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Today, Miami Dade County unveiled the renamed UHealth | Jackson Station located in the heart of Miami-Dade’s Health District, at 1501 NW 12 Avenue. Formerly known as the Civic Center Metrorail Station, the renamed station serves as landmark to two of the world’s leading medical health care systems, promotes healthier living through collaborative activations, and ensures easier access for transit riders.
This naming rights deal, led by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development, is a first of its kind public-private revenue generating opportunity for Miami-Dade County with the University of Miami Health System and Jackson Health System (Jackson).
The marketing partnership was unanimously approved by the Board of County Commissioners in June of this year. It will generate nearly $3 million in non-tax revenue and includes a wide array of value-added benefits for the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) over the term of the agreement.
“This innovative partnership with the University of Miami and Jackson showcases the powerful collaboration of the private sector, our public health system and Miami-Dade County, and serves as a beacon for greater access to healthcare and healthier living,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “It is part of our tireless commitment to building a more robust and efficient public transportation system that is also beautiful, functional, safe, and gets you to more places faster like your job or your healthcare provider.”
With annual ridership of more than 13.4 million on Metrorail, 90,000 annual boardings at this station, and hundreds of thousands of pedestrians and motorists in close proximity each year, officials intend for this renaming effort to remind residents and visitors they can reach top notch health care easily and seamlessly, right in their own community.
“As a proud transit rider, and advocate of strong partnerships with the private sector, the transformative change of one of our busiest Metrorail stations represents a significant milestone in the County’s steadfast commitment to vibrant, accessible public transit,” said District 1 Commissioner and Board Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III. “Thanks to the University of Miami Health System and Jackson Health System, we are taking a great step forward – but we aren’t done yet. I can’t wait to see what other similar partnerships will yield to continue improving all transit hubs in our County. Personally, as an alumnus of the University of Miami, which I reached as a student riding on Metrorail, I am extremely proud and moved.”
“I am thrilled to see the positive impact this unprecedented collaboration with the University of Miami Health System and Jackson Health System will have for my district, our communities, and public transportation,” said Miami-Dade County District 3 Commissioner Keon Hardemon. “I commend the hard work of our county staff and everyone involved in bringing this naming rights marketing partnership to fruition which underscores our commitment to promote healthier living and greater access to the County’s health tech innovation hub through comprehensive transportation infrastructure and service improvements.”
“This unveiling is more than a name. We believe a world class city deserves world class health care and world class access,” said Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., chief operating officer of UHealth. “Naming this station with our Jackson partners, demonstrates our commitment to increasing access for the entire community, just as we are doing by expanding UHealth’s presence across Miami-Dade in the coming year.”
Over the next 30 days, UHealth will be deploying some of its mobile clinics along the Metrorail stations, providing children’s vaccines, screening, and educational materials to further demonstrate its commitment to meeting patients and the community where they live.
“The vast majority of people who visit this part of Miami come because of the healthcare institutions affiliated with Jackson and UHealth. Properly naming this Metrorail station UHealth Jackson reiterates our commitment to further enhancing access to Miami’s only academic health system,” said Carlos A. Migoya, president and CEO of Jackson Health System. “It also emphasizes our shared commitment to continuing to evolve this health district into one of the nation’s top medical destinations.”
The hope is this novel partnership will serve as a model for other potential naming projects throughout the system. All signage showing the name of the station onsite has been replaced and partner branding has also been added to several features and elements of the space. The new station name will also appear on digital and static signage throughout the Metrorail system and online.
“Our Marketing Partnerships program exemplifies how we continue to innovate our County government to build a FutureReady Miami-Dade – where together with the private sector we improve services for our residents and find win:win opportunities,” said Francesca de Quesada Covey, Miami-Dade County’s Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer.
Editor’s note: Pictures and video from the unveiling ceremony are available upon request by contacting Kai Hill at khill@med.miami.edu.
