The Port of Miami , styled as PortMiami and formally known as the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami , is a major seaport located in Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River in Miami , Florida. It is the largest passenger port in the world and one of the largest cargo ports in the United States.
88-673: The port is located on Dodge, Lummus and Sam's Islands, which is the combination of three historic islands (Dodge, Lummus and Sam's Islands) that have since been combined into one. It is connected to Downtown Miami by Port Boulevard —a causeway over the Intracoastal Waterway —and to the neighboring Watson Island via the PortMiami Tunnel . It is named in honor of 19-term Florida Congressman Dante Fascell . As of 2023, PortMiami accounts for approximately 334,500 jobs and has an annual economic revenue of $ 43 billion to
176-425: A soccer-specific stadium at PortMiami. The plans were proposed by a group, led by David Beckham , seeking to bring a Major League Soccer team to Miami . The group has stated that they would fund such a stadium privately, but there has been opposition on multiple grounds, including the added traffic to downtown Miami and the impact on wildlife. The stadium has now been relocated to a new site . In 2011, PortMiami
264-769: A 30-year berthing rights agreement at PortMiami. Virgin Voyages' official debut had originally been scheduled for April 1, 2020, with the maiden voyage of Scarlet Lady , but the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed the cruise line's launch, having had to initially postpone the voyage until August 7, 2020, and ultimately, October 16, 2020. The first sailing with paying guests commenced on August 6, 2021, from Portsmouth. In December 2023 Virgin Voyages launched services in Australia with Resilient Lady arriving in Sydney. Richard Branson
352-644: A large, young demographic yet to experience cruising that could become the brand's target market. Over the next three years, Saverimuttu and McAlpin raised US$ 700 million from Bain Capital, which had become lead investor, and other institutional and private investors, and also borrowed an additional US$ 1–1.5 billion. After the financial backing, on December 4, 2014, Virgin Group announced the establishment of Virgin Cruises. The cruise line would be led by Tom McAlpin, who
440-631: A population of 39,176 residents, with 15,333 households in 1990 with an average of 2.2 residents per household, 17,130 households in 2000 with a household average of 2.1, and 33,600 households in 2009 with a household average of 2.0 residents. By 2014, the population of Downtown is expected to grow to 85,000 with 42,400 households. The median household income was $ 29,396 in 2000 and $ 40,180 in 2009. The zip codes for Downtown include 33128, 33130, 33131, and 33132. The area covers 2.117 square miles (5.48 km ). As of 2000, there were 6,451 males and 4,792 females. The median age for males were 34.5 years old, while
528-616: A scheduled completion in November 2021, and also sail the cruise line's first two vessels from Miami through 2022. In February 2019, Virgin Voyages announced it would design a new private destination called The Beach Club, located on the Bahamian island of Bimini . The resort would be developed in partnership with Genting Group 's Resorts World Bimini and would feature a variety of local cuisine offerings and scheduled activities for guests. In September 2019, Virgin Voyages had been granted
616-510: A total of more than 2,800 passengers. The final contract for the construction of the ships was signed in October 2016, with the total cost expected to be under US$ 2 billion. McAlpin explained the ships would be designed differently from existing ships in the market, targeting the "young at heart." The fleet uses a stern design which maximizes “billboard value” visibility of the red Virgin logo, visible up to 2 nautical miles away. A fourth ship
704-655: Is a popular alternative to walking in the area, especially on rainy, hot or cold days, as the Metromover is free, and stations are located roughly every two blocks throughout the area. Recently, the City of Miami, along with the Downtown Development Authority, has begun bicycle initiatives promoting citywide bike parking and bike lanes , that have made bicycling much more popular for residents. Bike lanes and bike sharrows are currently planned for
792-572: Is expected to be completed in winter of 2027. As the "Cargo Gateway of the Americas," the port primarily handles containerized cargo with small amounts of breakbulk, vehicles and industrial equipment. It is the largest container port in the state of Florida and ninth in the United States. Over 9.6 million tons of cargo and over 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) (FY 2018/2019) of intermodal container traffic move through
880-668: Is located next to the Arsht Center at the Adrienne Arsht Center Station . As an urban and pedestrian-friendly area with an extensive public transit network, Downtown (along with Brickell , the Arts & Entertainment District , and South Beach ) is one of the areas in Miami where a car-free lifestyle is commonplace. Many Downtown residents get around by foot, bicycle, Metromover or by taxi. The Metromover
