Broward County gives FEC approval for Port Everglades Intermodal Container Transfer Facility

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners in Florida unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Florida East Coast Railway to construct and operate an Intermodal Container Transfer Facility on 42.5 acres of land at Port Everglades. The ICTF in the Southport area of Port Everglades will facilitate the transfer of containerized cargo through the Port onto the FEC rail line via a connecting rail spur. The proposed ICTF is unique compared to similar facilities in other ports in that both domestic and international cargo would be handled on the site. These cargos are currently being handled on a 14-acre site on Andrews Avenue owned by the FEC. Positive environmental benefits are envisioned by the reduction of truck traffic on local roadways. By relocating from the smaller facility on Andrews Avenue, Route 84 highway congestion will also be reduced. In addition, the project is anticipated to create 760 construction jobs and the cargo activity passing through the ICTF is expected to support 2,100 local/regional jobs in the long term. The MOU calls for a 30-year agreement between the FEC and Broward County with two 10-year renewal options. Broward County will contribute the land for the project and participate in joint marketing efforts. The total cost of the project including land value is $72.8 million, of which $18 million would be funded by the Florida Department of Transportation grants. Now that the MOU has been approved, FEC will move forward to secure an additional $30 million State of Florida Infrastructure Bank loan. The balance of the funding is from FEC equity.