After eight years of construction, The Underline completed its 10-mile pathway beneath the elevated Metrorail tracks in Miami this Thursday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony organized by the nonprofit Friends of The Underline to commemorate the milestone.
The Mayor of Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine-Cava, cut the green ribbon that officially inaugurated a corridor, transforming approximately 120 acres of linear public space between the Brickell area, along the Miami River, and the Dadeland South station in Kendall.
The corridor connects, in passing, eight Metrorail stations: Brickell, Vizcaya, Coconut Grove, Douglas Road, University, South Miami, Dadeland North, and Dadeland South.
The project was funded through a public-private partnership. Only Phase 3 —the largest, covering approximately 7.36 miles— cost 109.5 million dollars: 25 million came from a federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration, 56.65 million from local mobility impact fees, and the remainder from other sources.
The city of Miami committed up to an additional 50 million, and Friends of The Underline raised over 25.7 million in private donations.
The trail is officially named the Kenneth C. Griffin Urban Trail, in honor of the philanthropist who contributed five million dollars in 2021 to establish a long-term maintenance fund.
According to the Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works, the park will benefit 107,000 residents living within a 10-minute walk, providing access to a university, 24 schools, two hospitals, three urgent care centers, four major shopping centers, and over 10,000 businesses.
What it has and how to use it
The path features a 10-foot bidirectional bike lane and an 8-foot walking path, separated by a green strip. It also includes an outdoor gym, basketball and pickleball courts, dog parks, children's playgrounds, microforests, and public art spaces.
The trails are open 24 hours, seven days a week. The urban gym operates from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Security is provided by permanent surveillance funded by Miami-Dade, with cameras and LED lighting compatible with the Dark Sky standard, a common concern among neighbors of urban parks.
For those living in Little Havana, the most practical route is the free Little Havana trolley (MIAHAVA route), which operates from Monday to Saturday from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM and on Sundays from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, ending at the Brickell Metrorail/Metromover station, where the corridor begins. From Coral Gables, South Miami, and Kendall, the most direct access is via the Metrorail itself.
It is important to note that the Metrorail fare will increase from $2.25 to $2.75 starting January 1, 2027, marking the first increase in 13 years. Residents with annual incomes below $35,910 can apply for the Mobility EASY Card to travel at no cost.
Although the main path was formally completed this Thursday, some additional facilities in the park are still under construction and are expected to be ready by February 2027.
The Underline is part of Miami's recent efforts to enhance its public spaces: the renovation of the José Martí Park in Little Havana, which began its first phase in September 2026, also aims to connect the community with the Miami River and is expected to be completed by August 2028.
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