Miami Courant

The City of Miami has recently been awarded a substantial grant of $60,353,730.00 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Grant Program. The grant, which was awarded in FY2023 under the Neighborhood Access and Equity program initiative, marks a significant milestone for the city.

Mayor Francis X. Suarez expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "The I-395 Underdeck and Heritage Trail project not only corrects a longstanding injustice. It provides a degree of beauty, vibrancy, connectivity, prosperity, mobility, and recreation that any world-class city would envy." He also extended gratitude to Senator Marco Rubio for his support and advocacy towards the project.

The "Connecting Miami: I-395 Underdeck and Heritage Trail" project aims to create a planned public landscape beneath the elevated I-395 highway viaducts. This urban open space and streetscape, spanning 33 acres, will reunite the urban fabric of Overtown, a historically Black neighborhood that was fragmented during highway construction in the 1960s. Additionally, a mile-long "Heritage Trail" will extend across active rail tracks, linking Overtown to Biscayne Bay.

Chairwoman Commissioner Christine King shared her commitment to the project, stating, "I am encouraged that we are moving forward to curate this space in a way that is considerate and respectful of the people and neighborhoods that suffered the ills of a community-disrupting highway. I am committed to revitalizing the historic Overtown community, seeing it prosper once again economically, culturally, and socially."

The City of Miami expressed its gratitude to the U.S. Department of Transportation for its support and investment in the transformative project. The initiative holds the promise of revitalizing communities, fostering connectivity, and promoting inclusivity in the city.