The entire document - 5-Year Plan and 10- and 20-Year Vision Plans - are available online, at www.portevergladesmasterplanupdate.com .
In 2006, the Broward County Port Everglades Department retained the services of DMJM Harris, a nationally recognized engineering, planning and economic analysis consulting firm, to prepare a comprehensive Master Plan including  a five-year Capital Improvement Plan, and 10- and 20-year Vision Plans for the South Florida seaport. In preparing the Plan, DMJM Harris assessed the changes that have taken place regionally, nationally, internationally and at the Port since 2001 when Port Everglades' presented its original 2020 Vision Master Plan.  The assessment included changing business trends and adjustments that have resulted in the post-9/11 environment.

Port stakeholders and the public were invited to provide input during a series of workshops over the course of the Plan's development, including three public workshops at the Broward County Library that were held in the evenings, and two workshops with the Broward County Commission.  The consulting team also conducted one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders whose businesses are located at Port Everglades.

"We are requesting the Commission's approval to commence with the first five years of the Master Plan and adopt the concepts of the 10- and 20-Year Visions, which will make our facilities operate more efficiently and profitably," says Port Everglades Director Phillip C. Allen. "Based on the comments we heard at the public workshops and good common sense, we also directed the planners to make environmental protection, maintenance and enhancement an important component of Port Everglades' future development."

As one of South Florida's leading economic engines, Port Everglades is the gateway for international trade and cruise vacations.  Port Everglades is one of the busiest cruise ports worldwide.  It is among the fastest growing container ports in the United States, according to the PIERS import/export database.  And, Port Everglades is South Florida's main seaport for receiving petroleum products including gasoline and jet fuel.  The Port Everglades Department is a self-supporting Enterprise Fund of Broward County government with operating revenues of approximately $117 million in 2006.  It does not rely on local tax dollars for operations.   The total value of economic activity at Port Everglades surpasses almost $17 billion.  More than 188,000 Florida jobs are impacted by the Port, including 11,000 people who work for companies that provide direct services to Port Everglades.

More information on Port Everglades, which is governed by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, is available on the Internet at www.broward.org/port, e-mailing PortEverglades@broward.org, or by calling 954-523-3404.