The Shoreline: Reclaiming the Miami-Dade I grew up in |Opinion

Op-Ed, Miami Herald, June 11, 2025

In this op-ed, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado presents The Shoreline as a reimagining of the Rickenbacker Causeway rooted in personal history, public space, and long-term resilience. Drawing on her experience growing up in Miami and spending time on Virginia Key and Key Biscayne, Regalado argues that decades of piecemeal fixes have turned the causeway into a dangerous, congested corridor. Rather than simply replacing aging infrastructure, she frames The Shoreline as an opportunity to transform the Rickenbacker into a safer, greener, and more people-centered destination.

Key points and arguments:

• The Rickenbacker Causeway is described as a “patchwork of missed opportunities,” with unsafe bike lanes, congestion, and an obsolete Bear Cut Bridge.

• The Shoreline proposes elevating vehicle traffic on 25-foot viaducts to reclaim land below for parks, beaches, and protected pedestrian and cycling paths.

• The plan prioritizes safety, multimodal access, and public space rather than car throughput alone.

• Resiliency is a central argument; the project aligns with Miami-Dade’s stormwater standards and reduces impervious asphalt to mitigate flooding and sea-level rise.

• Regalado positions the project alongside precedents like the High Line and Atlanta BeltLine as civic, economic, and cultural infrastructure.

• While acknowledging the high cost, the op-ed argues that inaction or “cheaper fixes” would ultimately cost more in lives, land, and lost opportunity.

• The article frames The Shoreline as a generational choice about Miami-Dade’s identity, values, and future.