Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project Explained

Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project
Type:Commuter rail
Status:In planning
Locale:Greater Miami
Stations:7
Character:At-grade
Speed:79mph

The Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project is a planned commuter rail service in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The line is planned to extend from MiamiCentral to the Aventura station along the existing Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) tracks. It will have seven stations for the service in Miami-Dade, with both of the terminal stations having access to Brightline.[1] [2] Service could begin as soon as 2028.[3] Tri-Rail is a potential operator of the service.[4] A future extension into Broward and Palm Beach County is under study.[5]

History

Prior to Brightline, a similar project was known as the Coastal Link in the 2010s with Tri-Rail as the prospective operator.

In 2020, it was revealed that Brightline was planning a commuter rail service to complement their existing intercity service. Referred to as the Northeast Corridor,[6] trains would run between MiamiCentral and Aventura with five stations between. Brightline and the Miami-Dade County Commission agreed to access fees in November 2020.[7] The estimated cost for full buildout of the line was $325 million in 2021. Operations were expected to start as early as 2024.[8] By 2023, station locations had been identified and service frequencies for trains were expected to be every 30 to 60 minutes.[9] The price of the project had increased to $588,663,000.[10]

Stations

LocationStationConnections
Ojus
North Miami BeachFIU/Biscayne
North MiamiNorth Miami
Miami
Little Haiti

Design District

Wynwood
MiamiCentral

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Miami-Date County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project Fact Sheet . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712001727/https://www.miamidade.gov/transit/library/northeast-corridor-rapid-transit-fact-sheet.pdf . 2023-07-12 . miamidade.gov.
  2. Web site: Northeast Corridor . 2023-02-02 . www.miamidade.gov . en.
  3. News: Plasencia . Amanda . A closer look at the Northeast Corridor Rapid Transit Project, Miami-Dade's newest commuter train . 8 November 2023 . NBC Miami . October 11, 2023.
  4. Web site: Tri-Rail Coastal Link South Florida East Coast Corridor (SFECC) Transit Analysis Study . 2023-03-09 . tri-railcoastallinkstudy.com.
  5. News: Deal For Brightline To Build Commuter Rail System Nearly Ready . 18 May 2024 . The Next Miami . May 16, 2024.
  6. News: Scheckner . Jesse . March 23, 2021 . After $345 million buildout, Brightline to run new intercity rail . Miami Today . April 6, 2021.
  7. News: November 18, 2020 . Brightline, Miami-Dade OK access fee for new commuter-rail system . Progressive Railroading . November 21, 2020.
  8. News: Scheckner . Jesse . April 6, 2021 . Miami-Dade seeks federal funding for Northeast commuter rail line . Miami Today . April 11, 2021.
  9. News: Hanks . Douglas . February 23, 2023 . A commuter train along U.S. 1 in Miami? County unveils plan without El Portal station . Miami Herald . June 1, 2023.
  10. News: Miami-Aventura rail route cost rises quarter billion . 8 November 2023 . Miami Today . September 26, 2023.