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Brightline

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"Brightline" redirects here. For the legal term, see Bright-line rule.
All Aboard Florida
Overview
StatusUnder Construction
OwnerFlorida East Coast Industries (FECI)
LocaleFlorida
Termini
Stations4 (planned)
Websitewww.allaboardflorida.com
Service
TypeHigher speed rail
History
OpenedMiami to West Palm Beach - Early 2017 (Planned)[1] Miami to Orlando - Late 2017 (Planned)[2]
Technical
Line length240 mi (390 km)
CharacterAt-grade
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Operating speed79 mph (127 km/h) Miami – West Palm Beach

110 mph (177 km/h) West Palm Beach – Cocoa

125 mph (201 km/h) Cocoa – Orlando
Route map
Template:Infobox rdt

All Aboard Florida is a passenger rail project that will connect Miami and Orlando through express intercity service while also building new passenger stations. A wholly owned subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries (FECI),[3] the project will include stations located in downtown Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. It will be the first time a privately owned company in the US has developed and operated an express passenger rail system in over 100 years. The service will use the existing FEC corridor between Miami and Cocoa, while also building a new 40-mile (64 km) stretch of tracks along the State Road 528 corridor between Cocoa and the Orlando International Airport. All Aboard Florida will serve the historic FEC rail corridor along the east coast of Florida, where approximately 50% of the state’s population—over 9 million people—currently lives.

The cost of all construction is projected at $1.5 billion.[4] In March 2013, All Aboard Florida applied for a $1.6 billion Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan, which is administered by the Federal Railroad Administration.[5] In late 2014, the company announced it had applied for a $1.75 billion private activity bond allocation, with proceeds from the bond sale substantially reducing or replacing entirely the amount of the RRIF loan request.[6]

The company received a Finding of No Significant Impact from the Federal Railroad Administration in January 2013, effectively clearing way for work to begin between Miami and West Palm Beach.[7] The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the full build-out service was released in September 2014,[8] and a series of public comment meetings followed. The final report is scheduled to be released sometime in 2015. As of the start of 2015, the company has started site work at the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach stations, plus right of way improvements along stretches of the corridor.

Service is projected to begin between Miami and West Palm Beach in early 2017, followed by service to Orlando in late 2017.[9] On November 10, 2015, All Aboard Florida announced that the service will operate under the name Brightline.[10]

Schedule

Brightline trains will run at approximately one-hour intervals with 16 northbound and 16 southbound trips each day.[11] Although the corridor will be shared with freight trains, few delays are expected as freight trains travel on the FEC at relatively high speeds.[12]

Corridor upgrades

The project calls for more than $1.5 billion in upgrades to the rail corridor between Miami and Cocoa. The company is double tracking the corridor, improving signaling systems, and upgrading every grade crossing to meet the highest applicable safety standards set by the Florida Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration.[13][14]

Quiet zones

Responding to citizen concerns about increased noise from additional horns, Brightline has stated that it will work with local communities to implement quiet zones where possible.[15] Federal law requires quiet zone requests to originate from the local authority that has jurisdiction over the roadway, not the railroad company.[16]

In August 2014, the company announced a partnership with the Broward and Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organizations to implement quiet zones between the City of Hallandale Beach and 15th Street in West Palm Beach.[17] In December 2014, the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization approved funding to construct quiet zones between PortMiami and the northern Miami-Dade County line.[18] The quiet zones will be in place when Brightline becomes operational between Miami and West Palm Beach by early 2017. Part of the corridor safety upgrades includes installing Positive Train Control which will enhance Brightline's ability to monitor and control train movements safely.[19]

