiper problems from the severe rain today."

Damian added that the county is in the midst of upgrading the system.

"The Department of Transportation and Public Works is in the process of replacing older buses, which are scheduled to be replaced by 170 brand new compressed natural gas buses," Damian said.

Local 291 has urged county residents to vote for candidates who are "committed to improving public mass transit — and supporting transit workers."

Photo courtesy Local 291