968-487: Is officially named after Florida House of Representatives member Dante Fascell , who served for four decades from 1955 to 1993, and died in 1998. In 1993, the first dredge of PortMiami occurred, deepening it to 42 feet (13 m). In 2006, a $ 40 million project to expand the South Harbor finished. In 2011, a project to reconnect PortMiami to the mainland via railroad began. In 2013, a dredging project began to deepen
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#17327758694601056-705: Is the core of the Miami metropolitan area , the nation's ninth-largest and world's 34th-largest metropolitan area with a population of 6.158 million people. Within Downtown Miami, Brickell Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard are the main north–south roads, and Flagler Street is the main east–west road. The Downtown Miami perimeters are defined by the Miami Downtown Development Authority as the 3.8-square-mile (9.8 km ) area east of Interstate 95 between Rickenbacker Causeway to
1144-458: Is where a variety of jeweled products are sold and is one of the three jewelry districts in the United States. It comprises four city blocks, bounded by North Miami Avenue , Northeast Second Avenue, East Flagler Street and Northeast Second Streets. Shoppers can find designer jewelry, precious stones , and gold and silver items at street level in various retail jewelry stores. The Jewelry District can be accessed by public transportation through
1232-407: The COVID-19 pandemic postponed its opening date until August 2021, when Terminal B officially serviced its first cruise ship. On November 28, 2018, Virgin Voyages announced plans to build a new 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m) terminal located on the northwest side of PortMiami. On September 19, 2019, Virgin Voyages finalized the $ 150 million contract with Miami-Dade County to begin redeveloping
1320-585: The Caribbean . In 2011, Nirmal Saverimuttu, a Virgin Group executive, and Tom McAlpin , then-CEO of The World , conceptualized the idea for a cruise line inspired by the Virgin brand housed under the Virgin Group umbrella. Saverimuttu later collaborated with Bain Capital to begin market research and found that there was potential in the cruise industry for a new line to emerge and also identified
1408-667: The Central Business District , Brickell , the Historic District , Government Center , the Arts & Entertainment District , and Park West . It is divided by the Miami River and is bordered by Midtown Miami 's Edgewater , and Wynwood sections to its north, Biscayne Bay to its east, the Health District and Overtown to its west, and Coconut Grove to its south. Downtown Miami
1496-748: The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) corridor, which runs along the region's densest neighborhoods, parallel to Biscayne Boulevard in Miami, and Federal Highway in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Tri-Rail service on the FEC line would bring Tri-Rail to Downtown's transit hub, Government Center Station , connecting Downtown directly to Midtown Miami / Miami Design District , Upper East Side / Miami Shores , North Miami , North Miami Beach / Aventura , Downtown Hollywood , and Downtown Fort Lauderdale . Currently, rail commuters must transfer onto
1584-655: The Metromover and Metrorail . Brickell is south of the Miami River, and is a mixed upper-class residential neighborhood as well as Miami's major financial district along Brickell Avenue . The Shops at Mary Brickell Village , Brickell City Center, and Simpson Park are located within Brickell. Brickell is directly served by the Miami Metrorail at Brickell Station , and by five Metromover stations on
1672-911: The Metromover stops running. Taxis can be hailed on the street, or phoned. Downtown is home to many companies, corporations and organizations. Downtown has about 20 million square feet (1,900,000 m ) of office space, and is the central financial and business hub of South Florida . Some private companies with headquarters in Downtown are Akerman LLP , Arquitectonica , Espírito Santo Financial Group , Florida Justice Institute , Greenberg Traurig , Holland & Knight , Macy's Florida , Miami Herald , Miami Today , Shutts & Bowen , Terremark Worldwide , Vector Group , World Property Channel, and Zyscovich Architects. Sanford Group Company and Sanford Fiduciary Investor Services, Inc., and LTU International had headquarters in Downtown. Public organizations with their main offices in Downtown include,
1760-558: The Metrorail in Hialeah to get to Downtown. Miami's Downtown Development Authority along with Miami-area politicians are actively lobbying to bring Tri-Rail to the city core. Taxis are popular in Downtown, especially from Downtown to South Beach , Design District or to Coconut Grove . Since many Downtown residents choose to not have cars, taxis are also popular for rides within Downtown neighborhoods, especially after midnight when
1848-418: The Miami building boom of the first decade of the 21st century, 23,628 condominium and apartments were built in numerous high-rise towers that quickly transformed the city. Over 85% of these apartments are now occupied as of early 2011. It is estimated that about 550 new residents move to Downtown every month. Renters make up 56% of the residents in Downtown. In July 2011, Downtown's office vacancy rate
