The company behind New York's High Line is to design a similar project in Miami. James Corner Field Operations (JCFO) has been selected to transform a 10 mile (16 km) stretch of land below the city's Metrorail into a linear park and urban trail. The planned use of existing rail infrastructure for the Miami Underline mirrors the proposed schemes of its London namesake and the New York Lowline.
The public space, formerly known as the Greenlink, will run along the Metrolink's M-Path corridor from Brickell Station in Miami, through Coral Gables and South Miami and will finish at Dadeland South Station in Pinecrest. It has the backing of each of the conurbations through which it will run.
Initial conceptual designs by students from the University of Miami School of Architecture envisaged that the Underline would feature an art gallery, a sculpture garden, an elevated park, a soccer field, bike paths and a variety of landscapes along its path. The overall aim is to enhance connectivity, mobility and biking safety for Miami-Dade residents and visitors.
JCFO will now develop the initial vision and concepts into a final Master Plan for The Underline, having been selected from a field of 19 applicants. The firm will also provide detailed designs for two demonstration projects, including one in the Brickell area and an additional site that has yet to be confirmed.
The Master Plan and developed designs for the demonstration projects are expected to be completed by September 2015. Construction of the north end of the Underline is expected to begin in May 2016 and the project is scheduled for completion within 5-6 years after that.
Source: Miami Underline