A shuttle bus system, which began four years ago, to move Art Basel goers from the Shops at Midtown to various art fairs In Wynwood, Miami Beach & the mainland will not be returning to Art Basel 2009.

The funding is there. The staff, however, is not.

Zachary S. Fagenson of Miami Today reports:

"I contributed some money out of my budget," said Robert Parente, director of the Mayor's Office of Film and Cultural Affairs, which organized the shuttles. "Each fair contributed X number of dollars and [the system] was self-sustaining."

But amid city budget cuts, the office in October lost its $245,000 annual budget and Mr. Parente was forced to lay off his two-person staff...

..."We were in the process of gearing it up," Mr. Parente said. "We weren't sure if we were going to be successful based on [the fairs'] economic ability to participate, but once I lost all my staff it became a virtual impossibility."

With several buses on each route, Mr. Parente said, fairgoers could hop on a bus about every 15 minutes and, he estimated, 8,000 to 12,000 did.

Miami, particularly Miami Beach, is already know for nightmarish parking, so the loss of this Basel bus system will certainly be felt. Fortunately, Art Miami will still be running their shuttle system from the Shops at Midtown and Art Basel.

Hopefully, the smaller art fairs will be able to band together to develop some form of public transportation for Basel enthusiasts.

- Art Miami's Guide to Art Basel Transportation

- Plum's Coverage of Art Basel