Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Supporting The Tri-Rail Coastal Link (TRCL) Commuter Rail Service And A Commitment To Work With Representatives Of Florida East Coast Industries And Its Affiliates, The Florida Department Of Transportation, Broward County, The Board Metropolitan Planning Organization, And The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority To Develop A Cost Effective Rail System With A Sound Financial Plan For Providing For Capital And Operating Costs For The Extension Of The Passenger Rail Service From Northeast Miami-Dade County Into Southeast Broward County; Authorizing The City Manager To Do All Thing Necessary To Carry Out The Aims Of This Resolution; And Providing For An Effective Date.
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of Resolution
Explanation:
The Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway historically operated passenger rail service along Florida's east coast, and many South Florida municipalities developed around its passenger stations. Large portions of the South Florida region's population and businesses are concentrated within those municipalities where roadway traffic congestion is now degrading the quality of their residents' lives and stifling the growth of trade and commerce. Commuter rail service would help mitigate the worsening traffic congestion, improve air quality and reduce fuel consumption in an environmentally sustainable manner.
The cities of southeast Broward County - namely Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, and Hollywood are actively redeveloping their downtown centers, which straddle the rail corridor and desire transit oriented development (TOD), which generally accompanies rail stations. Representatives from Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, and Hollywood will continue to coordinate mobility improvements needed to alleviate traffic in the area. Commuter rail service would provide jobs, expand the tax base and increase revenues to strengthen the local and regional economies while providing improved access to job ' opportunities and greater mobility for the transit dependent members of the community.
Miami-Dade County’s agencies have significantly advanced their participation level and commitment to funding for this project to move forward in Miami-Dade County and it is now incumbent upon the various agencies in Broward County to develop cost feasible plans to, at a minimum, bring the service into southeast Broward County.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Dr. Wazir Ishmael, City Manager
Gus Zambrano, Assistant City Manager for Sustainable Development
Raelin Story, Director, Communications, Marketing and Economic Development
Brian Rademacher, Corridor Redevelopment Manager