Greetings Hollywood Hills Residents,
Commuter rail was instrumental in the creation of Hollywood. As residents who have studied the local history of our downtown or attended a Historical Society presentation know, Hollywood had a commuter rail stop near Pierce Street next to downtown before the city even formed. This station on the Dixie Highway Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) tracks was instrumental in bringing so many of the early settlers to the city and allowing for the initial boom of our downtown. Due to changes in railroad activities toward freight, this station and commuter rail on the FEC track eventually closed down.
However, due to congestion and climate change, the need for an affordable public transit option along this railroad track has once again become a significant need. After years of hard work, we are near achieving that goal of resurrecting commuter rail that will stop in Hollywood’s downtown.
Commuter rail allows residents to move around to work and to play by hopping on a train and getting to their destination without sitting in traffic or spending money on gas. Commuter rail on the FEC tracks is different than the Tri-Rail because it runs through our major downtowns, like Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and down to Miami. Currently, the plan is to add six commuter rail stations in Broward County, including one at Tyler Street and Dixie Highway in downtown Hollywood, as well as at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The plan is to have this commuter rail line extend into Miami-Dade and eventually Palm Beach County. In recent weeks, Broward County has taken steps to work with Miami-Dade County to move forward with the southern portion of this commuter rail, joining the stops in Hollywood and at the airport with the new station in Aventura. This is some of the biggest progress that has been made on this important project. The hope is that this commuter rail will serve as the “spine” for an entire transit network in Broward County, with buses, light rail, and other transit options moving residents east-to-west as this commuter rail moves them north south. This would be a comprehensive system to bring us in line with other major urban areas.
The creation of this commuter rail station would be a boon to downtown Hollywood. It would make life more convenient for our residents who travel to Fort Lauderdale or Miami regularly. It would also bring significant business into our downtown and help our small businesses thrive. We can invest in workforce housing near this station so that teachers, first responders, nurses, and other workers can go from their home to work without ever stepping into a car. It will have significant environmental benefits by lowering emissions, which is crucial to combatting climate change. Overall, when combined with our community shuttle and other transportation options in downtown Hollywood, it will make the area a significantly more walkable and livable place to be.
Hollywood has already seen the benefits of commuter rail along this line. The city’s history demonstrates the significant impact commuter rail had on our downtown. I look forward to seeing this project through so that this generation of Hollywood residents can benefit.
Our District office is conveniently located within the lobby of the Hollywood Branch of the Broward County Public Library at 2600 Hollywood Blvd, next to Hollywood City Hall. My District office staff is available to you from 10 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. If you plan a visit, please note the library building opens at noon on Mondays and Tuesdays. My staff is also working from my office in Fort Lauderdale and from other locations within our District. The Fort Lauderdale office is open for your convenience Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. If you would like to schedule an appointment or have a great idea, suggestion or an issue that may need my attention, feel free to call me at 954-357- 7006/-7790 or send me an email at bfurr@broward.org
