Fort Lauderdale — Wave Gathers Momentum

Rail Transit Online, April 2008

The city has officially allocated $37.5 million for a proposed 2.7-mi. (4.3 km) downtown streetcar loop, dubbed The Wave, although a source for all of the money hasn't yet been found. A portion would come from a special assessment on property owners adjacent to the line and the remainder from yet-to-be-determined tax revenue.

Officials hope to get another 25 percent of the $150-million cost from the state of Florida and $75 million from the federal government, although consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff has warned that the project may not meet the FTA's current cost-benefit formula. The budget for the project includes purchasing six modern streetcars.

The exact route for the circulator has yet to be determined, although it could stretch from as far south as Andrews Avenue and Southeast 17th Street north to Sixth Street. The next step is approval by Broward County, after which an application would be filed for federal funding. The city's Downtown Development Authority hopes to begin revenue service in 2013.

www.ddaftl.org/dtc.asp