Approval of this item will endorse the Broward County Commission's decisions taken on August 25, 2022 related to the BCR-South project as summarized below:
1. APPROVING THE DESIGNATION OF “LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE” TO CERTAIN PROPOSED ELEMENTS OF A COMMUTER RAIL PUBLIC TRANSIT PROJECT LOCATED ON THE FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY CORRIDOR;
2. CONFIRMING INDEPENDENT UTILITY AND LOGICAL TERMINI OF THE PROJECT;
3. TRANSFERING $15,500,000 OF THE FY2021-22 CAPITAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUTER RAIL TO THE PROJECT FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY COSTS; AND
4. DIRECTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO PURSUE GRANT FUNDING

In 2021, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Broward County began studying the potential for adding commuter rail service to the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) corridor in Broward. This study originally anticipated new commuter rail service from Miami's proposed northernmost commuter rail station in Aventura north to its terminus in Deerfield Beach. In 2022, FDOT suspended studying the full Broward County corridor due in part to continued questions regarding the New River crossing in the City of Fort Lauderdale. A phased approach was initiated and the project partners began studying the independent utility of a limited extension of commuter rail into Broward. This phase, BCR-South, would begin in Aventura and move north into Broward and terminate just south of the New River in Fort Lauderdale.

On August 25, 2022, the Broward County Commission approved this phased approach, by resolution, and voted to use $15.5 million in surtax dollars to fund further examination of this Locally Preferred Alternative through a PD&E Study. The Resolution is included as Attachment 1, the Budget Resolution as Attachment 2, the BCR-South Project Location Map as Attachment 3, and a letter from the Broward County Administrator as Attachment 4.

FDOT and their consultant staff will provide a "Project Update" presentation (see Attachment 5) to the MPO Board. Both FDOT and Broward County staff will be available to address MPO Board Member questions and comments.

This update also satisfies the MPO's requirement for a Board presentation should FDOT and Broward County pursue a BCR-South related amendment to the MPO's 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) during the upcoming annual amendment cycle. MPO staff met with FDOT and Broward County representatives in June of this year to explain the MPO's MTP amendment process and deadlines. All MTP amendment requests with supporting documentation are due no later than November 10, 2022 with MPO Board action anticipated in February of 2023.

MPO staff recommends approval of endorsement of the August 25, 2022 Resolution of Broward County Commission related to the Broward Commuter Rail South (BCR - South).

If you have any questions about this item, please contact Amanda Christon at (954) 876-0078 or christona@browardmpo.org.