By En USA news

Broward prepares to transform its mobility: BCT's vision for the coming years

Coree Cuff Lonergan, CEO/General Manager of Broward County Transit, talks about PREMO, TransitFORWARD 2040 and the future of public transportation in the county.

​

PREMO and TransitFORWARD 2040 seek to prepare the county for a growing population and for mobility patterns that will likely be very different from today's.

​​

Twenty-five years ago, mobility in Broward County was very different. Today, population growth, economic expansion, changes in residents' habits, and the need to connect increasingly diverse communities are forcing a rethink of how people get around.

For Coree Cuff Lonergan, CEO and General Manager of Broward County Transit (BCT), the most important change isn't limited to the number of vehicles on the roads. It's a transformation in user expectations.

“People expect transportation to seamlessly integrate into their daily lives,” explains Lonergan. Whether it’s getting to work, attending school, traveling to the airport, or enjoying sporting and entertainment events, residents are looking for a system that is flexible, connected, reliable, and easy to use.

Technology has also changed the rules of the game. Real-time information, connections between different modes of transport, and the ease of planning journeys are now essential elements of the user experience.

For BCT, the goal is no longer simply to transport passengers from one point to another. The vision is to build a mobility network capable of improving the quality of life and more effectively connecting communities throughout Broward County.

An investment that can shape a generation

When asked what the most important transportation decision of recent years has been, Lonergan points directly to the passage of the Broward County Transportation Surcharge, known through the Penny for Transportation initiative.

This investment, he explains, has laid the foundation for a much broader transformation of the public transport system.

The resources are intended to modernize the bus service, improve facilities, expand passenger amenities and advance large-scale projects included in the PREMO —Premium Mobility— program, which includes different modes of transport, including commuter trains, light rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

For Lonergan, the surcharge represents more than just a source of funding. It is an expression of the community's commitment to mobility, economic development, and the quality of life for future generations.

PREMO: a $5.1 billion bet

One of the most ambitious components of this new phase is PREMO, an approximately $5.1 billion program that seeks to transform Broward's mobility through a multimodal network.

Lonergan believes this is one of the most important investments in public transportation in the county's history and points out that few transportation agencies in the country are promoting a multimodal investment of this magnitude.

​

Although large infrastructure projects require years of planning, design, permitting and construction, the transformation is already underway.

The goal is to build a system in which different modes of transport function as pieces of the same network, offering residents more alternatives to get around without depending exclusively on the car.

TransitFORWARD 2040: the future is designed by listening to the community

While PREMO represents a concrete investment in infrastructure and premium services, TransitFORWARD 2040 seeks to establish a comprehensive vision for the future of Broward's public transportation.

• According to the executive, residents have made their main priorities clear: more frequent services, longer operating hours, better connections for the first and last leg of journeys, greater access to employment centers, better connections to airports, greater access to coastal destinations, better regional connectivity, and more premium transportation options.

 TransitFORWARD 2040 must be built from the real needs of those who use—and will use—the system.

Transportation for those who work when most sleep.

Broward's economic growth also depends on a workforce that doesn't necessarily work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hospitals, hotels, restaurants, airports, emergency services and numerous industries maintain their operations during the night and early morning hours.

In that context, programs like Late Shift Connect take on special importance.

Lonergan points out that these initiatives allow for a better understanding of the needs of workers whose schedules are outside the traditional working day.

The important thing is that users can return to their homes or get to their workplaces when traditional services are less frequent.

“Public transportation must support the workforce that keeps Broward County’s economy moving 24 hours a day,” he says.

How to convince drivers to give up their cars?

Florida remains a deeply car-dependent state. Therefore, one of the biggest challenges for any public transportation system is convincing regular drivers to use other alternatives.

The key is to offer a service that has real value for the user.

“People choose public transportation when it is convenient, reliable, safe, and easy to use,” he explains.

BCT's objective is not simply to ask people to abandon their cars, but to create sufficiently attractive alternatives so that public transport becomes a practical option for a greater number of daily journeys.

A denser and more connected Broward

Broward continues to receive new residents from other states and countries. At the same time, certain areas of the county are experiencing increased residential density, new commercial developments, and job growth.

Is the transportation system prepared for that growth?

That growth is the reason why planning needs to be done now.

The Broward of the future will need an integrated network where buses, trains, and other services work in a complementary manner.

50 years of moving Broward

While En USA Newspaper celebrates its 25 years of service to the community, Broward County Transit also commemorates an important anniversary: ​​50 years of providing public transportation service.

Both anniversaries reflect decades of transformation for a community that continues to grow and change.

​

For Lonergan, the challenge in the coming years will be to ensure that mobility keeps pace with this growth and that public transport is a tool to reduce barriers and expand opportunities.

​

The ultimate goal, he explains, is to provide mobility for everyone and help make Broward and South Florida even better places to live.