Latest news with #DaniellaLevineCava
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Miami Airport Reveals Major $600M Improvement Plans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Miami International Airport has announced major improvement plans worth $600 million. The Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners has approved the construction of a new concourse known as Concourse K, according to MIA officials. Why It Matters The $600 million Concourse K project is a key part of the airport's $9 billion "Future-Ready Modernization in Action" plan, which aims to accommodate rising travel demand in Miami, one of the top holiday destinations in the United States. The expansion is projected to facilitate up to 77 million annual passengers and 5 million tons of cargo by 2040. It will be MIA's first terminal expansion in nearly two decades. In 2024, the airport processed a record 56 million passengers and over 3 million tons of cargo. What To Know The new Concourse K, which will be built at MIA's South Terminal, was designed to address growing demand and outdated infrastructure. The concourse will feature six new contactless gates, two baggage make-up carousels, a ground support equipment maintenance facility, an updated aircraft apron equipped with a jet fuel hydrant system, and modifications that directly connect the Central and South Terminals for enhanced baggage handling. Renderings of Concourse K at Miami International Airport. Renderings of Concourse K at Miami International Airport. Miami International Airport Building firm Lemartec-NV2A JV, LLC, was selected as the project's general contractor, while Miami-based Perez & Perez Architects Planners will serve as the lead architect. The project is targeting LEED Silver certification, indicating a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners approved the $600 million contract after reviewing competing bids. After notice to proceed, construction is expected to last approximately four years, with project completion scheduled for spring 2029. This schedule aligns with planned enhancements across the airport, including the modernization of the Central Terminal and improvements to passenger flow for international arrivals. What People Are Saying Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, in a press release: "MIA has not seen a terminal expansion since 2007, making this a truly transformative milestone for our airport. The launch of Concourse K will not only increase capacity and create thousands of new jobs, but also reinforce MIA's role as a premier global gateway. "With the unwavering support of the Board of County Commissioners and the dedication of Director Ralph Cutie, his team, and our airport partners, we are making visionary, future-ready investments that will build a stronger, more vibrant airport—one that uplifts our community, welcomes the world, and powers our economy into the future." What Happens Next Construction of Concourse K is scheduled to begin in summer 2025 and is expected to be completed by spring 2029.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Miami International Airport announces plans for $600 million in improvements
Miami International Airport (MIA) announced plans for a multi-million dollar improvements that will benefit travelers and create jobs. According to MIA, the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners approved construction of the new Concourse K at Miami International Airport (MIA). This $600 million project expansion will include six new contactless gates, a ground support equipment maintenance facility, improved baggage handling systems, and critical airport infrastructure upgrades. The transformation could come 22 years after the airport completed a similar upgrade, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. It's also part of the ambitious, multi-million dollar plan known as Modernization in Action, which aims to elevate and optimize MIA's capabilities after a sustained increase in operations, with record numbers of passengers and cargo at the facility. Levine Cava said that MIA 'has not seen a terminal expansion since 2007, so this is a truly transformative milestone for our airport.' 'The launch of Concourse K will not only increase capacity and create thousands of new jobs, but will also strengthen MIA's role as a premier global gateway,' the mayor said, championing the vision of 'a stronger, more vibrant airport—one that uplifts our community, welcomes the world, and propels our economy into the future.' The new Corridor K aims to simultaneously improve service, safety, and operational flow. Construction will begin following a groundbreaking ceremony this summer, with completion scheduled for spring 2029. At the close of 2024, MIA reported a new record, serving 56 million passengers, up from 2023's milestone of 52 million. Last year, it also set a cargo record, handling more than 3 million tons of cargo. The Modernization in Action plan prepares Miami Airport to handle 77 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo by 2040. What improvements are coming? ▪ Construction of an aircraft parking platform and a hydrant system for aviation fuel. ▪ Installation of two new baggage replenishment carousels. ▪ Improvement of the existing baggage handling system to connect the Central and South Terminals.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
The worst budget crisis since 2008 and Miami-Dade couldn't see this coming?
