FYI Miami: December 14, 2023

Below are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.

NEW GAS PRICE LOW: Florida gas prices are now the lowest of 2023. The state average dropped 15 cents last week, settling at $3 per gallon on Sunday. “About 35% of Florida gas stations now have fuel below $3 a gallon. Nearly 10% of retailers have prices in the low $2.70s,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “While prices could bounce around in the coming weeks, drivers should expect pump prices to remain low through the holidays unless oil prices suddenly spike.” Average gasoline prices in Miami fell 10.9 cents during the week to $3.05, according to GasBuddy. Prices in Miami are 17.8 cents lower than a month ago and 14.9 cents lower than a year ago. The national average price fell 9.6 cents per gallon in the week.

CRUISE PASSENGER RECORD: PortMiami had a record-breaking fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, welcoming 7,299,294 passengers. That was 6.97% above the previous record of 6,823,816 passengers in fiscal 2019, the county announced this week. On the cargo side, the port recorded 1,098,322 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of freight, surpassing the one million TEU mark for its ninth consecutive fiscal year.

NEW PARIS-MIAMI FLIGHTS: Norse Atlantic Airways, which in September moved its Florida connection from Fort Lauderdale to Miami International Airport, announced this week that it will fly up to four times a week on a Paris-Miami direct route using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The discount carrier offers two cabin choices on the route, economy and its own premium service. Among incentives for moving its link to Miami International Airport, Norse Atlantic was given a one-year waiver of landing fees.

STREAMLINING GRANTS: Miami-Dade’s Transportation Planning Organization has added a priority to advocate for a streamlined federal application process that will advance funding for the six new rapid transit legs that make up the Smart Program. The organization voted unanimously last week to amend its priorities to include advocating for streamlined applications for federal grants, which are pivotal in funding the six corridors. The change was sponsored by West Miami Mayor Eric Diaz-Padron. In October, senators and representatives introduced a Streamlining Federal Grants Act to standardize and coordinate grant administration across the federal government to make it easier for communities and organizations to seek grants.