Spotlight On: Coree Cuff Lonergan, CEO & General Manager, Broward County Transit
May 2025 — Broward County’s transit system is evolving, with ambitious plans to enhance mobility for residents and businesses alike. “One of the great things about public transportation is that it offers a variety of services within a community, giving people the flexibility to choose what works best for them,” said Coree Cuff Lonergan, CEO & General Manager of Broward County Transit (BCT) in an interview with Invest:.
What milestones for the agency stand out over the past year?
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Broward County Transit. We began as a small bus company and have grown into a county-owned public transit system that serves residents and visitors throughout Broward County. This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on our journey and evolution, and we look forward to celebrating accordingly.
Having worked in the private sector for about a third of my career, I recognize that both private and public transportation services play essential roles in the market. However, when it comes to providing reliable, affordable transportation for those who can’t afford pricier travel options, that’s where we step in. The county has made a long-standing commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to mobility, regardless of their financial situation.
How is BCT planning to include more rail into the region’s transportation network?
About 20 years ago, discussions around commuter rail in South Florida began gaining momentum. Various studies were conducted, and the effort, originally called the Coastal Link, identified an 85-mile corridor stretching from Miami through Palm Beach County. Broward County sits right in the middle of this corridor.
If we go even further back, you might recognize the name Henry Flagler — he was the original architect of passenger rail service in South Florida. Over time, commuter rail evolved, and then Brightline, which started as All Aboard Florida, recognized the potential for this corridor as well. They focused on intercity travel, offering fewer stops and faster service to connect Miami and Orlando, catering to tourists heading to cruise ships, Disney, and other destinations.
Meanwhile, Miami-Dade launched its Northeast Corridor project, a commuter rail service running from Aventura into Miami Central. Shortly after, we started our project, aiming to provide service from county line to county line and connecting both Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties. To that end, we are advancing two projects within Broward County to bring commuter rail to our nearly 2 million residents and the millions of visitors who come here each year.
The first phase, BCR South, extends from south of Fort Lauderdale to the county line. It will eventually connect with Miami-Dade’s Northeast Corridor, creating multiple stops from Fort Lauderdale to Miami. We’ve completed our environmental assessment and 30% of the design, and we’re applying for federal funding through the New Starts Grant to support this project. The second project, BCR North, runs from South Fort Lauderdale near Broward Health northward to just shy of the County Line and includes four stations at Oakland Park, Pompano, Deerfield Beach, and Central Fort Lauderdale.
How does the Late Shift Connect program benefit the local economy?
The Late Shift Connect program is designed to help those who work outside of the traditional 9-to-5 schedule, especially third-shift workers, get to and from their jobs safely and reliably. If a person begins or ends their commute outside of our regular service hours, we step in to bridge that gap. For example, if someone finishes their shift after our buses stop running, we provide them with transportation home. The same applies in the morning — if they need to get to work before our buses start operating, we’ll ensure they get there.
The impact is significant. Many third-shift workers hold essential roles in industries like manufacturing, hospitality, and healthcare. Hospitals, for instance, rely on overnight staff, and without dependable transportation, those employees might struggle to get to work. Even in hospitality — consider your favorite bar/restaurant — if you leave at 2 a.m., your wait staff likely finishes around 3 or 3:30 a.m. They need a way to get home safely, and this program provides that. By ensuring these workers have reliable transportation, we’re not only supporting individuals but also helping businesses and the economy function smoothly.
Where does the Northern Broward Rail Project currently stand, and what has community feedback been like?
Now that BCR South is well underway, it’s time to look north. The community north of the river is eager for commuter rail service, and that’s where our latest outreach efforts have been focused.
We recently held a large public engagement effort so that our county commissioners could gather feedback before identifying Commuter Rail North as our locally preferred alternative. This project will run from South Fort Lauderdale all the way up to Deerfield Beach and a little beyond.
We’ve seen strong interest from cities like Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach. In fact, we already have letters of support from Deerfield Beach and Oakland Park. Pompano Beach recently passed a resolution in support of the project, so it’s just a matter of time before we receive their letter. Wilton Manors is also in the process of finalizing its support.
When entire cities say, “We love this project,” that tells us their communities are on board. And when we spoke with the public, the message was clear: Do it faster! We need this now! People are frustrated with traffic congestion and want an affordable, reliable transit option. That’s why the Broward County Commissioners, through unanimous consent, recently voted Broward Commuter Rail North as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), which helps pave the way for federal funding to support the project’s overall development.
How will adding more modes of transportation enhance the quality of life for residents?
One of the great things about public transportation is that it offers a variety of services within a community, giving people the flexibility to choose what works best for them. It also allows us to provide transportation in different ways.
For example, trains and light rail can carry far more people than buses. So, when we think about moving large numbers of people efficiently, rail services become essential. However, rail can’t go everywhere — it eventually has to stop or change direction — so buses are still needed to fill in the gaps. Fixed-route bus services help connect people to those larger transit systems.
Then there’s the question of first-mile/last-mile access: How do people actually get to transit? Do they walk? Take a bike? Use Uber or another rideshare service? By offering multiple types of services, we can move people in ways that are more efficient and convenient. Plus, we can incorporate low-emission or no-emission vehicles, helping us meet environmental and sustainability goals.
What’s your take on proposals for the New River crossing?
I think most stakeholders have already taken a firm stance, whether they support the tunnel or the bridge. The core objective here is simple: we need to cross the river.
Of course, one option is more expensive than the other, and each has its own benefits. In my opinion, one is clearly more advantageous. However, our role now is to work through the educational process and see if there’s room for movement in either direction.
At the end of the day, we must reach a yes — because the ultimate goal is to get across the river.
How do you think the perception of transportation has evolved?
I believe most people, if they have a car, still default to driving as their first choice. I wish I could say buses were the go-to, but I know they’re not — at least not yet. However, I do think more people are open to programs like PREMO and the diverse services we’re introducing, which will eventually change. As these options become available, I’m confident we’ll see an increase in ridership because, honestly, people are just over the traffic.
As for eco-friendly initiatives, our Board of County Commissioners has made it clear that sustainability and resiliency need to be priorities in everything we do. We’ve taken that mandate seriously and have been working on electrifying our bus fleet. Unfortunately, some of our initial plans haven’t fully panned out yet, but we haven’t given up. We’re actively evaluating our options, and at the very least, we’re looking at a combination: low-emission or no-emission fleet.
As the market stabilizes and technology for zero-emission vehicles becomes more reliable, we’ll work toward reintroducing those assets into our fleet.
Where do you see Broward County Transit by 2030?
By 2030, we’ll be well on our way toward a major expansion through our PREMO program. Our goal is to add 200 miles of new transit service by 2038. My expectation is that by 2030, we’ll have at least two additional modes in service or very close to launching — whether that’s commuter rail, light rail, or even a bus rapid transit system.
For more information, visit:
