FYI Miami: March 13, 2025

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.

AIRPORT’S TURO CONTRACT: An exclusive contract for peer-to-peer car-sharing services is being recommended at Miami International Airport in a deal that would bring the county $15 million over six years. The period actually began in December 2023 without terms in place. Turo now operates in the Dolphin and Flamingo airport garages as well as at MIA Economy Park and Ride. The contract is without bids because, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava says, there are no peer-to-peer companies of competitive size. Turo now operates at more than 100 airports in every state and has 11 million worldwide users and 350,000 shared vehicles. The county’s Airport Committee is to vote on the contract this week. In fiscal 2024 Turo generated $24.6 million at the airport. In addition to paying the county 10% of its monthly gross revenues and paying for parking, Turo will be responsible for installing and managing local backend systems to support billing, providing live customer service support at all times, and ensuring that owners of vehicles provided to customers comply with the contract.

NEW STATION NAME: Miami-Dade commissioners without comment voted 11-0 last week to rename the Park West Metromover Station for the nearby Miami Worldcenter development with no naming rights payment or repayment of costs in making the name change. The vote ignored a 17-year county aim based on a consultant’s report to sell naming rights for transit stations. In the last transit station renaming last June the county sold rights to the Civic Center Metrorail Station name to the University of Miami’s Health System for just over $2.9 million for 20 years. The station became UHealth Jackson Station last July 1, with UHealth paying to update signs with the new name on site and throughout the Metrorail system. By federal rules, funds from a transit naming sale must go to the county’s Department of Transportation and Public Works for transit uses. The Park West Metromover Station is closed for up to six months for modernization, with the county saying the revamp is a key component of the Miami Worldcenter development. 

NOT TOO LATE: Although the deadline to seek property tax benefits such as the homestead exemption or portability benefits passed March 1, Property Appraiser Tomás Regalado says his office will accept applications if property owners submit an Extenuating Circumstances Form detailing the reason for filing late along with the late application. Applications can be filed online or in person at either Property Appraiser office, 111 NW First St., Suite 710, or the South Dade Government Center, 10710 SW 211th St., second floor. Forms are available at www.miamidadepa.gov