Stuart station (Brightline) explained

Stuart
Style:Brightline
Address:500 SE Flagler Avenue
Borough:Stuart, Florida
Country:United States
Coordinates:27.1959°N -80.2508°W
Owned:City of Stuart
Operator:Brightline
Line:Florida East Coast Railway
Platform:1 side platform
Tracks:1
Tram Routes:Stuart Tram
Connections: MARTY: 3
Structure:At-grade
Parking:On-site parking garage; paid
Bicycle:Racks
Accessible:Yes
Opening:2026
Other Services Header:Future services
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Custom:
Shape:none
Line:none
Marker:rail
Zoom:15

Stuart station is a future Brightline inter-city rail station in Stuart, Florida. The station would be located near the Old Martin County Courthouse in the downtown area of the city, having a station size of on a 2.35-acre site. Service at this station will begin by the end of 2026.

History

Brightline had originally expressed interest in adding a station on Florida's Treasure Coast, as part of their route between Miami and Orlando. In 2018, Brightline reached a legal settlement with Martin County and residents that a station would be constructed on the Treasure Coast within five years of the completion of the Orlando extension.[1] Later that year, the company asked cities in the area to submit proposals for viable station locations. Fort Pierce, which last had passenger train service on July 31, 1968, had expressed interest.[2] [3] The city of Stuart had also indicated that it will be negotiating for a potential station.[4] Brightline had originally indicated that Stuart could be the most likely location for a Treasure Coast station.[5] However, neither city's station proposals had been committed in writing as completion of the line to Orlando was the top priority for Brightline. After completing the Orlando extension, Brightline had indicated that their focus was on the Treasure Coast to receive a station, with the company formally launching request for proposals.[6] Stuart and Fort Pierce were the candidates to receive the Brightline station.[7] By February 26, 2024, Stuart city officials confirmed that Brightline had expressed that Stuart would be chosen for the station location.[8] On March 4, 2024, Brightline officially announced that Stuart had won the bid for the Treasure Coast station.[9] [10]

The Stuart station is planned to be an infill station along the Florida route. Brightline and Martin County would fund constructing the station and rail infrastructure while the city would cover access and zoning requirements and costs. Both the city and county have begun to seek grants from the United States Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Transportation to be used toward the construction of the station and related infrastructure. The city would use a portion of the grant to fund the construction of a parking garage that would accommodate Brightline passengers. Construction of the station could begin in the coming years, with service planned for 2026.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Norman . Lianna . September 22, 2023 . Is there a Brightline station on the Treasure Coast? No, but here's how to get to one . January 4, 2024.
  2. Web site: Rodriguez . Janny . September 6, 2018 . Brightline considers Fort Pierce train station . WPTV.
  3. Web site: Gardner . Keona . September 5, 2018 . Fort Pierce: Brightline wants to build station, hotel at H.D. King site downtown . TC Palm.
  4. News: Broadt . Lisa . October 23, 2018 . Stuart will pursue Brightline station; city is considering three locations . November 2, 2018 . TCPalm . en.
  5. News: Solomon . Joshua . October 25, 2019 . Virgin Trains moving closer to station in Cocoa, leaning toward Stuart . October 28, 2019 . TCPalm . en.
  6. Web site: BRIGHTLINE ANNOUNCES PROCESS TO SELECT A TREASURE COAST STATION . 2024-01-04 . www.gobrightline.com . en.
  7. Web site: September 22, 2023 . Brightline CEO: Treasure Coast train station is focus now following passenger rail launch . September 25, 2023 . Yahoo News . en-US.
  8. Web site: Burbank . Keith . Perlis . Wicker . 2024-02-26 . Brightline to build new Treasure Coast station in downtown Stuart, city officials say . 2024-02-27 . Treasure Coast Newspapers . en-US.
  9. Web site: BRIGHTLINE ANNOUNCES STATION EXPANSION FOR DOWNTOWN STUART & MARTIN COUNTY . 2024-03-04 . www.gobrightline.com . en.
  10. Web site: 2024-03-04 . Brightline announces Stuart as home to new Treasure Coast station . 2024-03-04 . WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm . en.