PRIVATE US passenger operator Brightline has formally launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) to add a new station on Florida’s eastern Treasure Coast, north of the operator’s existing station at West Palm Beach.
Brightline says private or public landowners that control property along the Brightline/Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) corridor in St Lucie or Martin counties can submit proposals under the RFP.
Brightline currently serves stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and opened a new station at Orlando Airport on September 22.
According to the RFP, the site must be at least 0.8ha in size, and located adjacent to the FEC right of way with room for a 150m-long platform, as well as 300m of track either side of the property or within the right of way. The site must be able to accommodate 200 car parking spaces, as well as provision for other ground transport including pick up and drop off, rideshare, and local bus services.
Those responding to the RFP must set out how their proposed site supports public access to and from adjacent population centres, along with details of the existing condition of the site, its access to existing utilities, and any special considerations that should be given to additional development potential.
Brightline is also interested in understanding what financial parameters and assistance would be available, adding that the property required for the most recent stations developed in Aventura and Boca Raton was provided at minimal cost to Brightline. In Boca Raton, the city already owned the property and entered into a long-term lease with Brightline for $US 1 per year while in Aventura, Miami-Dade County purchased the property and then entered into a long-term lease with Brightline for $US 1 per month.
Brightline says that in addition to the contribution of real property rights, significant capital contributions toward the design, engineering and construction of these stations including parking and rail-related infrastructure were provided by Miami-Dade County, the City of Boca Raton, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
Additional development potential, which might offer further financial assistance to extending Brightline, was also provided through various options including rights of first refusal.
“We’re excited to begin the process of identifying a station location in the Treasure Coast and have seen tremendous support from the local community,” says Brightline CEO, Mr Michael Reininger. “Expanding Brightline into the Treasure Coast region will make Brightline one of the most accessible forms of transport in Florida, giving access to nearly half of the state’s residents.”
Brightline will host one-to-one meetings with those submitting eligible proposals in each county. Proposals must be submitted by December 22. After receiving submissions, Brightline will begin evaluation with the aim of entering negotiations with property owners in the first quarter of 2024.
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