A TUNNEL IN FORT LAUDERDALE?
The project is moving forward and seems to be heading in the right direction. Supported by City Commissioner Ben Sorensen, this project would avoid the need to build a bridge in the heart of the city for trains over the New River. A railway bridge would add 120 trains per day, which is both noisy and dangerous for local residents.
Broward County has opposed the tunnel until now, as building a bridge is much less expensive. This could change if Sorensen manages to propose a tunnel with county funding limited to a maximum of $250 million. If he presents such a project, the county has confirmed that it will approve the tunnel. This should be decided in the coming weeks.
ARTEMIS II LAUNCH POSTPONED
NASA and the Canadian Space Agency have announced that they are postponing the launch of the Artemis II rocket until at least March 6. No risks can be taken, especially with a human crew on board. The cause of the delay: technical problems during tests called “wet dress rehearsals,” which occurred during the takeoff simulation. These tests involve completely filling the tank, checking the pressurization systems, and testing the valves, sensors, and supply lines.
This is one of the most demanding tests before takeoff, and it detects leaks and other incidents. The term “wet” refers to loaded liquids, such as liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, and kerosene.
STRICTER REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL TRAVELERS AT TSA CHECKPOINTS
Since February 1, 2026, new rules have been in effect for all travelers, both American and international: all passengers must have a REAL ID or an acceptable form of ID with a small star, or they will be required to pay a $45 fee for any non-compliance.
Canadians and foreigners need not worry, as standard passports and NEXUS cards are considered valid by US authorities. Canadian provincial driver’s licenses and Canadian Indian and Northern Affairs cards are also accepted.
In fact, this requirement has been in place since 2005, but there are still about 6% of travelers who do not comply, even though all US states now issue driver’s licenses that meet REAL ID requirements. The implementation will therefore mainly affect those who have an old (or fake) US driver’s license.
NAME CHANGE IN THE WORKS FOR FLORIDA AIRPORTS
A bill currently under consideration by the Florida Senate would give the state of Florida the authority to rename seven Florida international airports and confirm the name change of Palm Beach International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport. This first name change, subject to approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), would then have to be approved by Palm Beach County.
Democratic Senator Shevrin Jones of Miami Gardens opposes the way the bill is written and proposes that local elected officials have a say in the decision to rename an airport. As another Democratic senator, Barbara Sharief of Davie, points out, officials in her county do not want Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to be renamed. The current bill therefore concerns the airports named above, as well as Miami International, Orlando International, Tampa International, Southwest Florida International (Fort Myers), and Jacksonville International.
In the House of Representatives, a similar bill, which Democrats have vehemently opposed, is under discussion. It is expected to be put to a vote soon.
FORECAST FOR THE FLORIDA ECONOMY IN 2026
As we wrote last week, and in our Real Estate article this week (see REAL ESTATE : A MARKET BETWEEN RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY – Le Soleil de la Floride), growth is expected to continue in Florida this year. It should be noted that the Florida economy was worth $1.76 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, showing strong growth.
However, Florida TaxWatch anticipates that third-quarter figures should show a return to normal, with growth rates similar to those experienced by the state before the pandemic. We should see a shift from an economy in “sprint” mode to one in “jog” mode.
TRI-RAIL RUNNING OUT OF MONEY
In January, with the goal of generating more revenue, the executive committee of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), which manages Tri-Rail, discussed the possibility of increasing fares for passengers starting in August 2026. The train has not increased its fares since 2019, and the average price per ticket is $3.24.
However, despite an increase in ridership and the modernization of its infrastructure, the company is running out of money: state subsidies, partially funded by the COVID-19 relief fund, will be cut by nearly $30 million in 2025. SFRTA has begun to dip into its reserves, but without additional revenue, services could cease in June 2027.
David Dech, the head of SFRTA, was in Tallahassee in January to try to convince lawmakers to give Tri-Rail a new subsidy. But at the end of the month, he announced his resignation to take on another role, heading the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District starting March 16. In the midst of a budget crisis, this leaves Tri-Rail in a precarious situation that the SFRTA will have to quickly remedy in order to continue operations and plan for the future.
A NEW CITY HALL FOR FORT LAUDERDALE
During a storm with torrential rains in April 2023, the basement of Fort Lauderdale City Hall was flooded and the building was severely damaged. Repairs were deemed impossible, and the old city hall has since been demolished. The city is therefore looking for a solution.
Until August 5, 2025, the city council has accepted bids for various architectural projects for the construction of a new futuristic tower, with a budget of $200 million. However, last July, the owners of Tower 101 contacted Rickelle Williams, the City Manager, indicating that their building was for sale for $86 million.
Unfortunately, the email took a long time to reach the mayor and commissioners’ office, and it wasn’t until January 16, 2026, that they saw it! Then, in early February, the owners of another tower, 1 East Broward, also contacted City Hall to sell the building for $122 million.
After these incredible twists and turns, it seems that the city council has decided to go ahead with the project to build a new building of its own. Despite the higher cost of this option, it is the wish of Dean Trantalis, the mayor of Fort Lauderdale.