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#17327758694601936-463: The PortMiami Tunnel was constructed in 2010 and completed in 2014, providing direct vehicle access from the port to the interstate highway system via State Road 836 , thereby bypassing congestion in downtown Miami. As part of the massive PortMiami redevelopment program, new ultramodern cruise terminals, roadways and parking garages have been constructed. Additionally, a new gantry crane dock and container storage yards have been constructed along with
2024-622: The Valiant Lady . "Terminal V" was completed in February 2022. On September 19, 2019, Carnival Cruise Line announced that it had received approval from Miami-Dade County for an expansion of its company's facilities at PortMiami by renovating and expanding "Terminal F", making it the company's third passenger facility at the port and the company's largest terminal in North America, at 471,500 square feet (43,800 m). The terminal
2112-756: The automated Metromover train system runs three lines (the Downtown Loop, the Omni Loop, and the Brickell Loop) with 22 stations throughout Downtown. The Metromover is a free service and stations can be found at roughly every two blocks in Downtown and Brickell. Downtown Miami is served by Metrobus throughout the area, the Miami Metrorail , and the Metromover : Metrorail: Metromover: Metrorail has stops throughout Miami with connections to Miami International Airport , all Metrobus lines, Tri-Rail and Amtrak . The main bus station in Downtown
2200-712: The county seat of Miami-Dade County, Downtown is home to the central offices and departments of the Miami-Dade County government, mainly located in the Government Center area. The Stephen P. Clark Government Center is the central headquarters of Miami-Dade government with the offices of the Miami-Dade Mayor. Although city hall for the City of Miami is in Coconut Grove , many offices of Miami's city government are in Downtown, including
2288-714: The $ 268 million needed to fund that project. The remaining funding for the passenger line is expected to come from a federal grant, and the remaining funding to fix the local freight line from the Port to Hialeah is supposed to come from the Florida East Coast Railroad (FEC) at $ 10.9 million, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) at $ 10.9 million, with the PortMiami itself providing $ 4.8 million. (The passenger service never began; however,
2376-423: The 19th century. Today, it is still Downtown's major shopping street, with Florida's flagship Macy's (formerly Burdines ) on Flagler Street and Miami Avenue from 1912 to 2018, as well as Miami's own local department stores: La Época, on Flagler and SE 2nd Av; Alberto Cortes, on Flagler and SE 3rd Av. Flagler Street is also home to many well-known and established jewelers , many of whom have been in Downtown since
2464-544: The Brickell Loop. The Arts & Entertainment District is an urban neighborhood with numerous hotels, and high-rise residential buildings. The neighborhood's former name Omni comes from the Omni International Mall on Biscayne Boulevard . The district borders Biscayne Bay the east, NE 2nd Ave to the west, NE 21st St to the north and I-395 to the south. Pace Park, Adrienne Arsht Center for
2552-657: The Brickell Post Office and the Flagler Miami Post Office. The Federal Detention Center, Miami , operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons , is located in Downtown. The City of Miami Fire and Rescue Department operates 4 of its 14 fire stations within the Downtown area. Each are listed below. The average apartment sale price was $ 347,729 in 2010, up 15% from 2009, with the average apartment price at $ 300 per square foot. During
2640-831: The Caribbean and Latin America. Japan opened a consulate in Miami after Japanese investors purchased several major real estate properties in Florida. Downtown is also home to many international chambers of commerce , these include: Downtown has three U.S. historic districts . The Downtown Miami Commercial Historic District, the Downtown Miami Historic District, and the Lummus Park Historic District. The Downtown Miami Historic District comprises 380 acres (1.5 km ) in
2728-638: The Downtown Metromover , which encompasses 22 stations on the clockwise Inner (or Downtown) loop and counterclockwise Brickell and Omni branch loops. Government Center station is Downtown's main station and allows for transfers to all Metromover loops, Metrorail trains, and Metrobus lines at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center . Downtown Miami is centered on the Central Business District (CBD), best known by locals as simply "Downtown". Although distinct neighborhoods with different characters, all
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2816-471: The Downtown area during the daytime, making Downtown Miami one of the most populous downtowns in the U.S. after New York City and Chicago . With recent mass construction of high-rise residential buildings and office towers, Downtown has experienced large growth, with new shops, bars, parks, and restaurants opening up, attracting many new residents. Along with Brickell, Downtown has grown from 40,000 residents in 2000, to over 70,000 in 2009, making it one of
