6 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Mass Transit magazine, 1/19/22:

 

    Giant sky-high train bridge through downtown will ruin Fort Lauderdale, mayor says  

 

 

Imagine a hulking high-rise bridge — one even taller than the 17th Street Causeway and built for commuter rail — running through downtown Fort Lauderdale.

 

Article

[KevinKorell]

Trains magazine, 10/30/23:

 

 

    Fort Lauderdale, county officials at odds over replacement for downtown rail drawbridge    

 

 

The mayor of Fort Lauderdale and officials in Broward County are at odds over the best way to handle expanded rail operation by Brightline — and proposed future commuter rail service — across the New River in the middle of town.

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 11/8/23:

 

 

   Great train debate: Fort Lauderdale not giving up fight for New River train tunnel  

 

 

A lone voice spoke out this week against the idea that car-centric South Florida will ever embrace commuter rail.

 

Article

[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire

 

Fort Lauderdale officials set to meet on bridge-or-tunnel dispute for rail line

 

December 18, 2023

 

Mayor says ‘future of downtown’ is at stake in replacement for current FEC bridge

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Fort Lauderdale’s fight over whether to build a $500 million bridge or a $3 billion tunnel to handle rail traffic through downtown could heat up further on Tuesday, as city officials meet to vote on their preferred option — after the city’s mayor sent out an email newsletter to voters saying “the future of downtown” is at stake — although the decision is not the city’s to make.

 

The bridge-or-tunnel fight is over a replacement for the current New River drawbridge used by Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline trains in the middle of town. While a drawbridge has long existed at the site, the increase in traffic with Brightline operations to Orlando — and with a proposed commuter rail operation on the horizon — is a problem for marine traffic [see “Fort Lauderdale, county officials at odds …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 30, 2023]. Replacement options include a 3.5-mile tunnel or various bridge options, including one that would be 2.5 miles long but have enough vertical clearance to eliminate the need for openings.

 

 

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[CNJRoss]

WTVJ (NBC 6), Fort Lauderdale, FL 12/20/23

 

Fort Lauderdale narrowly votes to build train bridge at New River crossing

 

City commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday night to build a train bridge over the river if a tunnel is too expensive.

 

A debate that’s lasted for years over whether to build a bridge or a tunnel at the New River crossing in Fort Lauderdale continues.

 

City commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday night to build a train bridge over the river if a tunnel is too expensive.

 

 

Continue here with video report.  

[CNJRoss]

WLRN-FM (NPR), Fort Lauderdale, FL 12/20/23

 

Tunnel supporters dealt a blow as Fort Lauderdale passes New River crossing resolution

 

With a February deadline to apply for federal funding approaching, proponents of a tunnel for trains to pass under Fort Lauderdale’s New River have been dealt another blow.

 

Hours after a new consultant report estimated a tunnel would cost up to $1.34 billion — the lowest estimate yet — city commissioners voted 3 to 2 in favor of a resolution that favored a tunnel but would accept a bridge.

 

SNIP

 

Fort Lauderdale commissioners had the wind knocked out of their sails earlier this month at a joint-meeting with Broward County commissioners, as county leaders shot down a tunnel in favor of a less expensive bridge.

 

More here with audio article.  

[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire

 

Fort Lauderdale commissioners narrowly vote to accept bridge for rail line

 

December 20, 2023

 

Measure passes by 3-2 margin

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Fort Lauderdale city commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday night to accept a new bridge as the replacement for the existing downtown New River drawbridge used by Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline if a tunnel is too expensive, despite the ongoing concerns of the city’s mayor that the tunnel is needed to protect downtown’s interests.

 

Mayor Dean Trantalis has led the fight against a proposal that could see a 2.5-mile-long bridge built — one with enough vertical clearance to eliminate the need for bridge openings for marine traffic — saying it would divide the community and harm economic development. He prefers a proposal for a 3.5-mile long tunnel under the river [see “Fort Lauderdale officials set to meet …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 18, 2023].

 

 

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