Miami Commission to Vote on Ludlam Trail Funding

The city will decide on a $5 million allocation for trail segments during an upcoming October 8 meeting.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Hiking

Isometric editorial illustration of a concrete urban recreational path lined with palm trees and geometric benches, representing city infrastructure development. — The Miami City Commission will vote on October 8, 2026, regarding a $5 million allocation to advance segments of the Ludlam Trail project. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Miami City Commission is set to vote on a $5 million funding resolution for the Ludlam Trail project on October 8, 2026. This potential investment aims to align city-led trail construction with ongoing efforts by Miami-Dade County to transform the former railroad corridor.

Why it matters

Securing this funding would allow critical segments within Miami city limits to move forward in tandem with the county's broader 5.6-mile project. Advancing these portions ensures the planned recreational corridor develops as a unified network rather than in disconnected fragments.

The proposed 5.6-mile Ludlam Trail corridor includes six bridges and 11 at-grade roadway crossings. Contaminated soil across the former rail line will be remediated through topsoil removal, a geosynthetic barrier, and the addition of clean fill.

The players

Miami City Commission

This is the governing body responsible for legislative decisions and budgetary allocations for the city of Miami.

Miami-Dade County

This local government entity holds jurisdiction over the full 5.6-mile Ludlam Trail corridor and manages the primary design phase.

Kimley-Horn and Associates

This firm is the professional services provider contracted by the county for the design of the trail corridor.

The details

The project design features an 18-foot wide shared-use path designed to connect neighborhoods across the city. If approved, the city manager will identify available funding to ensure the development of these local segments proceeds alongside the county's established design phase.

Early 2000s: Initial efforts to preserve the railway corridor began.
2018: Miami-Dade County acquired the former railroad corridor.
2023: The county completed the Project Development and Environment study.
Sept. 24, 2026: The city's fiscal 2026-27 budget was approved without trail funding.
Oct. 8, 2026: The Miami City Commission considers the $5 million funding resolution.

Roadmap

The city's funding request follows the design framework established by the Miami-Dade County Ludlam Trail Project Development and Environment study. This step integrates local municipal resources into the larger regional effort to repurpose abandoned rail corridors for public recreation.

Residents can expect the trail design process to span approximately one year if the funding is approved. Future construction phases will proceed as additional budget becomes available, potentially increasing accessibility to recreational paths in the area.

The takeaway

The proposed allocation marks a significant step toward unifying the city's trail infrastructure with the county's broader connectivity goals. Residents should monitor future commission sessions to see how construction phases align with ongoing budget cycles.