2904-474: The Hialeah Railyard was estimated at $ 46.9 million, $ 28 million of which was applied for through a federal grant in 2010. Later that year, a grant of $ 22 million was awarded for this project, as well as to build an on site intermodal rail yard at the port. During the 2000s the percent of Florida East Coast Railway 's business has increased from around 60% to around 80% intermodal freight. However, this
2992-945: The Joan Lehman Sculpture Plaza. These new parks have brought more green space, benches, art, and rest areas to the street. Virgin Voyages Virgin Voyages is a cruise line headquartered in Plantation, Florida and a joint venture between the Virgin Group and Bain Capital . As of April 2024, Virgin Voyages has three ships in the fleet, with one more on order, all with an expected capacity of approximately 2,700 passengers each. The first ship, Scarlet Lady , began sailing August 6, 2021 from Portsmouth with UK only itineraries. Scarlet Lady began operating from PortMiami in October 2021, sailing mainly four-to-five night cruises in
3080-419: The Omni Loop. As of 2010, the population of Downtown Miami was 65,696 people, with a population density of 27,487 per square mile. In the 2010 US Census, the racial makeup of Downtown was 57.6% Hispanic of any race, 30.8% White (non-Hispanic) , 7.2% Black , and 2.9% Asian . The zip codes for Brickell include 33129, 33130, and 33131. The area covers 1.084 square miles (2.81 km ). In 2000, Downtown had
3168-614: The Orange Drop for New Year's, Bike Miami, and the "America's Birthday Bash at Bayfront Park" for Independence Day. Bayfront Park hosts many large outdoor concerts such as Warped Tour and Ultra Music Festival . Formerly Bicentennial Park, Museum Park has been redone, and is now the site for new buildings for the Miami Art Museum and the Miami Science Museum . Other parks in the Downtown area include: As
3256-524: The Performing Arts , and the (former) Miami Herald headquarters are located within the district. The Arts & Entertainment District is served by the Miami Metrorail at: Government Center Station , and by two Metromover stations on the Omni Loop. Park West is the neighborhood just west of Museum Park , east of NW 1st Ave, south of I-195 , and north of NE 6th St. Park West was primarily known for its nightclubs , and in recent years has been
3344-531: The South Florida community led to an expansion of the port. On April 5, 1960, Resolution No. 4830, "Joint Resolution Providing for Construction of Modern Seaport Facilities at Dodge Island Site" was approved by the Dade County Board of Commissioners. On April 6, 1960, the City of Miami approved City Resolution No. 31837 to construct the new port. The new port on Dodge Island required expansion of
3432-467: The United States after the completion of the Panama Canal expansion in 2014. The ports of Norfolk, New York and Baltimore have also deepened their ports to the required 50 feet. It is estimated that this project could double Miami's cargo business in the next 10 years as well as creating over 30,000 permanent jobs for Miami, which currently has a very high unemployment rate. There were plans to build
3520-522: The area currently occupied by "Terminal H", which would be renamed "Terminal V" upon completion. This facility effectively replaced "Terminal H". Prior to August 2019, "Terminal H" was primarily occupied by FRS Caribbean, which operated a ferry service between Miami and Bimini in the Bahamas . The new terminal is designed to be the homeport for Virgin Voyages' first two vessels, the Scarlet Lady and
3608-636: The central offices of the Beacon Council, the Downtown Development Authority, Miami-Dade County government , Miami-Dade County Public Schools , Miami Police Department , Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation], and other City of Miami departments despite city hall 's location in Coconut Grove . Several countries have consulates based in Downtown, most of which are located along Biscayne Boulevard and Brickell Avenue . These include: Japan first opened its consulate in Miami in 1992. As of 1992 this consulate gives logistical support to Japanese embassies in
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3696-739: The city with the construction of hotels, resorts, homes, and the extension of Flagler's rail line. Flagler Street , originating in Downtown, is a major east–west road in Miami named after the tycoon; the Julia Tuttle Causeway , crossing Biscayne Bay just north of Downtown in Edgewater , is named in honor of Tuttle. As of 2009, there are approximately 71,000 year-round residents in Greater Downtown (including Downtown's Brickell , Park West , and Arts & Entertainment District neighborhoods), with close to 200,000 populating
3784-623: The city's Planning Department. The Miami Police Department also has its central offices in Downtown. Downtown is home to many city, county, state, and federal courthouses, jails, judge offices, and law firms. Some of the courthouses in Downtown are the Dade County Family Court, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, U.S. District Court Clerk, Miami-Dade County Courthouse , Federal Courthouse, U.S. Magistrate Judge, City of Miami courthouses and many others. The United States Postal Service operates two post offices in Downtown. They are
