"The Port Everglades Master/Vision Plan is a living document that we update regularly to take into account any changes in the global marketplace, market changes in South Florida and the Southeastern United States, and trends in ocean shipping and cruising," says Port Everglades Director Phil Allen.
The Board, which is the governing body for Port Everglades, directed staff in 2007 to conduct biennial updates to the Plan to ensure that it accounts for changes in market conditions. AECOM USA, Inc. was contracted to lead a team of consultants to perform this update, which is the first update since the original plan was adopted. Port stakeholders and the public were invited to provide input during a series of workshops over the course of the update. The consulting team also conducted one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders whose businesses are located at Port Everglades. Highlights of the updated plan include:
- Adding a new 16.5-acre on-port Upland Enhancement area related to the release of a portion of the existing 8-acre Conservation Easement that will allow the Port to create four new cargo berths in the Southport Turning Notch
- Changing from a two-phase to a single-phase approach to the Southport Turning Notch expansion and decoupling from the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Deepening and Widening program
- Refining the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deepening and Widening program to reflect changes since 2007, which will allow the Port to deepen its channels to 50 feet from the current depth of 42 feet
- Modifying vessel and crane positioning in the Southport Container Complex due to Federal Aviation Administration object height restrictions resulting from the close proximity of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
- Revising bulkhead projects to reduce costs
- Including a potential passenger ferry operation to Cuba
- Advancing the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility into the 5-Year Master Plan and deferring the Crushed Rock facility to the 10-Year Vision Plan
With today's Board action, the updated Port Everglades Master/Vision Plan will be incorporated into the Broward County Comprehensive Plan, Coastal Management Element, Deepwater Port Component consistent with the requirements of Florida Statutes, Chapter 163. This phase is scheduled to be completed by December 2011.
