Margate residents who rely on public transportation could soon see shorter waits for buses along Sample Road. Broward County Transit is proposing to increase service on Route 34, with buses arriving every 15 minutes during much of the weekday.
The Broward County Commission is scheduled to consider setting a public hearing at its October 20 meeting. The hearing would take place November 10 at 10 a.m. at Governmental Center East in Fort Lauderdale, where commissioners would consider the proposed service improvements.
Route 34 travels along Sample Road from Federal Highway in Pompano Beach to Coral Ridge Drive in Coral Springs. The route serves Margate and several neighboring communities, providing transportation to shopping centers, employment areas, and other destinations.
Under the proposal, weekday buses would operate every 15 minutes between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. Current weekday service runs approximately every 31 minutes. The change would nearly double the frequency of buses during those hours, reducing the time passengers spend at bus stops.
The route is among Broward County Transit’s more heavily used services. County records show 428,143 passenger trips year to date, with an average of 1,819 daily riders. Route 34 ranks sixth in the county’s transit system for passengers carried per service hour.
For Margate residents, the proposed improvements could make public transportation more practical for daily travel. More frequent buses would help passengers reach destinations along Sample Road with less time between departures. The change could also benefit workers whose schedules make long waits between buses inconvenient.
The county’s proposed route map identifies several destinations along the corridor, including Coral Landings, Coral Springs High School, and Tradewinds Park. The route also provides access to the Pompano Beach Tri-Rail Station and Broward Health North.
The improvements are part of Broward County’s Premium Mobility Plan, known as PREMO, which commissioners approved in May 2023. The plan identified corridors where more frequent transit service could improve transportation without the expense of major infrastructure projects.
Unlike dedicated bus rapid transit systems, the proposed high-frequency buses would continue to operate in regular traffic. The county plans to improve service primarily through additional vehicles and more frequent departures.
The proposal also includes improvements to Route 7 along Hollywood and Pines boulevards. Both corridors were selected because existing ridership supports more frequent service.
For Route 34, the county proposes to maintain the current overall hours of operation while increasing weekday frequency during the busiest portion of the day. The county has not included a cost estimate in the October 20 agenda item. Financial details are expected to accompany the November public hearing.
County commissioners must complete the required public involvement process before authorizing the new service.