FORT LAUDERDALE | Wave Streetcar

[South Florida]

How do you feel about a Stop in front of the Riverwalk? Which Is Basically the Entertainment Center of Downtown Ft.Lauderdale. Riders can then easily walk over to Las Olas.

If the Wave is Succesful, I think their will eventually be a push to build a segment thru las olas blvd to the beach.

[FTL Beach Bum]

Originally Posted by South Florida

How do you feel about a Stop in front of the Riverwalk? Which Is Basically the Entertainment Center of Downtown Ft.Lauderdale. Riders can then easily walk over to Las Olas.

The stop at Andrews/Las Olas is about as close as you're going to get to just that. Any closer to Riverwalk along Andrews or SE 3rd Av and you're on a bridge.

Or do you mean Riverfront? As in, not the sidewalk spanning the north side of the New River along downtown ("Riverwalk"), but the run-down place with the movie theater, shops, and restaurant(s)? The stop at Andrews/Las Olas is right at the edge of it. The drunks could stand to walk a few paces.

Originally Posted by South Florida

If the Wave is Successful, I think their will eventually be a push to build a segment thru las olas blvd to the beach.

That is a great idea. But in sheer South Florida form, it would make too much sense. They'd extend it west on 6th st/Sistrunk Blvd past the FEC tracks before they'd ever send it to the beach.

[South Florida]

Riverfront.. Doh! Rookie Error.

Actually, The New Owners who bought the Riverfront are trying to bring it up to 90% occupancy with new stores and resturants by the end of this year.

So even though it is run-down now, hopefully it wont be this way in the long term.

And for the Las Olas route, that would be the smartest route to do, toursits could take the Wave from Downtown thru Las Olas and to the Beaches (I Guess?)

Providing an Economical Link. Which = $$$$ for the Community.

[ftlauddude]

A connection to the beach is needed as well as one for Tri-Rail. Let's see if it clears the environmental evaluation to secure the funds. In the meantime, this is what was said during the last DDA meeting:

"...Mr. Wren summarized recent efforts on the Wave project and provided a snapshot for the next 4 months to come. Mr. Ropes asked for a status on the maglev research and staff explained what they found. Mr. Ropes indicated there was a demonstration project at a University in the U.S. and directed staff to find out more information..."

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

[awrigh31FAUarch]

Hello,
I am a student doing research on the wave at FAU in the school of architecture. I am having a difficult time finding detailed information on the proposed Wave streetcar.
1. Will the rail run on the outside lanes or in the middle?
2. What type of streetcar is being proposed?
3. Are there any systems proposed for the expedition of service (i.e. traffic signal preemption)?
4. Where can I find a detailed timeline of major events in the process?
5. Are there any case studies that have been done on the Wave?
Thanks in advance for any information you can provide,
Ashley

[FTL Beach Bum]

Originally Posted by awrigh31FAUarch

Hello,
I am a student doing research on the wave at FAU in the school of architecture. I am having a difficult time finding detailed information on the proposed Wave streetcar.
1. Will the rail run on the outside lanes or in the middle?
2. What type of streetcar is being proposed?
3. Are there any systems proposed for the expedition of service (i.e. traffic signal preemption)?
4. Where can I find a detailed timeline of major events in the process?
5. Are there any case studies that have been done on the Wave?
Thanks in advance for any information you can provide,
Ashley

The most detailed information would probably be here:

http://www.wavestreetcar.com/

If that doesn't help, I would check the "Contact Us" link therein.

[awrigh31FAUarch]

I looked on the site and the information seems pretty generic. I think its more for public information and not a resource for research, but thanks anyway I will contact the DDA.

[South Florida]

^Please Inform Us if you get any Intresting news. It would be greatly appreciated.

[ftlauddude]

Update

"...R-4 The Wave Streetcar
Mr. Milledge said there have been some positive developments with the federal government recently. He started off with why Chris was not in attendance at the meeting. He continued that Chris and Bill Cross of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) were representing the project team at the first annual Streetcar Roundtable in Portland, OR. He went over the tentative details of an upcoming visit from the Federal Transit Administration’s Administrator and emphasized the significance of this visit..."

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

"...A huge step has been made today! The Broward MPO, made up of 19 voting members representing the entire County, unanimously approved moving forward with the Wave Streetcar as the first step of a County-wide rail program. One step closer!..."

