Over the past 90 years, the city of Miami has grown to love Venetian Causeway. Over the years mixed with the harsh, aquatic environment, the structure weakened before a bus got stuck in a hole on the roadway in March 2014. Metal plates had been used to patch the roadway until the decision to rebuild the span was made in early 2015. Since closing to the public in June 2015 following a bridge deck failure in April have, the Venetian Causeway has experienced over $12.4 million in renovations as it aims to reopen in February 29. Most of the upgrades came to the westernmost 730 feet of West Venetian Bascule Bridge on the Downtown Miami side.

Since its closure Miami and Miami Beach have seen tremendous traffic backing up Alton Road and MacArthur Causeway. Additionally runners and bikers have been held off of one of Downtown Miami and Miami Beach's most scenic stretches across Biscayne Bay. Venetian Causeway residents have bared the brunt of the closure, lacking the quick and easy connection between the two cities in which they chose to live. Despite this, in an email to residents of Venetian Causeway, the city of Miami claims that:

“Over the past seven months, significant construction has been accomplished that will result in a completely new bridge superstructure, substructure, approach roadway and lighting."

The project is still on schedule and on budget.

Soon you will be able to travel at speeds of up to 125 mph by train between Miami and Orlando, connecting the Eastern coast of the state of Florida like never before. The $2.5 billion, privately funded Brightline will soon provide easy access for residents of South Florida to Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando. All three South Florida stations are currently under construction as this project inches closer to reality. Brightline is expected to provide its first ride for public passengers in late 2017.

The Brightline will feature everything that the modern traveler needs, including free Wi-Fi and charging stations at the seats. There will also be food and beverage service aboard. There will also be designated pet areas and three ticket options at all different budgets and privacy allotments. As opposed to the standard steel cars that have moved people for over a century, Brightline will feature a Floridian spin, with passenger cars being an artistic pink, red, orange, green or blue. Designer David Rockwell has said that he wants to keep the train cars and station design transparent and welcoming, which led to the moniker "Brightline." Matched with the massive amounts of development going on in South Florida, the Brightline should further help connect the people and economies in South East Florida!