3872-416: The contract to construct the new facility. The new $ 300 million building will span 16.7 acres (6.8 ha) and include two berths capable of operating simultaneously, separately named as "AA" and "AAA," and be operated by MSC under a 62-year lease. In September 2018, it was announced that Disney Cruise Line had entered into an agreement with Miami-Dade County to plan for a brand-new terminal, "Terminal K", on
3960-738: The early 20th century (i.e.: Morays Jewelers, founded in 1900). This area is called the Miami Jewelry District and comprises four Downtown blocks from Miami Avenue to SE 2nd Av on Flagler Street and NE 1st St. After many years of decay, recently, much focus has been placed on revitalizing Flagler Street to its former grandeur. In recent years, a renewed investment interest has been placed on Flagler Street, and many new restaurants and stores have opened up, new landscaping and pavers have been placed, as well as enforced security and tourist guides. Three new pocket parks opened on Flagler St in 2009, Paul S. Walker Park, Robert F. Clark Plaza, and
4048-429: The east side of Downtown with 19th and early 20th-century revival styles. The Lummus Park Historic District is west of Downtown in the neighborhood of Lummus Park. It is west of I-95 surrounding Lummus Park along the Miami River . The historic district was designated historic in 1988 and then expanded in 2006. The area is 260 acres (1.1 km ) large with 43 different buildings mostly owned by private entities and
4136-450: The electrification of the gantry crane docks to include the conversion of several cranes has been completed. In addition, the Port acquired two state-of-the-art super post-panamax gantry cranes which are amongst the largest in the world; able to load and unload 22 container (8 foot wide each), or nearly 200 foot, wide mega container ships. This, along with the planned Deep Dredge Project , would make it possible for PortMiami to facilitate even
4224-577: The end of 2006 to increase the processing rate for container trucks and help eliminate the daily traffic backups. Four major projects directly and indirectly related to PortMiami are expected to increase both the capacity and efficiency of the port: the expansion of the Panama Canal , the PortMiami Deep Dredge Project , the PortMiami Tunnel , and the restoration and upgrade of the bridge and rail line connecting PortMiami to
4312-452: The fastest-growing areas in Florida. It was estimated in February 2010, that about 550 new residents move to the Downtown area every month. As of 2009, over 190,000 office employees work in Downtown and Brickell. Downtown is served by the Miami Metrorail at Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre , Government Center , and Brickell stations, accessible from Broward and Palm Beach counties via Tri-Rail transfer station . The Metro connects to
4400-544: The first cruise line to deploy its SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink PRO satellite internet service that for the first time uses satellites in both Low Earth Orbit and Medium Earth Orbit to provide passengers with internet, social media and video calls at up to 1.5 Gbit/s per ship anywhere in the World. When launched Brilliant Lady will be the first and only ship in the Virgin Voyages fleet capable of traversing
4488-483: The following neighborhoods are often labeled under the umbrella term of "Downtown Miami": The Central Business District (CBD), often referred to locally as simply "Downtown", is the historic center of Miami. The CBD is bound by Northeast Sixth Street to the north, Biscayne Bay to the east, and the Miami River to the west and south. The majority of Miami's historic buildings are located in this district, including Flagler Street , museums, libraries, offices, schools,
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#17327758694604576-540: The future largest containerships in the world, the Maersk Triple E Class . The new and restructured roadway system with new lighting, landscaping and signage greets visitors to the 'Cruise Capital of the World and Cargo Gateway of the Americas'. The roadways will change again with the completion of the PortMiami Tunnel. And to enhance cargo port accessibility, the newly constructed Security Gates opened at
4664-489: The harbors around PortMiami from 44 to 52 feet (13 to 16 m). In April 2019, the Miami-Dade Tourism and Ports Committee approved a deal for Royal Caribbean Cruises to build a new office and parking garage on Dodge Island. PortMiami is the busiest cruise/passenger port in the world. It accommodates major cruise lines such as Carnival , Royal Caribbean , Norwegian , and MSC , among others, and also serves as
4752-490: The heart of Downtown with over 60 buildings within its jurisdiction. Many of the buildings within the area are of the Moderne style and Classical Revival style with uses for government, residential, and commercial. Periods of significance within this area are from 1900 to 1924, 1925 to 1949, and 1950 to 1974. The Downtown Miami Commercial Historic District was designated a historic district in 1988 and comprises 20 buildings on
