Context photo: existing Brightline train at Fort Lauderdale station, not future Broward Commuter Rail equipment. Photo: Phillip Pessar, "Brightline Train At Ft Lauderdale Station", via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Cover adaptation: cropped, navy overlay, logo and text added.
FTA Moves Aventura-to-Fort Lauderdale Commuter Rail Into Engineering Phase
On Oct. 23, 2026, the Federal Transit Administration said Broward Commuter Rail South, planned between Aventura and Fort Lauderdale, entered the engineering phase of its Capital Investment Grants program. FTA's anticipated funding commitment is about $164 million. The Miami-Dade link to downtown Miami is a separate project.
The Quick Scoop
- On Oct. 23, 2026, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that Broward Commuter Rail South has entered the Engineering phase of its Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program.
- FTA's anticipated CIG funding commitment is $164 million once all financial, technical and legal requirements are completed. It is subject to annual appropriation by Congress.
- In the Engineering phase, Broward County Transit can spend on engineering, demolition and utility relocation, property acquisition, and other non-construction costs.
- The FTA announcement does not give a construction start date or an opening date.
- The project is 10.5 miles on the existing Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway corridor, from Aventura (Miami-Dade County) to Fort Lauderdale, with three stations in Broward County.
What was announced
The FTA said the project "has reached a critical phase" of the CIG program. In the Engineering phase, Broward County Transit can begin investing in engineering activities, demolition and utility relocation, property acquisition, and other non-construction costs, including procurement of specialized equipment and materials.
The FTA release says: "Once all financial, technical, and legal requirements are completed, FTA's anticipated CIG funding commitment to the Broward County Commuter Rail South project will be $164 million, subject to the annual appropriation of funds by Congress."
The route and stations
According to the FTA and Broward County, the project includes:
- 10.5 miles of commuter rail service on the existing FEC Railway, connecting Aventura in Miami-Dade County to the City of Fort Lauderdale.
- Three stations in Broward County: Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and South Fort Lauderdale.
- New rail vehicles.
- A new parking garage at the South Fort Lauderdale station. The Hollywood station would use spaces in an existing city-owned garage. (FTA project profile web page, updated Oct. 23, 2026)
The FTA says the line would connect northeast Miami-Dade County, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, the Dania Beach/Airport District, and neighborhoods south of downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Broward County says the South Fort Lauderdale station provides access to downtown Fort Lauderdale, Broward Health Medical Center, the Broward County Convention Center, Port Everglades and the beaches. The county estimates the service will save 20 to 50 minutes compared with driving on I-95, and says trains will include level boarding.
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Note: FDOT's project page describes the corridor as 11.5 miles, while the FTA and Broward County describe it as 10.5 miles.
Cost
FDOT's project page lists a capital cost of $317 million (year-of-expenditure dollars). The FTA's anticipated commitment is $164 million.
Timeline
Broward County's project page lists this projected timeline: project engineering 2027 to 2028, construction from early 2028 to 2032, and service start in 2032. These are the county's projected dates, not guaranteed dates. The same page says the county's request to enter the Engineering phase is "currently under review," wording that differs from the FTA's Oct. 23 announcement. The FTA's announcement does not state construction or opening dates.
Palm Beach County
The project has no stations in Palm Beach County. Its northern end is Fort Lauderdale.
Broward County says the project grew out of the earlier "Coastal Link" study, which evaluated 85 miles of commuter rail in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
The Miami-Dade link and Brightline
- The Miami-Dade "Northeast Corridor" is a separate project, between downtown Miami (MiamiCentral) and Aventura. The FTA's headline summary of the Broward project refers to "a direct ride to downtown Miami." Trains.com reports the Broward project would connect with the Miami-Aventura service.
- On Oct. 22, 2026, WLRN reported that $200 million in state funding was added to FDOT's five-year plan for the Northeast Corridor. WLRN reports the project's total estimated cost is $927.3 million, with $389 million federal, $337.9 million from Miami-Dade and $200 million state.
- WLRN and Trains.com report that Brightline holds the exclusive right to run passenger trains on the FEC line, and that a public agency running trains there would need Brightline's buy-in and pay an annual lease.
- Trains.com reports that a statement from Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's office said the Brightline agreement "as currently proposed does not meet that standard" of protecting taxpayers, citing an independent review.
Contact
Broward County Transit: 954-357-8400, cservice@broward.org. Project email: BCRSouth@broward.org.
Sources
- FTA press release, Oct. 23, 2026
- FTA project profile (updated Oct. 23, 2026)
- Broward County Transit, BCR South
- FDOT, BCR South
- WLRN, Oct. 22, 2026
- Trains.com, Oct. 25, 2026
Last checked: October 26, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has construction started on Broward Commuter Rail South?
The Oct. 23 FTA announcement covers the Engineering phase, which allows engineering, demolition and utility relocation, property acquisition and other non-construction costs. It does not announce a construction start. Broward County's project page lists a projected construction period of early 2028 to 2032, not a guaranteed date.
What federal funding has FTA announced?
FTA's anticipated CIG funding commitment is $164 million once all financial, technical and legal requirements are completed, subject to annual appropriation by Congress.
Where would the stations be?
Three in Broward County: Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and South Fort Lauderdale. The line starts at Aventura in Miami-Dade County.
When is service expected to start?
Broward County's project page lists a projected service start of 2032, not a guaranteed date. The FTA announcement does not give an opening date.
Does it include Palm Beach County?
No. The project has no stations in Palm Beach County. Its northern end is Fort Lauderdale.
Is the Miami-Dade link to downtown Miami part of this project?
No. The Northeast Corridor (MiamiCentral to Aventura) is a separate Miami-Dade project.
