The award of a corridor-wide design contract turns one of Miami-Dade’s most consequential rail-to-trail proposals into an active implementation project, with major implications for mobility, shade, public space and neighborhood connectivity.
Former Florida East Coast Railway corridor from SW 80th Street to approximately NW 7th Street, Miami-Dade County, Florida
About this story
The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved a professional services agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates for final design of the entire 5.6-mile Ludlam Trail. The project will convert an underused former railway corridor into a linear park and active-transportation route connecting neighborhoods, schools, parks, businesses and transit. Planned elements include an 18-foot-wide shared bicycle and pedestrian trail, landscaped buffers, shade trees, lighting, seating, wayfinding and connections to surrounding parks and neighborhoods. The County has secured nearly $48 million toward the project, including a $1.25 million State of Florida appropriation. Miami-Dade acquired the corridor in 2018 after rail service ended in 2006.
Status and timeline
Miami-Dade County awarded the final-design contract on July 21, 2026. Kimley-Horn will advance existing 30-percent concept plans into complete construction documents. Public design meetings are anticipated later in 2026; a construction start and completion date have not been announced.
Design highlights
Adaptive reuse of rail infrastructure; continuous active-mobility corridor; shade-first landscape design; multimodal and neighborhood connections; linear-park programming; coordinated wayfinding and public amenities.
