What’s driving the decision

It’s troubling to learn the dash to Tuesday’s vote is driven by a deadline to spend the remaining $10 million of an $18 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The grant — one of many pots of money assembled from various governments — expires September 30.

It’s even more troubling to envision the frantic rush that will follow if Seiler and other commissioners approve the amended cost-sharing agreement on their way out the door.

Consider what Stacy Miller, development director for the Florida Department of Transportation, told Broward County commissioners recently about the need for urgency in releasing the bid requests. (If the commission gives the goahead Tuesday, the bid responses won’t be opened until April 26.)

“As you delay the procurement of a contract, it delays the award of a contract. It delays the start of a contract. It delays the work. It delays invoicing. It delays the Department of Transportation from requesting reimbursement and the reimbursements have to occur prior to the end of the grant timeframe.”

Commissioner Tim Ryan asked Miller what work must be done by September 30.

Miller said the state is still seeking clargiven ity from the Federal Transit Administration, but it’s mostly about acquiring the vehicles, doing track work and something about the vehicle maintenance facility, she wasn’t quite clear.

Does any of that sound like work that should be done — and approved — at the speed of light? And how is it that significant spending details have not already been clarified?

“We have pushed ourselves to a point where it’s going to be very difficult for us to be able to award a contract, produce the work, receive an invoice and seek reimbursement from the FTA prior to the end of that period,” Miller continued. “And that’s really what the issue is. We’re pushed against a very hard date — from the FTA’s perspective, a nonmovable date.” It gets worse. The FTA doesn’t want to receive the bill on September 1, Miller said. “They need to have their processing time. So it’s not September 15, it’s not September 1. Their goal is for all invoices to be in much earlier than that, so they can do their processing and reimburse the department and close out the grant before the timeframe.” Whew. Somebody needs to talk to the feds. that these grants are hard to secure and Florida is a donor state on transportation projects. And because the money comes from the agency that oversees transit, we’re told it can only be spent on rail.

Seiler argues that foregoing the project would sour relationships with federal, state and regional leaders who’ve helped secure the funding. He suggests changing course would jeopardize funding for the federal courthouse, Port Everglades, the airport and other transportation initiatives.

Perhaps. But if a plan makes sense, has community support and is fiscally responsible, you’ve got to believe our representatives in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., would stand with the people they represent.

And they’d have to be blind not to see how the tide has shifted on the Wave as is.

Seiler says he’s received an equal number of emails from folks who support the Wave, as those opposed. But we haven’t. We largely see property owners, developers and business groups speaking in support, with residents and neighborhood associations — including those along the route — in opposition. We remember the tidal wave of support for Uber, the last new transportation option this community debated. This is nothing like that.

The best barometer of community support is the upcoming election, where every candidate stands opposed to the Wave as is, including current Commissioners Bruce Roberts and Dean Trantalis. If support were as split as Seiler suggests, you’d see it reflected in their campaigns.

The county commission is split, too. In a real nailbiter two weeks ago, the commission voted 5-4 to support the race to September. Commissioner Mark Bogen called in from a Chicago Cubs fantasy baseball camp to cast the deciding vote. His questions made clear he hadn’t heard the discussion, including the news about the rush job ahead.