4840-459: The homeport of the largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage, Icon of the Seas . Over 7.2 million cruise passengers pass through the port each year (FY2023/2024). As of July 2024, there are nine operating passenger terminal facilities at PortMiami: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, and V. Of the nine, there are three facilities that are purpose-built for a specific company, while other companies share
4928-569: The immediate Downtown/Brickell area. Public transportation in the Downtown area is used more than in any other part of Miami and is a vital part of Downtown life. Metrorail , Miami's heavy rail system, makes three stops in Downtown on both the green and orange lines at the Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre Station , Government Center Station , and the Brickell Station . In addition to Metrorail,
5016-461: The island by joining it together with the surrounding islands. After the seawalls, administrative buildings, and a vehicle and railroad bridge were completed, Port of Miami operations were moved to the new Dodge Island port. Additional fill material enlarged the connected Lummus and Sam's islands as well as the North, South and NOAO slips, creating a completely artificial island for PortMiami. The port
5104-420: The local government. Prominent styles include late 19th and early 20th-century revival styles, Art Deco , and Bungalow style, with prominent periods of 1900–1924 and 1925–1949. Downtown's largest and most popular parks are Bayfront Park , Museum Park , and Pace Park. Bayfront Park is host to the free DWTWN Concert Series, put on weekly in the park's amphitheater, as well as various other annual events such as
5192-471: The mainland. On May 24, 2010, construction began on the Miami Port Tunnel , a $ 1 billion project providing a much-needed direct connection from the port to I-395 . Prior to the tunnel's completion, the only way to enter and exit the port was via surface streets through downtown Miami. Construction on the tunnel finished in 2014. Another major development for the PortMiami was the PortMiami Deep Dredge project, enabling Super Post Panamax Megaships to enter
5280-453: The majority of Downtown streets to be painted by the end of 2010. Venetian Causeway is a popular bicycle commuter route that connects South Beach to Downtown. The Rickenbacker Causeway is very popular on weekends for recreational bicyclists, and often, bicycles can outnumber cars on the causeway. In the 2025 and 2030 long range transportation plans, Miami's commuter rail system, Tri-Rail , has envisioned moving to or adding service on
5368-408: The median age for females were 35.8 years old. The average household size had 1.9 people, while the average family size had 2.8 members. The percentage of married-couple families among all households was 25.5%, while the percentage of married-couple families with children (among all households) was 8.5%, and the percentage of single-mother households among all households was 5.8%. 15.3% of the population
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#17327758694605456-401: The newly renovated line, in contrast to the old limit of 5 mph (8 km/h), and so will be able to cross Biscayne Boulevard in 90 seconds. The current plan is for the line to be strictly for intermodal services, with the project including a rail yard and station at the port. However, a passenger station may be added in the future. The cost of restoring the rail link between the port and
5544-541: The oldest buildings in the city. Downtown Miami is the historic heart of Miami . Along with Coconut Grove , Downtown Miami is the oldest settled area of Miami, with early pioneer settlement dating to the early 19th century. Urban development began in the 1890s with the construction of the Florida East Coast Railway by Standard Oil industrialist Henry Flagler down to Miami at the insistence of Julia Tuttle . Flagler, along with developers such as William Brickell and George E. Merrick helped bring developer interest to
5632-407: The other terminals. Other company-specific facilities are in their planning or construction stages. On June 28, 2016, Royal Caribbean Group announced plans for a new 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m) facility that would redevelop "Terminal A" at PortMiami. It would be Royal Caribbean's homeport and be fully capable of serving larger Oasis -class ships. The terminal, dubbed the "Crown of Miami,"
5720-406: The percentage of people born in another U.S. state was 25.0%, and the percentage of native residents but born outside the U.S. was 6.4%, while the percentage of foreign born residents was 41.7%. 2009 Census projections indicate that the area's residential base has increased from 40,000 to 71,000 since 2000, with an expected Downtown population of 85,000 by 2014. As of 2006, 189,164 residents live in
5808-399: The plan was effectively replaced by Brightline .) In April 2011, Atlas Railroad Construction was chosen to rebuild the line, which was to be completed by 2012 and was estimated to remove 5% of the road traffic from the port. On July 15, 2011, a ground-breaking ceremony marking the beginning of the rail link project, which is expected to create over 800 jobs and generate $ 33.38 million in wages,
