Ft. Lauderdale streetcar system wins county approval

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.