FECR's intermodal facility boosts Port Everglades' cargo volumes

Port Everglades' containerized cargo volumes increased 5 percent to more than 1 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) in fiscal-year 2015, a record that port officials attributed in part to the Florida East Coast Railway's (FECR) new intermodal container transfer facility.

The Broward County, Fla., port bested its previous annual record, with total volumes in FY2015 reaching 1,060,506 TEU, port officials said in a press release.

They attributed the growth to new and expanded cargo services, and the first full operational year of the FECR's intermodal container transfer facility. The near-dock, 43-acre facility was the result of a public-private partnership between FECR, Broward County and the state of Florida.

"We continue making substantial infrastructure investments to help our customers grow their businesses — most notably, the FECR's rail yard and roadway improvements to improve the last mile of land-side connectivity," said Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director Steven Cernak in a joint statement.'

Also affecting the increase in business was the opening of the Eller Drive Overpass, which connects the east end of Interstate 595 directly to the port's main entrance. The Florida Department of Transportation spent $42.5 million to build the overpass, which allows vehicles entering the port to travel unimpeded over two new at-grade rail tracks that lead to FECR's new rail facility.