This 5.6 km (3.5 mile) innovated elevated monorail will enhance Miami-Dade County’s standing as a smart city. It will provide a resilient, safe and constant connection between downtown Miami and the city of Miami Beach and will serve as a vital link between the two cities in preparedness of both rising sea levels and the threat of storm surge during hurricanes.

The monorail will also alleviate traffic congestion [1], and offer a rapid transit link between the two cities, one of which is situated on an island with limited direct access. Subsequently, the project will not only provide a reduction in vehicle miles travelled but also provide a fast, equitable and clean commute option to the City of Miami Beach for most of the County.

This Project illustrates Meridiam’s commitment to build sustainable social infrastructure, and to directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (“SDG”) and in particular:

• SDG 8 – Decent work and Economic Growth: The project will be bringing a large number of well-paid construction jobs not only for the works themselves, but as additional development is spurred by the project creating additional construction and service positions.
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The project brings strong, resilient infrastructure that enables coinvent and equitable commutes and transit throughout Miami-Dade County
• SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: By reducing vehicle miles travelled and providing transit in the case of rising storm surges, the project helps meet the County and cities’ stated goals for sustainability, as well as providing a clean, energy efficient, transportation mode.
• SDG 17 – Partnerships to achieve the Goal: Through partnerships in local construction companies and the communities to soon be served by new transit, the project creates an inclusive opportunity for stakeholders at all levels

Meridiam also successfully manages the PortMiami Tunnel, which employed 7,000 workers during construction, 83% of which were from Miami. Now the monorail stands to be another important project to help with the County’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, bringing an estimated 3,000 local jobs.

[1] View footnote

Photo credit jakobowens1@Unsplash