The Underline
Length10.5 mi (16.9 km)
LocationMiami, 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
SurfaceAsphalt
WebsiteThe 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 2022, the first phase of the Underline is complete in the Brickell area. The second phase, which will run from Brickell to just south of Vizcaya station, is set to be complete in December 2023. The full park will be complete in fall of 2026.[1]

Route

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.[1]

At Dadeland South, the Underline is planned to connect with the proposed Ludlam Trail linear park.[2] 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.[3] Together, the two paths form a continuous 31 mi (50 km) off-road trail for pedestrians and cyclists.[4] Both trails are part of the ambitious East Coast Greenway project.

Brickell Backyard

The north end of the line includes 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 track, as well as butterfly gardens with native plants that surround gathering spaces.[1]

History

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.[5] The M-Path has been popular among cyclists, some of whom use it to commute to and from downtown, as well as runners.[6]

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[7] 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.[8] The University of Miami assisted in the procurement of the idea.[9] 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.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Phases". The Underline. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "Ludlam Trail". Miami-Dade County. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  3. ↑ "South Dade Trail". TrailLink.com. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "FEC Historical Timeline". Florida East Coast Railway Society. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  6. ↑ Bryant, Chuck (December 4, 2008). "The Asphalt Metro-Path That Runs Under The Metrorail". Run the Planet. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  7. ↑ "M-Path Extension Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail". Florida Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  8. ↑ Robbins, John Charles (June 18, 2014). "Will Miami's Metrorail shade a linear park?". Miami Today. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ Robbins, John Charles (September 10, 2014). "10-mile linear park gets new look". Miami Today. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  10. ↑ "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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