The Broward County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 23 unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) to construct and operate an intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF) on 42.5 acres of land at Port Everglades. In June, the board had authorized Port Everglades Department staff to negotiate the MOU. Now that the MOU has been approved, FEC will move forward to secure a loan from the state.
The memorandum calls for a 30-year agreement between the FEC and Broward County, with two 10-year renewal options. Broward County will contribute the land for the project and participate in joint marketing efforts. The total cost of the project, including land value, is $72.8 million, of which $18 million would be funded by Florida Department of Transportation grants. Part of the funding is expected to come in the form of a $30 million State of Florida Infrastructure Bank loan, and the balance will be from FEC equity, the county said.
In July 2011, the Florida Department of Transportation broke ground for the Eller Drive Overpass, which will make possible an at-grade rail spur directly into Southport. This $42 million project, which is fully funded by the state, will create a four-lane bridge overpass on the primary entrance to the port. The project also entails the widening, realignment, and construction of service roads parallel to the Overpass.