FORT LAUDERDALE | Wave Streetcar

[ftlauddude]

Originally Posted by South Florida

Wave Streetcar Website has been updated.

I honestly think that having the SFRTA on board will be a great asset. This is exactly what spellbound wanted, a metropolitan authority invloved in mass transit projects for all counties

[South Florida]

Why arent alot of people excited about it? I mean it now really seems like its going to get built.

[FTL Beach Bum]

Originally Posted by South Florida

Why arent alot of people excited about it? I mean it now really seems like its going to get built.

They are, they're just not making too much "noise" yet because of the inherent skepticism of anything actually getting done in South Florida that isn't a road project...or amended so heavily through the process with bad ideas that the final result is something not needed or wanted.

People yearn for a system like Tri-Rail on the FEC, but it's hard to get excited when good ideas become one-way tickets to Hialeah, light-rail along the 595 corridor becomes reversible toll lanes, and the solution to congestion on a paid federal interstate is to charge abhorrent prices for a 10-mile trip in lanes divided by accident-causing plastic dividers while the rest of us schlep along at 5mph...Not to mention an entire toll road which was once supposed to go toll-free when paid off, only to increase rates and require sensors to be purchased for use.

You won't actually see people begin to show excitement for this until the concrete platforms are dry...and placed in the right areas...and don't have to connect by bus for some portion of their trip.

[South Florida]

You have a point..... Not having the wave extend to Tri-Rail on Broward Blvd was a Big Mistake. Maybe Phase II Of the Wave Addresses that need.

[mr jones]

I was supposed to get better copies and more renderings, but a couple months past haven't received anything...

[ftlauddude]

Right in front of the City Hall?!? If so, it's perfect 'cause the Central Terminal is right in front of it...

[South Florida]

Originally Posted by mr jones

I was supposed to get better copies and more renderings, but a couple months past haven't received anything...

Great Update!!!! Last week their was an annocument that the Draft Eis would be submitted this week to the FTA.

[ftlauddude]

Updates from the DDA:

..."Mr. Wren said that a grant agreement with the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) is being presented for approval. He explained that Broward County Transit (BCT) is currently our federal grant sponsor, but with SFRTA’s new role as the Wave federal project sponsor, we need to transfer the funds to them. Brief discussion was held. A motion was made by Mr. Durden and seconded by Mr. Ropes giving authority for the DDA general counsel to finalize and execute a grant agreement with the SRFTA for the Wave preliminary engineering earmark, in the amount of $500,000. All were in favor"...

http://www.ddaftl.org/meetings.php#

Hopefully this new deal with FEC wont interfere with SFRTA's plans...

[South Florida]

Any new news?

[ftlauddude]

Updates from the DDA:

..."R-2 Wave Project Update
Mr. Wren provided an update on the submittal schedule of the various federal reports and applications. He emphasized that everything is going well and on schedule..."

http://www.ddaftl.org/meetings.php#

Updates from SFRTA:

..."R2. MOTION TO APPROVE:
(1) Interlocal Agreement between the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) and the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority (DDA), where the SFRTA will be the Designated Recipient grantee of Federal funds for the DDA to provide funding for the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Transit Circulator Transit Improvement project (WAVE) and to administer expenditures under the grant.
(2) Delegated Authority to the Executive Director to enter into the Grant Agreement..."

http://www.sfrta.fl.gov/docs/BoardMe...y%20082611.pdf

[CF221]

^Those renders really show an example of great urbanism... this is what all of South Fla. should be doing right now...

[UrbanImpact]

I've been waiting for that block where the Mac Donald's is on Broward Blvd next to the bus station to get redeveloped.

[ftlauddude]

Updates from September meeting...

"...R-4 Wave Update
Mr. Wren said they’ve just submitted the environmental assessment. He said the Small Starts submittal was completed over the weekend and thanked Elizabeth for her hard work coordinating the effort. He said refinements will take place this week and it will be shipped out tomorrow. Mr. Wren said he spoke to the main reviewer and our consultants in Washington. He said over the next couple of weeks meetings will be set up regarding technical to meet face to face with FTA. He said the State has given him the funding schedule for their approximate $36 million. He talked about the other partners mentioning the City, MPO and BCT. Mrs. Van Zandt said they will also be submitting a TIGER Grant in October. Mr. Milledge said he had a meeting with Mr. Wren and Tri Rail about the project and that the Wave is a big part of their agenda. He said Kristin Jacobs gave a glowing review and Jim Wolf with FDOT discussed train traffic on the FEC and said the State’s pushing for TriRail’s expansion. Mr. Milledge said it’s clear that the DDA’s agenda fits in with Tri Rail and DOT’s mission. He also talked briefly about the upcoming meetings in Washington that will take place and mentioned that they will ask Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to attend. He said both she and Congressman West are supportive. Mr. Petrillo asked if the project is still on schedule and Mr. Wren said yes with opening day in 2016. He said the application being submitted tomorrow is based on the funding formula of 50% Federal, 25% State and 25% Local..."

http://www.ddaftl.org/meetings.php

[ftlauddude]

From the website http://www.wavestreetcar.com/

"...On behalf of the project team, the SFRTA submitted a TIGER 3 federal funding application on 10/31/11! Stay tuned!

The Broward MPO led the creation of a Wave video of the proposed route. Check it out:..."

Updates from October meeting...

