Broward County Transportation Surtax Oversight Board Workshop - December 11, 2024

The Broward County Transportation Surtax Oversight Board held a workshop on December 11, 2024, from 9:45 AM to approximately 6:30 PM. The meeting included presentations from Miami-Dade County's Citizens Independent Transportation Trust (CITT), the Broward County Planning Council, and the Traffic Engineering Division, along with a performance audit planning session. Public comments focused on transit investment, bicycle/pedestrian safety, and learning from regional best practices. The board postponed the Low-Stress Multi-Modal Master Plan presentation to February 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Max: Advocated for copying Miami-Dade's design and procurement methods to reduce costs, citing a value engineering study that pushed MetroRail expansion costs down to ~$200 million per mile. He urged the board to pay attention to project details and learn from other agencies.
• Younger speaker (name not given): Expressed hope for more rail and BRT development in Broward, emphasizing the need for efficient transit investment over roadway expansion. He noted that the sooner projects are built, the more convenience they provide to residents.
• Joe Wynn: Arrived by bicycle and stressed the importance of safe, comfortable infrastructure (sidewalks, protected bike lanes, shade trees) to connect people to transit. He noted that the city of Plantation is planning to endorse protected bike infrastructure. He encouraged the board to work with FDOT to add protected bike lanes on transit corridors.

Discussion Items

• Miami-Dade CITT Update (Javier Betancourt): Presented 22 years of experience with a half-penny surtax. Key statistics: $4.8 billion collected through FY2023; 63% to Miami-Dade Transit, 23% to municipalities, <10% to public works, <1% to CITT administration. The CITT operates with a $4M budget (less than 1% of annual surtax proceeds). Betancourt highlighted challenges: overpromising based on a full penny, diversion of funds to maintain existing system, and vendor issues with smart signals (Phase 2 failure). He emphasized that the CITT's focus is now on transit expansion via the SMART Plan (six corridors). The Northeast Corridor (commuter rail on Brightline tracks) is most likely next, with a $400+ million federal grant. The North Corridor (elevated Metrorail) is expensive and faces uncertain federal support. The board asked about ridership improvements (Betancourt promised to share data) and the CITT's ability to influence county decisions (the county has overridden CITT recommendations with a two-thirds vote).
• Broward County Land-Use Plan Update (Barbara Blake-Boy): Described the county's land-use planning history, current population (~1.98 million), and projected growth of 294,000–600,000 new residents by 2050. The county is almost built out; 65% of land is residential, half of that low-density single-family. Future growth will focus on redevelopment of underutilized commercial corridors and activity centers. Policy priorities for the 2024 update (BrowardNext) include affordable housing, sea level rise/resiliency, transportation, and redevelopment. The planning council is holding subject matter expert presentations; the next one on transportation is December 17, 2024. The update process will run through early 2026.
• Traffic Signal System Update (Rossal Mawad): Reported on adaptive traffic control systems (ATCS). US-1 from I-595 to Broward Boulevard was activated in November 2024 (100% complete). University Drive from Broward Blvd to Peters Rd is 95% complete, expected activation next week. Other corridors are under construction or design, with completion through 2029. The annual synchronization program re-times approximately 1/3 of signals each year, following FHWA best practices. Challenges include proprietary vendor equipment, rapid obsolescence, and detection system issues (weather, shadows). The division has deployed thermal sensors at 20+ intersections for better detection. Board members expressed concern about slow implementation and questioned cost-effectiveness versus simpler solutions like roundabouts. Tony Hui (Public Works) noted that roundabouts require appropriate traffic flow and right-of-way.
• Performance Audit Planning (Laura Rogers, County Auditor's Office): Presented three audit options based on prior board feedback. Option 1: Surtax Program Objectives – examine performance metrics for the first five years (expand connectivity, congestion management, transit service, multi-modal options, economic development). Option 2: Surtax Program Funding – deep dive into revenue, expenditures, ROI, and spending by objective. Option 3: Traffic Congestion Improvements – review signalization, roadway improvements, and performance metrics. Each board member ranked preferences (1,2,3). The results will be tallied and considered in the 2025 audit plan. Discussion: Some members favored Option 1 as a “report card” on ballot promises; others preferred Option 2 for financial oversight. The county auditor clarified that the annual financial audit covers accuracy, while this would be a performance-focused review.

Key Outcomes

• Performance Audit Preference: Board members completed a ranking ballot. The County Auditor's Office will tally and consider the results in establishing the 2025 audit plan. The lowest score (highest preference) will guide the audit scope.
• Low-Stress Multi-Modal Master Plan Presentation: Postponed to the February 2025 meeting to allow time for the board to leave after the performance audit session.
• February 2025 Agenda Item: Board member Alan requested a presentation on the status of five mega-projects (airport/port area) to address coordination, funding gaps, and potential impacts of reduced federal support. The board agreed to add this to the February agenda.
• No Formal Votes: The workshop was for discussion only; no official actions were taken. Minutes from prior meetings will be presented for approval at a future regular meeting.