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Commissioner’s Message

Broward County Transportation System Surtax

n September 4, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission approved a resolution
authorizing the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement with
OBroward County for the Transportation System Surtax. The Broward County
Commission voted on June 5, 2018 to place a Transportation Surtax Levy on the
November 6, 2018 ballot. The one percent sales surtax (penny sales tax) will need
to be approved by the majority of voters during the election.
The proposed surtax is for a 30-year period and is estimated to receive
approximately $15.6 billion over the duration, while leveraging up to an additional
$3 billion from federal, state, and other sources. The Broward County Transportation
System Surtax will fund countywide transportation projects to relieve traffic
congestion in all 31 municipalities that include improvements to traffic signalization,
county roadways, intersection improvements, senior mobility options, public
transportation (transit and rail), and to fund future investments in Broward’s
transportation system.
The State of Florida has completed a performance audit of Broward County’s
Heather Moraitis
District I Commissioner transportation plan. The audit results show that the plan meets all requirements,
including clearly stated objectives, fiscal responsibility, tested projects, and
compliance. The plan is ready to work, and this audit shows that we are prepared if it is approved.
Broward County is home to 1.9 million residents and over 10 million visitors come here each year creating additional
traffic and stress on our roads. Approximately 30 percent of the revenue generated by this surtax would be paid by
those who visit Broward County each year. More than 64 households move to Broward each day and our elderly
population is rapidly increasing. The surtax will fund on-demand transportation services for persons with disabilities
(paratransit) and provide seniors with community shuttles.
The Broward County Transportation System Surtax is designed to address:
● New traffic control technologies to reduce traffic congestion ● Miles of drainage and resiliency projects
● Intersection improvements, including resurfacing, ● Greenways, bike lanes and pedestrian amenities
pavement markings, mast arm upgrades, drainage ● School Zone safety improvements
improvements, sidewalk and Americans with Disabilities ● Improved routes and overall transit service, including
Act updates proposed light rail on high-ridership corridors
● Reduced road flooding ● On-demand transportation services for persons with
● Fiber Optic network improvements on critical roadways disabilities (Paratransit)
to support new technologies ● Community shuttles

With traffic congestion ranked as a top concern across Broward County, the surtax will reduce traffic congestion,
increase accessibility, and provide for sustainable transportation infrastructure for all of Broward’s residents.
Please attend my October 22 meeting at 6PM at the Beach Community Center to discuss the Broward County
Transportation System Surtax on the November 6th ballot. Many of the facts in this article came from the Broward
County website and for additional details please visit www.broward.org/pennyfortransportation .
For More Information:
• Sign-up for Email Updates/Newsletters to get additional links to important city information, upcoming events, photos,
commission agendas and meeting reminders for district meetings. Please contact District 1 Assistant Melissa
Coningsby, MConingsby@fortlauderdale.gov or 954-828-5033, to receive emails or to schedule an appointment.
• Follow Commissioner Moraitis on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn @heathermoraitis

Heather Moraitis
District I Commissioner

12 The Landings & Bay Colony