Wave streetcar Fort Lauderdale update.

The Wave streetcar is a huge milestone for the betterment of the City of Fort Lauderdale’s downtown. I just hope that city officials have the wherewithal to work on the additional phases in a way that will best serve our community. That being said, I think the third phase should be the Fort Lauderdale International Airport extension instead of into Flagler Village as this newest update suggests.

“The first set of tracks hasn't been laid yet for the city's planned $142.6 million Wave electric streetcar project, but officials are already considering a $7.2 million upgrade.

Proponents say creating a loop at the project's northern end along Northeast Sixth Street in Flagler Village would promote redevelopment of more properties and would be an asset to the city's efforts to attract businesses to Sistrunk Boulevard to the west.Downtown officials have been debating a number of extensions: down Sistrunk Boulevard, out Southeast 17th Street to the seaport and to theFort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and west on Broward Boulevard to the Tri-Rail station.The approved Wave system is being built in two phases: a 1.4-mile portion between the Central Bus Terminal on Broward Boulevard and the county courthouse, and a second phase that would send a spur north to Sixth and one south on Andrews to 17th Street.The city advisory board that oversees redevelopment in the area along Sistrunk recommended unanimously that commissioners move forward with the proposed change.Commissioners plan to discuss the matter on Oct. 7, but will have to move quickly because design efforts are already moving forward.” -  Larry Barszewski, Sun SentinelRead full article