Florida DOT slates meetings to discuss Broward commuter-rail proposal

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Broward County will host virtual public meetings Aug. 30 and Sept. 1 to discuss the proposed Broward Commuter Rail (BCR) service along the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) from Aventura in Miami-Dade County to Deerfield Beach in Broward County. 

FDOT District Four and Broward County are performing a project development and environment (PD&E) study, which will analyze alternatives for commuter-rail service along the FEC corridor from Aventura to Deerfield Beach. The route is a shared-use corridor used by freight and intercity passenger trains, according to an FDOT announcement.

FEC owns the right of way and operates in the corridor, while private passenger railroad Brightline operates intercity trains via an easement in the corridor. The 27-mile BCR commuter-rail service would share tracks with FEC and Brightline. 

Establishing the BCR involves rail, signaling, safety and communications improvements, and passenger stations and amenities connecting to existing and planned local and regional transit services. Six potential stations will be studied and evaluated within the study limits.

An in-person meeting on the proposal will be held Aug. 31.