4 little known facts about Ft Lauderdale we should know

A major tourist destination and yachting center with 165 miles of canals, Fort Lauderdale is known for several things. Being called a walkable city is not one of them. In 2003, the city launched a plan which specified design and density standards to encourage the development of a pedestrian-friendly place to live, work and play.

<h1>1. Flagler Village</h1>

A former neglected warehouse district now considered a trendy neighborhood, Flagler Village will become the transportation hub of Broward County. Already the site of Broward County Transit’s main local bus terminal, it become the home to Fort Lauderdale’s All Aboard Florida Brightline passenger rail station and the city’s Wave Streetcar system.</b>

Broward County Transit (BCT) is the second-largest transit system in Florida. BCT’s Broward Central Terminal is located adjacent to the FEC Railroad tracks through downtown.

Intended to connect Miami and Orlando, All Aboard Florida’s (AAF) Brightline, will be the country’s first privately owned and operated passenger rail system in over a century. AAF plans 16 daily departures from both Miami and Orlando, with stops in Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach when fully operational in 2017. AAF’s station will cover 60,000-square-feet with a multi-story lobby spanning an elevated passenger lounge area and parking facilities. It will directly connect to the Sun Trolley, Broward County Transit and future streetcar and commuter rail lines. It’s expected to create more than $333 million in economic impact for Broward County through 2021.

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com