For decades Miami has been dominated by car travel, but as congestion clogs roads and more pedestrians and cyclists are killed, the city is embracing a broad push for new transit options. While ideas for new rail and bus service often get the most attention, smaller projects aimed at improving travel for cyclists and pedestrians are quietly taking hold. We look at four Miami walkability and biking plans, in various stages of development, that could change how we get around.THE UNDERLINE IS UNDERWAYCyclists and pedestrians may be familiar with the M Path, a linear separated trail running about 10 miles alongside US-1 from South Miami to Brickell. A fixture for commuters and recreation alike, the M Path has endured decades of regular use with little in the way of renovation and updates beyond the occasional resurfacing and touch-ups.While the major roads that intersect it have had their share of revitalization, the M Path has been largely ignored. Those who navigate it contend with challenging roadway crossings, sidewalk curbs bisecting what should be a straight path, and an unsettling lack of lighting at night. That is all about to change.The Friends of the Underline are reforming Miami’s walkability through both municipal support and crowd sourcing, making the development of a world-class park space a product of the people’s vision. Drawing funding from The Miami Foundation’s Public Space Challenge, private and public donations, and opening the design process to public ideas and input, the Underline promises to be 10 miles of urban paradise. Boasting designs for market spaces, art installations, greenery, and fitness equipment, the Underline is an ambitious vision at an opportune moment in Miami.While waiting for the Underline to break ground, check out their installation at Vizcaya Metrorail Station from February 14 to 21. There, the Friends will set up multicolored lighting under the Metrorail, adding some technicolor life to the railway’s uniformly gray concrete architecture. A sweet bonus: The Friends will be promoting their project and giving away chocolate at Vizcaya station on Valentine’s Day, from 10 AM- Noon.Click here for the rest of the story.