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wa...37549182923606

[ftlauddude]

Uptade

"...R-4 Wave Streetcar
Mr. Wren said the Wave team was invited to Portland last month by the Federal Government and they were the only City in attendance that has not yet received a grant. He said there is a Streetcar Summit today up in D.C. and Tim Garling and Renee Cross are representing the Wave team. Mr. Wren said there is an upcoming meeting with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff. He said they are coming here to meet the team. He said there is an item on the MPO agenda today for Wave funding, which could accelerate the project. Mr. Milledge said it’s a good sign that Administrator Rogoff is coming. Mr. Sterling asked for the date of the meeting and the Board was told February 24th. Mr. Fazio asked that the Board be sent information on this meeting..."

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

They should post March pretty soon...

[South Florida]

^ yeah..

[mr jones]

Pushed back again. New timeline:

Start Project Development, Late 2012
Procurement/Construction, Early 2014
Ride The Wave! -- December 2015!


Before:
•*Start Project Development - Early 2012
• Start Procurement/Construction - Early 2013
• Opening - September 2015

[ftlauddude]

Update...

"...R-2 Wave Streetcar

Mr. Wren summarized the recent project activities. He said that the Wave partnership submitted a Tiger IV federal funding application and that they hope to hear positive news at the end of May. He said he feels the application if very strong. Mr. Wren went over recent land use discussions with FTA, led by John Milledge. Mr. Milledge said a conference call was held with FTA, Broward County, SFRTA and DDA. FTA brought up the residential unit cap in place and Mr. Milledge clarified it was not a hard cap and explained the process for allocating additional units. Mr. Wren also mentioned there was an important Broward MPO meeting today regarding the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan where a cost feasible plan update was being presented for the Wave project. He indicated the Wave partnership team was attending on our behalf..."

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

[mr jones]

Fort Lauderdale streetcar plans get federal boost

By William Gibson June 19, 2012 02:44 PM



Fort Lauderdale’s plan to build a visitor-friendly streetcar system to link its shops and downtown buildings will get a major boost this week when U.S. transportation officials dispense an $18-million grant for the first segment of the long-awaited project.

Plans call for the 2.7-mile Wave Streetcar to run on rails embedded in existing street lanes to be shared with cars. Construction could begin in 2014, and the system will likely begin serving passengers the following year.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Tuesday told Florida Democrats in Congress -- including Senator Bill Nelson, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston and Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar -- that the Fort Lauderdale project will get $18 million. A public announcement is expected later this week.

That’s 22 percent of the cost for the first segment. The state, Broward County, Fort Lauderdale and property owners near the route will pay the rest. The total cost is expected to reach about $140 million.

Local officials were delighted to hear about the money and to see a clear sign of federal support.

"Not only will this investment bring new, improved and more efficient transportation to the region, but it will also create and support jobs," Hastings said. "Additionally, the Wave promotes a livable community by integrating land use, transportation, economic development and environmental sustainability."

Maybe it also helps that this is an election year and that Florida, a major swing state, is getting a lot of attention from Washington.

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

[ftlauddude]

"...R-3 Wave Streetcar
Mr. Wren said the project team is planning to go to Washington D.C. to meet with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to discuss the Small Starts application and how to move it forward. He also indicated the TIGER IV grant awards should be announced by the end of May. He said the City hosted a Transit Summit yesterday and that there was a variety of agencies and it was well attended..."

I guess we know now that we got it!

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

[spellbound]

Good to see this moving forward. Is the rest of the funding 100% lined up or are there still hurdles to overcome? I ask because the article doesn't make that clear and uses terms like "could" and "likely" instead of absolutes.

If done right--and focused on the downtown core with perhaps a spur to the airport and Port Everglades--I think the Wave could be useful and fairly well utilized. I don't think a western extension has much promise in changing commuter habits, though.

[South Florida]

So does this mean that the Wave is pretty much a go? Or on the right track.

[CF221]

Hopefully Miami will catch on in the near future... *hopefully*

[South Florida]

Originally Posted by spellbound

Good to see this moving forward. Is the rest of the funding 100% lined up or are there still hurdles to overcome? I ask because the article doesn't make that clear and uses terms like "could" and "likely" instead of absolutes.

If done right--and focused on the downtown core with perhaps a spur to the airport and Port Everglades--I think the Wave could be useful and fairly well utilized. I don't think a western extension has much promise in changing commuter habits, though.

An APM should connect the wave at its southernmost point to the Port and Airport terminal.

[ftlauddude]

Originally Posted by South Florida

An APM should connect the wave at its southernmost point to the Port and Airport terminal.

Yes! And there's also a project called SunPort which will connect FLL with PE. Somewhere in that airport area is where the MIC is planned. So far, The Wave is planned to reach Broward General Hospital on Phase I. Let's just hope this continues to move along...The route will need way more density though...specially on 3rd AVE