"...Mr. Wren said they flew to D.C. to meet with federal staff on the application. He said they are planning additional trips to D.C. in two weeks to meet with Senior FTA staff. He said he’s optimistic. He said they will continue meeting with political supporters. He then added that he will be at the annual Railvolution Conference next week.

Mr. Ropes asked about a recent article he read on Maglev train systems and whether that could be something that could impact the Wave project. Mr. Wren said he will look into it and report back..."

http://www.ddaftl.org/meetings.php

[ftlauddude]

Updates from November meeting....

"...Mr. Wren explained the recent activity of the Wave project. He indicated that a TIGER 3 funding application was submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) on October 31st and that President Obama directed his US DOT staff to expedite reviews so announcements can be made before the end of the calendar year. Mr. Wren also said that between September and October, the project team was up in Washington for the annual Rail Volution conference and for a separate meeting with the Federal Transit Administration.
Discussion continued on the federal component of the project. Mr. Petrillo asked that staff find out how many streetcar applications were submitted under the TIGER 3 program..."

http://www.ddaftl.org/view/pdf/Minutes/November.pdf

[mr jones]

Wave did not get it

Complete list - PDF - http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/FY2011TIGER.pdf

[South Florida]

[mr jones]

Fort Lauderdale moving forward on downtown streetcar

By Michael Turnbell, Sun Sentinel
January 22, 2012



FORT LAUDERDALE—
In a city where the car is practically worshipped, are drivers ready to leave their wheels behind and catch the Wave?

After years of planning, Fort Lauderdale is on track to join cities like Portland, Ore., Denver and Tampa with its own fixed-rail downtown electric streetcar system. Next month, officials hope to get federal clearance on the project's environmental impact, making it eligible for federal money for design and construction.

"We're getting very positive signs," said Chris Wren, executive director of Fort Lauderdale's Downtown Development Authority.

The $140 million system would cost about $50 million a mile and replace the rubber-tire trolleys that now circulate through the downtown area.

Based on other cities' experiences, officials think people who refuse to get a bus or trolley will ride the streetcar because it's more comfortable to ride and an easier-to-understand to route.

City, county and state officials are backing the proposal. Wren said planners hope to secure the last financial piece, $70 million in federal aid, by the end of 2012.

The state's support may surprise some, considering its prickly relationship with Tri-Rail over its operating costs. Gov. Rick Scott also rejected $2.4 billion in federal money last year to build a high-speed train between Tampa and Orlando, citing concerns about future costs of the train.

But Wren said Broward County has agreed to cover the streetcar's annual $2.5 million operating cost over 20 years. He said that cost can be further reduced through advertisting revenue at stations.

By early 2014, construction could be underway on a 2.7-mile route that runs between such destinations as Florida Atlantic University's downtown campus, City Hall, Broward General Medical Center, the bus terminal and the courthouse.

By September 2015, the streetcars would begin carrying riders. Trains would run about every 7.5 minutes during peak hours and would operate 16 hours a day. Fares have not been set.

The Wave would run on rails embedded in existing travel lanes that would be shared by both drivers and streetcars.

Initially, it was envisioned that the entire route would be powered by overhead electrical wires. But another option being considered would use hybrid vehicles that can run partially on battery power. In that case, electrical wires would only be required at stations and not along the entire route or over the New River.

About 35,000 people work downtown and 12,000 call the area home. Planners envision the streetcar as a circulator that makes it possible for people already in the area to move around without having to get back in their cars or walk.

"We have court reporters on the north side of the river that have a lot of things to do at the courthouse on the south side of the river. Right now, they have to get in the car and go from one garage to another and go over the river," Wren said.

Officials point to Portland, Ore., as the model for what they hope will happen here, with redevelopment of housing and offices near the streetcar line.

After living inWashington, D.C.for a few years and moving back home to Fort Lauderdale, Terry Gibson said mass transit is a must downtown.

"This route downtown is busy and it will become more so in the future, leading to more congestion during rush hour," Gibson said. "I would love to be able to hop on a streetcar system to downtown in a few minutes on a weekend, walk around the riverfront on a Sunday for jazz brunch and then take the system back."

"Within the next month, I will be living downtown and this would make getting around easier," said Ashley Turner. "The whole reason I am moving down there is to be able to walk and bike and not get in my car. It would make it more of a real downtown like Boston."

But others are skeptical. The Citizens Against Government Waste, an independent group based in Washington, has called the system one of the worst examples of pork.

Some commuters envision chaos as streets are ripped up for construction or afterward when the service begins as drivers contend with streetcars.

"Good grief. The people have enough trouble staying in the lines and paying attention as they drive now," said Janet Chanter-Wald. "So imagine what will happen when they add an electric street car. Can you say more accidents?"

Wren said construction will impact one block a week and only require digging 12-18 inches beneath the road surface to install the rails. "We're not talking about digging huge trenches or pits," he said.

As far as drivers, Wren said the streetcars will have to obey the same rules of the road. "It's no different than now when you're driving behind a bus or a trolley. The streetcar will be another vehicle in the road," he said.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/bro...,2816992.story

[South Florida]

Are their any indications that the DDA will promote TOD (Transit Oriented Development) to attract vistors to certain parts of the city?

[mr jones]

I think the DDA has always promoted transit and pedestrian friendly developments, I don't know if the city really follows that. There's a bank going up at Andrews and Davie Blvd. Andrews master plans calls for such development, let's see what arises...