Miami-Dade County is facing the worst budget shortfall since the 2008 Great Recession — nearly $400 million out of the county's $3.6 billion general fund budget that pays for core services such as public safety and parks. And who's to blame? The county is dealing with what Mayor Daniella Levine Cava described as a 'perfect storm.' There's the cost of converting three county departments — elections, sheriff and tax collector — into independent agencies run by newly-elected constitutional officers. (The county couldn't have stopped this change, forced by a 2018 statewide referendum.) There's less money expected from the state and the Trump administration, no more COVID federal dollars and inflation has made the cost of running government more expensive. With the mayor now talking about budget cuts and austerity measures such as department mergers and hiring freezes, we wonder: Where was this fiscal conservatism when Miami-Dade was flush with cash, including $1 billion in federal pandemic funding and rising property tax revenues? The responsibility to plan for the end of the financial bonanza was on the mayor and the 13 county commissioners who approved two property tax cuts that cost $42 million in revenue from this year's budget, the Herald reported. 'We've already begun to economize,' Levine Cava told the Herald Editorial Board. 'We are focused on greater efficiency, finding savings for residents, improving operations, cutting red tape... Already this year, we've asked every department to identify savings in their budgets, both for this year and in next year's projected budget.' Why, then, why is Miami-Dade treating the $46 million it has committed in direct funding and services to the host committee of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as though it's untouchable? If programs that directly impact services for our citizens could be on the chopping block, so should money for the soccer tournament, even if Miami-Dade officials made a financial commitment as one of the Cup's 16 host cities. Moving forward, the burden of frugality will fall not only on the mayor and commission but also on the new constitutional officers. Levine Cava said that the budget proposals submitted by some for approval by the county 'are significantly outpacing the growth rate that we project and that we think is reasonable.' Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, for example, is asking the county $110 million more than last year's Miami-Dade Police Department budget, according to budget documents from her office. That increase is partly driven by merit salary increases Levine Cava's administration negotiated in 2023, overtime increases 'due to less deputies' and money to hire 54 additional civilian positions — the first significant increase in that workforce 'in decades,' according to a Sheriff's Office document. Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez hasn't yet submitted his budget, but his office is in the process of taking over the county's beleaguered driver-license offices from the state, and he's promised to hire more staff and reduce wait times. Fernandez also plans to exercise his office's authority to keep 2% of property-tax money from the county — totaling $107 million — to fund the new services. He said he will refund a significant portion of that money at the end of 2026 but he hasn't said how much. To be sure, spending money to reduce the outrageous wait times at DMV offices or hire more people to improve public safety may offer clear public benefits. Likewise, some of the programs Levine Cava created to help people during the pandemic and struggling in Miami-Dade's housing crisis were necessary. The same can be said about public transit expenses, responsible for a big chunk of Miami-Dade's budget woes. The rapid-transit bus system in South Miami-Dade, a much-needed project expected to open this summer, has an annual operating cost of about $12 million, the Herald reported. After years of being buoyed by pandemic funding and the hot real estate market, Miami-Dade may be finally learning the lesson that we can't pay for it all — tax cuts, social programs, the World Cup — all at the same time. Click here to send the letter.
Travel Daily News
20-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
MIA installs 41 wheelchair lifts to boost airport accessibility
As part of its bold and ongoing transformation, Miami International Airport (MIA) will begin installing 41 jet bridge-mounted wheelchair lifts across all concourses next week. This vital accessibility upgrade – part of the airport's unprecedented $9 billion Future-Ready Modernization in Action (M.I.A.) Plan – will significantly improve the travel experience for passengers with reduced mobility and streamline the handling of mobility devices during boarding 'Our modernization efforts are designed with people at the center. Whether it's a faster check-in process, more efficient operations, or improved accessibility, we are making MIA more inclusive, more responsive, and better equipped for the future. An airport that works for everyone is an airport that truly leads. This initiative reflects our core values of equity, innovation, and care for all residents and visitors. Through the Future-Ready Modernization in Action plan, we're building a stronger, smarter, and more accessible MIA – one that is ready to serve our growing community for decades to come.' says Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Each concourse will receive a minimum of three lifts, with many of MIA's newest jet bridges prioritized in this first phase. Additional lifts will be installed in future phases, reinforcing MIA's long-standing commitment to delivering a world-class, accessible airport experience for all travelers. The installation of wheelchair lifts is one of many major upgrades underway through the M.I.A. Plan – the largest maintenance and capital improvement initiative in MIA's history. The program also includes new security checkpoints, modernized terminals, expanded gate capacity, state-of-the-art baggage handling systems, and transformative investments in sustainability, innovation, and customer experience.
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Thousands of Miami-Dade students learn to swim in life-saving county initiative
In Miami-Dade County, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 14, but a year-old county program is making strides to change that-one swim lesson at a time. May marks National Water Safety Month and local officials are spotlighting the Zero Drownings initiative, which has already provided swim lessons to more than 2,500 preschool and kindergarten students. "Swimming in the water, jumping in the water and splashing in the water," said 5-year-old Jose, who counts swim class as his favorite part of the school day. Jose is learning how to swim, float, and safely enter and exit the water-foundational skills that could one day save his life. A county-wide effort to prevent tragedies The program offers free 30-minute swim sessions daily for 10-day periods during the school day, using 14 pools across the county and reaching students from 66 elementary schools. "We have reached over 2,500 preschool and kindergarten children already from 66 elementary schools utilizing 14 swimming pools all around the county," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. For parents like Sarah Hopkins, the program is a much-needed relief. "Right before the program happened, we almost had an incident where he went under and I thought he was joking around until I realized he needed help," Hopkins said. Confidence in the water and at home Now, Hopkins says her son is not only more confident but also more cautious around water. "He's confident, he doesn't swim with floaties, he understands the severity of being around a pool, he doesn't clown around as much and he's also brought what he learned here to teach his little sister to swim," she said. The county plans to continue expanding the initiative with the goal of enrolling 20,000 children by the 2026-2027 school year.
