The Broward County Commission in Florida
agreed to own and operate downtown Fort
Lauderdale’s long-planned electric streetcar system,
called The Wave, and approved a preliminary route.
With a targeted operational date of 2012, The Wave electric
streetcar system will share lanes with vehicles along a 2.7-mile route and
offer access to governmental offices, college campuses, parks and open spaces, transportation
centers and more.
Designed as a transit “circulator” for downtown, The Wave
will connect with Broward’s bus transit system, promote linkages with the
Tri-Rail commuter system and serve as the critical eastern anchor for a future
countywide rail transit network.
Broward County will now go through a
federally mandated rating process. After the project has received a favorable
rating, the federal government and the State of Florida will assist in funding the system,
according to officials. The city of Fort
Lauderdale also made a financial commitment in April
to help build the system.