The Underline

Last updated
The Underline
Miami Underline near north end.jpg
Length10.5 mi (16.9 km)
Location Miami, Florida, United States
UseCycling, Walking, Hiking, Jogging, Yoga, Fitness Classes, and Concerts, with Free Wi-Fi, Art Installations, Public Restrooms, and Bike Repair stations.
SeasonYear round
Surface Asphalt
Website The Underline

The Underline is a 10-mile linear park being developed in Miami-Dade County, Florida. When complete, it will run underneath the county's elevated Metrorail system from the Miami River near Brickell to the Metrorail's southern terminus at Dadeland South. The project is essentially upgrading a pre-existing bike path, known as the M-Path, into a full linear park. As of 2024, the first phase of The Underline was completed in the Brickell area on February 26, 2021. The second phase, which runs from Brickell to just south of Vizcaya station, was completed on April 24, 2024. [1] The third and final phase will be completed in 2026. [2] [3]

Contents

Route

Brickell station exercise park and MetroPath sign opened in 2016 Brickell station exercise park and M-Path sign.jpg
Brickell station exercise park and MetroPath sign opened in 2016

The Underline begins at the Miami River in the Brickell neighborhood of Downtown Miami. At the river, it connects to the Miami River Greenway. From here, it runs south underneath the Metrorail through Brickell, Coral Gables, and Kendall, where it will end at the Dadeland South station. [2]

At Dadeland South, The Underline is planned to connect with the proposed Ludlam Trail linear park. [4] It will also connect with the 20.5 mi (33 km) South Dade Rail Trail beyond Dadeland South, which runs along the South Dade rapid transit busway (also former Florida East Coast Railway right of way) all the way to Florida City. [5] Together, the two paths form a continuous 31 mi (50 km) off-road trail for pedestrians and cyclists. [6] Both trails are part of the ambitious East Coast Greenway project.

Brickell Backyard

The first phase consists of the north end of the line, which is called the Brickell Backyard. The Brickell Backyard is an urban park along The Underline that includes the Typoe Sculpture Garden, a sound stage plaza, Urban Gym with basketball court, workout stations, and a running track, as well as butterfly gardens with native plants that surround gathering spaces. [2]

Hammock Trail

The second phase consists of a linear trail between the Brickell Backyard and SW 19th Ave. This part of The Underline rehabilitates over 100,000 native plants and trees. It includes the Hammock Playground, Vizcaya Station Plaza, and the Rain Garden. [2]

History

The MetroPath bridge over the entrance to the Snapper Creek Expressway opened in 2011. MetroPath Snapper Creek bridge.jpg
The MetroPath bridge over the entrance to the Snapper Creek Expressway opened in 2011.

The Underline's predecessor, the MetroPath (M-Path), was mostly built along with the Metrorail and opened in 1984. This segment of the Metrorail was built along the former right of way of the Florida East Coast Railway's main line between Miami and Kendall, which was abandoned in 1972 and purchased by Miami-Dade County in 1979. [7] The M-Path has been popular among cyclists, some of whom use it to commute to and from downtown, as well as runners. [8]

In late 2011, the MetroPath was extended and a 200 ft (61 m) bridge was added over the freeway style entrance to the Snapper Creek Expressway (S.R. 878) near Dadeland North station to complete the M-Path [9] with the exception of a few small breaks at major road crossings such as near the north end at Coral Way (SW 13 Street) in Brickell and the Douglas Road area around Bird Road in Coral Gables.

In 2014, plans were made to revamp the M-Path as a linear park, taking after the popular High Line in New York City, by a group known as "Friends of the GreenLink. [10] The University of Miami assisted in the procurement of the idea. [11] Into 2015, led by founder Meg Daly, the proposal gained momentum and rebranded itself as [Friends of] "The Underline". Actual design work was done by James Corner, and the project was recognized by the county. [12]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludlam Trail</span>

The Ludlam Trail is a proposed 5.6-mile (9 km) shared-use linear park rail trail in Miami-Dade County, Florida, that will follow the former Florida East Coast Railway Little River Branch between NW 7th Street and SW 80th Street. The trail is planned to provide safe and direct pathways for walking, running, and cycling, as well as connect schools, parks, transit stops, residences, workplaces, and shopping areas. The trail is envisioned as part of the "Miami Loop", a network of bikeways that also includes the Perimeter Trail, the Miami River Greenway, and The Underline. A groundbreaking ceremony was held October 26, 2021. Construction is anticipated to start fall of 2026.

References

  1. ↑ Duran, Jose D. (2024-04-24). "The Underline's Phase Two Along U.S. 1 Is Now Open". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Phases". The Underline. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  3. ↑ "Phase 3, The Underline". www.miamidade.gov. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  4. ↑ "Ludlam Trail". Miami-Dade County. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  5. ↑ "South Dade Trail". TrailLink.com. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ Garcia, Tony (January 4, 2012). "Cyclists to celebrate closing M-Path's Dadeland Gap". Transit Miami. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  7. ↑ "FEC Historical Timeline". Florida East Coast Railway Society. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ↑ Bryant, Chuck (December 4, 2008). "The Asphalt Metro-Path That Runs Under The Metrorail". Run the Planet. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  9. ↑ "M-Path Extension Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail". Florida Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  10. ↑ Robbins, John Charles (June 18, 2014). "Will Miami's Metrorail shade a linear park?". Miami Today. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  11. ↑ Robbins, John Charles (September 10, 2014). "10-mile linear park gets new look". Miami Today. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  12. ↑ "THE UNDERLINE". miamidade.gov. Miami-Dade County. November 10, 2015. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
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