5896-654: The port issued an accompanying resolution requiring the new MSC complex to share facilities with Disney Cruise Line, and will require Miami-Dade County to establish a new berthing rights agreement with Disney Cruise Line based on the proposal. Construction of "Terminal AA/AAA" began in March 2022, and is expected to be completed in 2024. In the future, a third birth will added to operate up to three cruise ships simultaneously. Royal Caribbean Group also announced plans to redevelop "Terminal G" at PortMiami. A larger terminal would be constructed, and would be able to accommodate larger Oasis -class and Icon-class ships. The new terminal
5984-405: The port tenants operate the cruise and cargo terminals which includes their cargo handling and support equipment. To retain the port's competitive rank as a world-class port, in 1997 the port undertook a redevelopment program of over $ 250 million which is well underway to accommodate the changing demands of cruise vessel operators, passengers, shippers and carriers. To further resolve accessibility,
6072-415: The port to the mainland was damaged by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, at which time service was suspended. The project was scheduled to be finished in time for the completion of the other projects in 2014. The rail project is related to another scheme to increase PortMiami's capacity; an inland intermodal center, known as Flagler Logistics Hub, to be built near the airport on 300 acres of land in Hialeah . There
6160-429: The same day that Virgin Cruises rebranded as Virgin Voyages, in an effort to strengthen its marketing aimed at the younger demographic and new cruisers. In February 2018, Virgin Voyages debuted its headquarters in Plantation, Florida. In November 2018, Virgin Voyages expanded its commitment to Miami by announcing it would build Terminal V, a new 100,000 square-foot terminal at PortMiami estimated at US$ 150 million, with
6248-659: The seaport per year. The economic impact from cargo operations at PortMiami to Florida amounts to $ 35 billion. As of 2021, nearly 1,000 cargo ships docked at the port. In terms of TEU, China is PortMiami's largest trade partner, while Honduras is ranked first in terms of trade value. Computers represent the port's most valuable export, while insulated wire and cable are considered the most valuable import. The port currently operates eight passenger terminals, six gantry crane wharves, seven Ro-Ro (Roll-on-Roll-off) docks, four refrigerated yards for containers, break bulk cargo warehouses and nine gantry container handling cranes. In addition,
6336-504: The south and the Julia Tuttle Causeway , which connects Miami and Miami Beach , to the north. The area is a cultural, financial, and commercial center of the Miami metropolitan area, tracing its present-day history back to the 19th century. In recent years, Downtown Miami has the third greatest concentration of high-rises in the United States and is home to many major museums, parks, education centers, banks, company headquarters, courthouses, government offices, theaters, shops and many of
6424-456: The south side of PortMiami and east of Terminal J. The inauguration of the terminal was expected to coincide with Disney's expansion into Miami with two vessels homeported at the port in the mid-2020s. The construction of the terminal would have been dependent on improvements made to the port's infrastructure that could have enabled Disney's vessels to operate on the south side of the port. Dates for groundbreaking and completion were not announced at
6512-676: The state of Florida . In the early 1900s, Government Cut was dredged along with a new channel to what now is known as Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami. This new access to the mainland created the Main Channel which greatly improved the shipping access to the new port. From these original dredging spoils which were disposed on the south side of the new Main Channel, new islands were inadvertently created which later became Dodge, Lummus and Sam's Island along with several other smaller islands. PortMiami's improved shipping access and growth of
6600-663: The talk of much revitalization and project proposals for the revitalization of the area. By the end of 2015 most of the nightclubs along the former club row west of the MetroMover from the Freedom Tower station to the Eleventh Street Station have been demolished to make way for planned construction of Miami World Center . Park West is directly served by the Miami Metrorail at: Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre Station , and by three Metromover stations on
6688-500: The time of announcement. However, in July 2020, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic repercussions, PortMiami issued a new proposal that accommodates MSC's difficulties in receiving financing for the project by amending the ground lease, while also granting the port additional time to prepare the site for the project prior to turning over the premises to MSC. Additionally, in an effort to reduce costs for its expansion projects,
6776-558: The vast majority of local, county, state and federal government offices and courthouses, and Miami's Historic District and Government Center . The CBD is directly served by the Miami Metrorail at Government Center Station and by 13 Metromover stations on the Downtown, Brickell, and Omni Loops. The Miami Jewelry District is a sub-neighborhood within the Central Business District historically known for its numerous jewelry stores, jewelers and gem dealers. It
