MIAMI -- A ruling by the Florida Supreme Court Thursday could pave the way for the Miami Megaplan, the billion-dollar deal that includes a port tunnel and a new stadium for the Florida Marlins.

The plans for a new retractable-roof stadium have gotten most of the attention surrounding the Miami Megaplan. The massive public works project depends on spending community redevelopment money, something the state Supreme Court said can be done without a referendum.

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said that clears the way for critical projects to move forward.

"The government can invest in affordable housing, can invest in parks, can invest in infrastructure, can invest in job creation," Diaz said.

The megaplan includes a $500 million, 37,000-seat stadium for the Marlins and a tunnel to the Port of Miami, and it pays off debt from the Performing Arts Center. Car dealer Norman Braman has sued to stop the deal, saying the public deserves a chance to vote on any plan that uses public money for private enterprise, like the Marlins -- especially, Braman said, in a time when the economy is in dire straits.

"It's outrageous. It's shameful and an embarrassment, and they ought to be ashamed of themselves," Braman said.

The mayor said public investment in new projects will be a boost to the economy. He hopes the legal challenges will now end and allow the work to move forward.

Braman said the megaplan, and especially the stadium, are far from a done deal.

"I'll make anybody a bet that they have a long way to go before their dream becomes a reality," Braman said.

The Florida Marlins made no comment on Thursday.

The Supreme Court ruling did not deal specifically with the Miami Megaplan. Both sides of the issue agreed that the ruling does end this round of the legal challenge against it. Braman has lost every element of his case against the Marlins stadium, but he said he still believes it is a valid issue and that he can win his case in the Supreme Court. He plans to appeal on all counts.