FORT LAUDERDALE | Wave Streetcar

[mr jones]

This first post will be reserved for latest information about the Wave Streetcar project.


Documents
• Environmental Assessment Summer 2012 | 30MB PDF
• AA/EA Final Public Hearing Presentation Summer 2012 | 147MB / 17min WMV


Projected Timeline
• Q4 2012 - Q1 2014 = Projected Development
• Q1 2014 - Q1 2016 = Construction
• Q4 2015 - Q3 2016 = Testing / Startup
• Q3 2016 = Full Service


Route



Official site/credits: Wave Streetcar

[mr jones]

Downtown rail wins funding from congressional budget committee

by: Scott Wyman July 22, 2010 09:00 AM


Fort Lauderdale’s plan for a light-rail system downtown has received a boost from Washington, D.C., this week.

The House of Representatives’ budget-writing committee has included $1.8 million for The Wave in the nation’s spending plan for next year. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, announced she had secured the money.

“It is a vital that we ensure the development of an efficient mass transit system and less congested, safer roads, as well as quality housing for South Florida,” Wasserman Schultz said. “Each of these projects adds to a better quality of life for South Floridians by improving the productivity and safety of our infrastructure.”

The appropriations bill must pass the full House and Senate and be signed by President Obama before the funds can be released.

The Wave is a 2.7-mile light rail streetcar system long sought by downtown planners. It would cost about $50 million a mile and would replace the rubber-tire trolley.

The Wave would run on rails embedded in the roadway, and would be powered by overhead electrical wires. The plans call for 10 stations with real-time traffic information.

Wasserman Schultz’s office described The Wave as a sound public investment that would “encourage private investment” and better connect downtown to regional transit.

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news...nding_fro.html

[ftlauddude]

AWESOME IDEA! It's time that we separate projects to give them their right attention... From the meeting minutes that are posted in the DDA website, I think Parsons (same company whose doing the airport link in Miami) is the one whose doing the design...

[xerxesjc28]

WoW, I thought that was dead. I guess we should thank the congressman/ congresswoman for keeping this alive? Although, I wonder what chance it has of passing the senate, from what I read the republican are in no mood to spend a dime. I hope I am wrong.

[clean_polo]

South Florida is really becoming one of the most transportation-optional metro areas in the country. You can take the Metrorail in Miami, the Metromover, Tri-Rail, buses, cabs, plus these other rail projects happening in other counties, very impressive. Now we just need to work on efficiency.

[UrbanImpact]

$1.8 million.......the system costs $150 million....where is the rest of the funding going to come from?

[spellbound]

Originally Posted by UrbanImpact

$1.8 million.......the system costs $150 million....where is the rest of the funding going to come from?

Combined Broward/Federal investment...probably with more than half being federal.

This just nudges it along, definitely not a done deal.

Still, I give kudos to Wasserman-Schultz for at least paying attention to transit and making it part of her agenda.

[mr jones]

The total cost is at ~$125 million which includes "redoing" the 3rd Ave New River draw bridge. I believe funding is to be 50% federal, 25% state, and 25% local. There was some talk of $100 annual tax for residents and business in the immediate area. ...

edit- From the web site:
"The Wave is estimated to cost a total of $124.34 million, which includes unique elements like retrofitting the 3rd Ave Bridge, double-tracking, purchasing land for the maintenance & storage facility, and constructing the facility."

[mr jones]

We got a new timeline

Start Project Development, June 2011
Start Procurement/Construction, November 2012
Ride The Wave! -- September 2014!



Previous timeline...
May 2010 - Start Project Development
July 2011 - Start Procurement/Construction
July 2013 - Ride The Wave!

[defamed]

Why isn't this thing going west to the tri-rail station? Or south to the airport? or east to the beach? This thing is connecting nowhere to nowhere, and nobody will ride it. I'm all for street cars and any other kind of mass transit, but this is ridiculous. It takes 30 min in a public bus from the tri-rail station to government center, which can be done in a 5 min car drive, and this hoping buses are on time, which is often not the case! What a wasted opportunity!

[mr jones]

The Central Broward project is supposed to connect Tri-Rail, downtown, and the airport by rail, but that's a long ways away

[mr jones]

Fate of downtown rail project could come in spring
By Scott Wyman December 9, 2010 03:00 PM


Downtown planners are looking at how to push forward with plans for light-rail service in the new reality of a Congress partially run by Republicans.

The Downtown Development Authority heard Thursday that it shouldn’t expect to get special earmarks for the streetcar system considering growing opposition in Congress to inserting spending items into the budget to benefit individual members.

Instead, the fate of The Wave will likely rest with a decision expected next spring from the Federal Transit Administration. The FTA is expected to rate the project’s viability, and a good rating would then open the door to funding directly from the agency rather than having a member of Congress insert it into the budget.

John Milledge, the legal counsel to the development authority, said the group will meet with U.S. Rep.-elect Allen West, R-Plantation, next week to explain The Wave plans to him and get his thoughts. Meetings are also scheduled with U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, and Alcee Hastings, D-Mirmar.

The Wave is a 2.7-mile light rail streetcar system long sought by downtown planners. It would cost about $50 million a mile and would replace the rubber-tire trolley.

The Wave would run on rails embedded in the roadway, and would be powered by overhead electrical wires. The plans call for 10 stations with real-time traffic information.

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news...l_project.html

[mr jones]

Still alive...

R-3 Wave
Mr. Wren reported on the recent South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) meeting
that occurred on 02/25/11. He said SFRTA Board voted unanimously to lead the design, procurement
and construction of the system and to be the project sponsor through the federal process. He gave a
tentative timeline for submission into FTA. He said once the application is submitted to the FTA,
they will ask Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to be the lead with the FTA meeting. Mr.
Milledge added that Tim Garling, the new Broward County Transit Director has been a big advocate
as well as SFRTA. Mr. Wren acknowledged Kate Wesner from Congressman West’s office.

http://www.ddaftl.org/view/pdf/Minutes/March.pdf [PDF]

[QuantumX]

[South Florida]

Did the FTA approve it?

[mr jones]

I believe they're still in the process

[Miami High Rise]

So it's like a metromover, only on the ground and it takes a person to operate it. I don't see a street car doing too good in the crowded roads.

[South Florida]

Miami High Rise,

Ft.lauderdale is modeling its streetcar after Portland, OR's streetcar:

Here is a video of what the Portland OR streetcar looks like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gRl4nv6TOw

[South Florida]

Originally Posted by mr jones

I believe they're still in the process

Still on Track? Is it still on Time for the Project Timeline

[Miami High Rise]

It takes no one to operate?

Also, lol look at the video where there is no development in the background. You see, almost every other city in the world is per capita better than miami. Miami is the essence of quantity over quality.

That sounds really bad but what I mean is that south florida has such a disadvantaged being so spead out over so many metro areas that don't work together.