6864-509: Was at attendance at the launch. Despite the media interest, Virgin Voyages cancelled the ship's 2024/25 Summer Season because of the Red Sea crisis . On June 23, 2015, Virgin announced that it had signed a binding letter of intent with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of three cruise ships to be delivered in 2020, 2021 and 2022—mid-sized vessels of 110,000 GT each with 1,150 crew, and 1,430 guest cabins capable of hosting
6952-560: Was awarded a federal grant, as part of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, to restore a connection between the Florida East Coast Railway 's yard in Hialeah and PortMiami, directly connecting the port to rail networks across the United States, as well as re-establishing the port's on-dock rail capability (loading and unloading directly between ships and trains). The railroad bridge connecting
7040-493: Was completed in November 2018. On March 7, 2018, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced plans for a new 166,000-square-foot (15,400 m) facility that would redevelop "Terminal B" at PortMiami. It would be fully capable of serving Norwegian's largest ships, the Breakaway Plus-class ships. Norwegian originally intended to open the terminal, dubbed the "Pearl of Miami," by fall 2019, but budgeting issues and
7128-505: Was completed on February 14, 2023 to coincide with the debut of Carnival's second Excellence-class vessel, Carnival Celebration , which is currently homeported in Miami. The terminal will be operated by Carnival under a 20-year lease. In July 2018, MSC Cruises announced plans to build "Terminal AA/AAA" for its upcoming World-class cruise ships, a forthcoming class of cruise ship with an approximate gross tonnage of 215,800 tons. On September 19, 2019, MSC and Miami-Dade County finalized
7216-402: Was in correctional institutions. 1.6% of the population was in other group homes. The percentage of never-married males 15 years old and over was 27.6%, while the percentage of never-married females 15 years old and over was 13.9%. As of 2000, the percentage of people that speak English not well or not at all made up 23.1% of the population. The percentage of residents born in Florida was 26.9%,
7304-483: Was named president and CEO. At time of establishment, Virgin announced the new cruise line's fleet would consist of two ships and its headquarters would be based in the Miami / Fort Lauderdale area. In July 2015, the Miami-Dade County Commission granted Virgin Voyages approval to berth at PortMiami, and the company's first contract for three cruise ships was finalized on October 18, 2016,
7392-456: Was ordered in October 2018 for delivery in 2023. In November 2016, Virgin Voyages announced it had partnered with Climeon for its clean energy system to be deployed on its ships to generate energy from the engines' cooling water to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In February 2019, Virgin Voyages also revealed it would ban all single-use plastics from its fleet. In February 2024, satellite operator, SES announced that Virgin Voyages will be
7480-454: Was partially due to a decrease in other freight traffic caused by the 2008 recession, which reduced the number of trains, many carrying rock aggregate used in construction, from about 20 to 14 per day. There was a plan to start a passenger service connecting Jacksonville to Miami using the FECR mainline, with stops at popular tourist attractions. The State of Florida had provided $ 116 million of
7568-475: Was performed by US Senator Bill Nelson , Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood , Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez , and Miami city mayor Tomás Regalado . The project has been named the PortMiami Intermodal and Rail Reconnection Project . Downtown Miami Downtown Miami is the urban city center of Miami , Florida , United States. The city's greater downtown region consists of
7656-686: Was reported at 21% dropping from a high of 26% in mid-2010. Downtown also reported an average commercial asking rate of $ 36.33, making it the eighth-highest in the nation after Manhattan , Washington DC , Fairfield County, Connecticut , San Francisco , and Boston . Downtown has over 6,000 hotel rooms in numerous hotels. Downtown has Miami's largest concentration of hotel rooms, and is the city's hub for business travellers . Many of these hotels are geared for business travellers, mostly along Brickell Avenue , some for luxury leisure stays, and others as bargain tourist hotels. Historically, Flagler Street has been Downtown's major shopping street dating back to
7744-461: Was some opposition to the railroad line being returned to service, with claims that it would be as much of a problem to downtown traffic as container trucks, and that the noise would be a disturbance to nearby residents. However, trains are occasional and will be reserved for specialty freight, such as oversized loads and hazardous materials, which will be banned from the tunnel. As well, trains will be able to travel at up to 30 mph (50 km/h) on
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