Florida

Brightline Launches In Florida, Eyes Expansion To Other States
Pundits predicted that a privately-funded passenger rail system in Florida would fail to materialize. Those predictions were wrong, and now company officials are eyeing regional expansion.

Higher Cost Estimates Could Doom Fort Lauderdale Streetcar
While the 2.8 mile Wave Streetcar project has secured $195 million, proposals for design and construction are coming in higher than expected, which would leave Broward County and Fort Lauderdale responsible for half the extra cost.

The East Coast's 'Bomb Cyclone' and Climate Change
When President Trump tweeted that the East Coast needed global warming due to the freezing cold, experts responded by explaining the difference between weather and climate. But climate change may indeed be a cause of the bomb cyclone.

Despite Bipartisan Opposition, Trump Administration Opens Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling
In a major blow to former President Obama's restrictions on offshore drilling in sensitive areas, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced that he would open the Outer Continental Shelf in four regions: Pacific, Arctic, Atlantic, and the Gulf Coast.

Feds Approve Passenger Rail Expansion From West Palm Beach To Orlando
Brightline launching service to Miami and start construction on Phase 2 expansion to Orlando in early 2018.

Florida Proposes an 'Alternative Transportation Authority'
With billions of research dollars at stake, Florida making inroads towards becoming the leader in autonomous vehicle technology.

All Aboard Florida's Brightline Set to Launch this Month
The privately funded, diesel-powered trains will run at speeds up to 79 mph between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, with an extension to Miami opening early next year. Real estate development is key to profitability.

Lakeland: Two Decades After Road Diets
Over 15 years have passed since most of the city's initial traffic calming, road diet, and two-way conversion investments were completed. These traffic calming and public space enhancements have spurred significant private sector investment.

Jacksonville's Radical Attempt To Curb Flooding
Jacksonville's urban core population has been cut in half over the last four decades. Now a new plan seeks to remove another neighborhood in an effort to fight flooding issues.

More Cities Replacing Parking With Drop-Off Zones for Ride-Hailing Companies
More than one city has ditched parking in response to the congestion and conflicts created by ride-hailing pick-ups and drop-offs .

GOP Tax Plan Eliminates Critical Infrastructure-Funding Bond Program
The Tax Cut and Jobs Act would have a deleterious effect on major infrastructure proposed by the private sector. The loss of Private Activity Bonds would hike borrowing rates for road, transit, stadium, and even affordable housing projects.

It's Bus Shelters or Wi-Fi in Miami, But Not Both
The company that pays to build and maintain bus shelters in Miami-Dade County isn't happy about plans to bring in another company to build wi-fi kiosks at transit stops.

How Passenger Rail Is Spurring Transit Oriented Development in Florida
All Aboard Florida's Brightline is more than a privately funded passenger rail service. The ability to develop dynamic mobility-centric urban centers of Transit Oriented Development was a significant factor in the decision to launch the service.

Florida's Brightline to Break Ground on Delayed Orlando Leg
The second phase of the highly anticipated Brightline express train service is finally moving forward after unanticipated delays.

Is Miami's Brickell City Centre the Mall of the Future?
Miami's Brickell City Centre represents the evolution of the shopping mall as a mixed-use social gathering place.

Hurricane Nate to Test New Orlean's Drainage System
Nate will make landfall southeast of New Orleans on Saturday night as possibly a category 2 hurricane after leaving at least 22 dead in Central America. It's not so much the levees but the pumps and generators that have city officials worried.

Florida DOT Adopts 'Context-Based' Street Design
The "right street in the right place" hasn't always been a concept that departments of transportation were ready to acknowledge, much less adopt. The Florida Department of Transportation, however, is working to take context into consideration.

Without Basic Utilities, Puerto Rican Exodus Expected
Hurricane Maria left the flooded island of 3.4 million American citizens without power, communications, and running water, which may take months before they are restored. An exodus to Florida, which had begun before Maria hit, will likely accelerate.

Miami Beach: A Model of Climate Adaptation for Coastal Cities?
How did the seven square mile, four-foot high barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean off Miami and Biscayne Bay hold-up to Hurricane Irma? The city arguably has done more to adapt to sea level rise in recent times than any other coastal city.

Homeland Security Advisor Recognizes Effects of Climate Change, Ignores Causes
In response to a question linking Hurricanes Irma and Harvey to climate change, White House Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert appeared to recognize the need to adapt. He qualified his statement regarding the "cause" of said climate change.
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