The Miami International Airport (MIA) took a visible step forward in its ambitious transformation process this Friday with the opening of a new parking facility with 2,240 spaces.
The project marks the tangible beginning of a modernization plan valued at over 9 billion dollars, aimed at completely transforming the experience of passengers and workers in the coming years.
The mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniella Levine Cava, led the opening ceremony of the modern garage, which goes into operation right before the peak travel season for the year-end holidays, one of the busiest operational periods for the airport terminal.
According to authorities, the project was completed not only six to eight months ahead of schedule but also delivered under budget, a rather uncommon occurrence in large public works, presented as evidence of the new management phase the airport is undergoing.
"The first work of great impact among many to come."
During the inauguration, Levine Cava emphasized that the new parking facility goes far beyond addressing a longstanding issue of parking shortages at MIA.
In his opinion, the work serves as an introduction to the gigantic investment plan that is currently underway.
"This is not just something to improve the parking situation. It indicates that we can carry out large projects, like this $9 billion investment. This is the first major project of many to come," the mayor stated, as reported by Diario Las Américas.
The official also emphasized that the garage will start operating "just before Christmas," at a critical time of high demand, and recalled that the airport had faced criticism for years due to its aging infrastructure and deficiencies in basic services.
“We are improving every day, and that is reflected in user evaluations. The elevators, escalators, and shopping and dining areas are already functioning better. All of that was very old, and a historic investment had to be made,” explained Levine Cava.
The mayor anticipated that the upcoming milestones will include new terminals, hundreds of renovated restrooms, more boarding gates, and new entrances to accommodate the sustained growth of air traffic.
A modern, sustainable garage designed for the future
The new parking facility has seven levels, 2,240 spaces, and 50 charging stations for electric vehicles, with the capacity to expand up to 400.
It also features energy-efficient LED lighting and Parksmart Silver environmental certification, which recognizes sustainable practices in parking facilities.
The project was developed in collaboration with a private contractor and is designed to accommodate the projected growth of the airport, both in passenger volume and in the transition towards cleaner mobility.
Upcoming megaprojects already in progress
During the event, the authorities outlined other key projects included in the modernization plan:
-Sala K, the first expansion of MIA in 15 years, with a budget of 750 million dollars, will add six new boarding gates and over 34,000 square feet for concessions and waiting areas. Construction will begin this summer and conclude in 2029.
-Extension D60 of the North Terminal, a project valued at 1 billion dollars, will go to public auction next summer and is set to be completed in 2030.
Modernization of the Central Terminal, with an investment of 800 million dollars to renew an infrastructure that is 78 years old, including a new facade with increased natural light, upgraded TSA checkpoints, and new commercial spaces.
The completion is scheduled for 2031.
Institutional pride and accelerated modernization
The Director and CEO of Miami International Airport, Ralph Cutie, described the opening of the new parking facility as a collective achievement and a source of pride for the institution.
"It is a moment of great pride to open a garage that was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. It is a success for the team that worked so hard to achieve this goal,” he noted.
Cutie noted that the parking lot is part of a comprehensive investment plan that will profoundly transform the airport's infrastructure in the coming years.
“In the next five or six years, we will complete major projects that will completely transform our airport,” he added.
Political support and focus on the user
The chairwoman of the Airport Committee and commissioner of District 8, Danielle Cohen Higgins, emphasized the exceptional nature of the project.
"This project is ahead of schedule and below budget. That doesn’t usually happen in government, and it’s truly extraordinary,” he said, while inviting those present to become "ambassadors" of the airport and to share the achievements made.
In the same vein, the commissioner of District 6, Natalie Milian Orbis, emphasized the direct impact on users.
"Today it is about real and tangible improvements. This project is focused on the user experience: travelers, families, and the thousands of employees who keep the airport running," he stated.
Milian Orbis recalled that MIA welcomed nearly 56 million passengers last year, and it is projected to reach 77 million annually by 2040, making smart and practical improvements like this garage essential.
The commissioner also emphasized the economic impact of the airport, which “supports over 800,000 jobs and generates more than 100 billion dollars in economic activity in Florida,” and noted that the Modernization in Action plan aims not only to expand MIA but also to “fix it.”
Technology and biometric control
In parallel with the opening of the parking lot, the airport announced the recent implementation of a biometric system to streamline security checks.
These are eGates from the company CLEAR, installed in the TSA PreCheck lines, that allow for passenger identity verification without the need to present physical documents.
With the new garage now in operation, authorities affirm that Miami International Airport is beginning to show concrete results of its transformation, precisely as millions of travelers are preparing to move during the year-end holidays and amidst sustained growth that necessitates a complete rethinking of its infrastructure.
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