Fort Lauderdale to brief Broward County on New River Crossing next week; mayor pushes tunnel as LPA

Fort Lauderdale leaders said they will meet with Broward County commissioners next week to discuss the New River Crossing, continuing a months-long debate over whether a bridge or tunnel should carry proposed commuter rail across the New River.

Mayor Dean Trantelis said the city seeks local alignment with the county and urged support for a tunnel as the locally preferred alternative (LPA). The meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11 at 11:30 a.m. in the county chambers and will include short staff presentations, updates on what has transpired since the last joint meeting and time for elected officials to discuss next steps.

Why it matters: The New River Crossing affects regional transportation planning, freight operations, downtown land use, and potential federal funding. The structure choice (bridge or tunnel) influences construction impacts, property and traffic disruptions and the total program cost.

Commission and staff comments: Mayor Trantelis said he wants “a unanimous decision that we go forward with the tunnel,” arguing the county’s earlier bridge cost estimates undercounted related expenses—such as additional bridges, a Broward Boulevard underpass and new station construction—and that much of the county surtax fund derives from Fort Lauderdale residents. Commissioners and staff reported recent positive conversations with Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). FECR officials told city staff they would support the tunnel because it would reduce conflicts with freight operations; FDOT indicated willingness to be a partner but stressed the importance of city-county alignment before pursuing federal funding.

Funding and logistics: Commissioners discussed the county’s previously cited $250 million contribution for a bridge concept and questioned whether that sum reflects realistic total costs, given additional infrastructure needs county staff had not included in public figures. Mayor Trantelis asked the county to consider the city’s contribution to the county surtax (roughly 45 percent of the surtax receipts come from Fort Lauderdale) when discussing regional funding shares.

Next steps: The Feb. 11 joint meeting will open discussion with county officials and staff presentations; the city will aim to present BDO’s analysis and identify commonalities between bridge and tunnel options (financing, environmental review, traffic impacts) rather than only technical minutiae. Commissioners encouraged one-on-one outreach to county commissioners ahead of the workshop to ensure a productive session and to work toward a locally preferred alternative.

Quotes: “If we build these tunnels, when we build these tunnels, we can build them to a diameter that will accommodate underground freight,” Mayor Trantelis said, noting BDO and staff analyses and ongoing discussions with federal and state partners. “We need to get to that point before we can even think about federal funding.”

Background: The city has studied bridge and tunnel concepts for commuter-rail crossing, citing tradeoffs in cost, construction disruption and long-term freight compatibility. The county has previously advanced bridge options; the commission’s position pushing a tunnel aims to limit surface impacts to downtown and freight operations.

Ending: The commission asked staff and legal teams to continue outreach to FECR, FDOT and county officials and to finalize a short presentation for the joint meeting next week. Commissioners said achieving alignment will be essential to move toward federal grant applications and a final project scope.