Florida DOT is opening a tolled HOV lane on I-95 in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties in Florida. Along with this, the FTA is starting a Bus Rapid Transit route that will run in the new lane.

http://95express.com/home/bustransit.shtm

Since I-95 runs right next to the TriRail tracks, and two of the park & ride lots are probably concurrent with or a short distance from TriRail stations, I wonder what the rationale is here. Are they trying to kill off TriRail? The advantage of the bus is that it will go directly to downtown Miami, whereas TriRail passengers have to transfer to MetroRail.

I have seen this mode used as a stalking horse by interests at all levels to block rail transit. There were various groups that tried to block it here, promoting Bus Rapid Transit investment being a fraction of what Central LINK was going to cost. The first Bus Rapid Transit route operating in Central Puget Sound, Community Transit's SWIFT, connects Aurora Villiage with Everett Station, a multi-modal hub that includes SOUNDER Commuter Rail. Then again, SWIFT does not Parallel SOUNDER. King County Metro is adding several RapidRide lines, the first line, the A-line, will be terminating at International Boulevard Station in Tukwilla, instead of competing with rail, it will be feeding it.

Although you might have a point, having a Rapid BUs paralell a Commuter Rail route might be an attempt to draw passengers away from it. Depends on the stop spacing.