The City of Hialeah has applied for the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge grant to improve mobility and ease traffic congestion along West 49th Street by creating a new multi-use path along the Little River Canal.

Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge is a competition designed to spark innovative, replicable ideas for improving cities, and the lives of people living in them, by encouraging leaders to think outside the box about how to confront their most difficult challenges.

At a public workshop for the Hialeah 2050 Master Plan on March 5, 2024, residents voiced concerns about the lack of safe pedestrian and cycling options, emphasizing the need for multimodal, pedestrian-friendly spaces. Some attendees noted they must leave the city to find safe biking areas, while others shared that even simple trips, like getting ice cream, require driving.

The proposed 2.5-mile path would run parallel to West 49th Street, connecting Westland Mall to East 4th Avenue. It would provide a safe, shaded route for walking, biking, and non-motorized scooters while reducing congestion by diverting pedestrian and bicycle traffic from the busy corridor.

If funded, the project will enhance connectivity, promote sustainable transportation, and improve accessibility for residents who rely on alternatives to driving. In the long term, this initiative aims to shift the city toward a safer, more walkable, and environmentally friendly future.