In 2007, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners approved the Port Everglades Master/Vision Plan, which included a five-year Capital Improvement Plan and ten- and 20-year Vision Plans, which included around $1.6 billion in capital investments.
The overall plan was, among other refurbishments, to restructure berths to accommodate larger cruise, cargo, and petroleum ships and expand cruise terminals to allow for mega-cruise ships to dock.
The Broward County Board of County Commissioners, which governs the port as a self-funded enterprise fund, held more than 20 meetings with customers, stakeholders, and the general public to discuss the development of the plan.
On Wednesday, the port released video to illustrate its 20-year road map.
Among some of plans was the implementation of a "Green Port Program," which included maintaining a safe habitat for the large manatee population that often migrates to Port Everglades each winter, as well as improving the functionality of the sensitive environment in Westlake Park, including the mangroves, sea grass, and wetlands that support the park's wildlife, according to the original five-year plan.
There were also plans on carving out the Broward County Convention Center from the secure area of the port, building a bypass road to allow convention attendees to access the Convention Center without having to go through a security gate.
"As one of South Florida's leading economic powerhouses, Port Everglades is the gateway for international trade and cruise vacations," says a news release announcing the video.
"Already among the three busiest cruise ports in the world, Port Everglades is also one of the nation's leading container ports and South Florida's main seaport for receiving petroleum products including gasoline, jet fuel, and alternative fuels."
According to the release, the total value of economic activity at Port Everglades in FY2013 was about $26 billion.
The port also says that more than 202,000 jobs are impacted by the port, including 11,433 people who work for companies that provide direct services to the port.
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