New downtown Fort Lauderdale transit hub unveiled

Connects Brightline, buses with other transportation options

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ā€“ Officials marked the completion of a new transit hub in downtown Fort Lauderdale Wednesday that is designed to connect various modes of transportation in one place.

The Downtown Fort Lauderdale Mobility Hub spans several blocks near Andrews Avenue and Northwest Second Street. Officials said the goal is to connect existing transit hubs, like the Brightline and downtown bus stations, with other multi-modal transit options.

ā€œThereā€™s actually three goals: one was to connect the Brightline station to downtown Fort Lauderdale; two, to connect the bus system into the downtown Fort Lauderdale area; and three, to really encourage economic development that youā€™re going to see in these locations within the next three to four years,ā€ Greg Stuart, the head of the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, said.

The $3.5 million project was years in the making and funded by federal grant money. Aside from the hub itself, it also includes additional bike lanes.

ā€œWhatā€™s unique here in South Florida is thereā€™s actually a cycle track,ā€ Stuart said ā€œItā€™s the first step in what will probably lead to a cycle track throughout all of Fort Lauderdale, and will eventually lead to Oakland Park and Wilton Manors.ā€

Officials also added better lighting and landscaping and made drainage improvements as part of the project.

Stuart said itā€™s all being done with an eye toward future development.

ā€œWeā€™re expecting this to be a 24-hour facility, just on the lot (nearby), the city has approved a 5,000 seat entertainment venue,ā€ he said. ā€œSo thatā€™s going in there, theyā€™re putting in a food hall, and a farmers market. Thereā€™s actually two new residential towers going in right on the empty lots (nearby).ā€

Stuart said there are other more premium transit facilities planned for downtown Fort Lauderdale in the coming years, but details of those plans are still under wraps.


About the Authors:

Trent Kelly is an award-winning multimedia journalist who joined the Local 10 News team in June 2018. Trent is no stranger to Florida. Born in Tampa, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he graduated with honors from the UF College of Journalism and Communications.

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.