Bridges

The FEC rail corridor includes a number of fixed-span bridges that will be replaced as part of the project. Most do not require United State Coast Guard (USCG) permitting as they do not span significant navigable waterways and clearances won’t change. Twelve other bridges—St. Johns River, Eau Gallie River, St. Sebastian River, Crane Creek, Turkey Creek, West Palm Beach Canal, Boynton Canal, Middle River (both the North and South Fork), Oleta River, Arch Creek and Hillsboro Canal—will require permitting by the USCG. In addition, the project calls for significant investment and upgrades to three moveable bridges: St. Lucie, Loxahatchee, and New River. These improvements will ensure that bridge mechanical systems for raising and lowering the bridge spans are either fully upgraded or replaced. Brightline said, prior to it becoming operational, it will start to regularly notify mariners of scheduled bridge closings via the internet, smart phone application and countdown signage on the bridges to enable mariners to have real-time information to decrease wait times at each bridge. Also, the company will station a bridge tender at the New River bridge.[20]

Miami-Cocoa

In January 2013, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Miami-Cocoa phase of the project, effectively clearing the way for work to begin.[21] FECI owns the former site of its downtown Miami station (FECI has since purchased approximately seven acres of land in downtown Fort Lauderdale and two acres in downtown West Palm Beach to build stations in those cities). The nine-acre parcel adjacent to Government Center had been used for years as surface parking and under construction. The site is zoned for 2,500,000 sq ft (232,258 m2) of development.[22] The system would also connect with the existing Metrorail and Metromover systems. The downtown Miami station is called MiamiCentral.[23] Site work on the Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach station sites began at the end of 2014.

Cocoa-Orlando

The segment of the route between Cocoa and Orlando is the only segment that does not have existing track or right of way owned by FEC. Originally, the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA) believed it could accommodate building new tracks for the project within the BeachLine Expressway's 300 ft-wide right of way. However, it has since been determined that the right of way was too narrow to accommodate the tracks, additional utility lines, and any future roadway expansions. Deseret Ranch owns the land just south of the BeachLine and talks have been underway to purchase an additional 200 ft for the corridor. As of a pact made on July 16, 2013, the Expressway Authority said it would pay $12 million for an extra 200 ft along the 22-mile BeachLine stretch from Cocoa to near the Orlando International Airport.[24] In early October 2013, the Expressway Authority and Brightline reached a purchase agreement for the land required for the right-of-way. Although construction was slated to originally begin in early 2015, this date has been pushed back until the FRA releases the project's final Environmental Impact Statement.

Also in October, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Board approved development of a station and maintenance facility on Orlando International Airport property, as well as an easement to build track between the station and the mainline to the coast.[25]

This segment of the proposed line will operate at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour (201 km/h). This segment will almost meet the United States Code's definition of high-speed rail, which includes rail services that are "reasonably expected to reach sustained speeds of more than 125 miles per hour".[26] The Congressional Research Service also uses the term "higher" speed rail for top speeds up to 150 miles per hour (241 km/h).[27]

In Orlando, Brightline service would connect to the new SunRail commuter rail system at the Orlando International Airport's new South Airport Intermodal Terminal, if an airport connection is to be built by SunRail.[28]

Rolling stock

File:Artistic rendering of Siemens Charger locomotives.jpg
Siemens Charger locomotives similar to those that will be used for Brightline. The project has not finalized designs yet for its locomotives or passenger coaches

In September 2014, Brightline announced an order of five Siemens trainsets. Each train set will initially consist of five passenger coaches, with a Siemens Charger diesel locomotive on each end. The coaches will feature ergonomic seating, wi-fi, level boarding, and meet ADA compliance standards. The entire trainset, including passenger cars, will be manufactured by Siemens in its solar-powered plant in Florin, California. Once the route to Orlando is in operation, the trainsets will be expanded to seven coaches, and five more complete trainsets will be purchased.[29][30]

Stations

The three South Florida stations are being designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in association with Zyscovich Architects.[31]

The downtown Miami station, known as MiamiCentral (not to be confused with Miami Central Station near Miami International Airport), will span nine acres and be located just east of Miami-Dade County Hall and will include 3 million square feet of mixed-use development with residential, office and commercial, and a retail concourse. The station will connect Brightline with the Metrorail, Metromover, County bus and City of Miami trolley systems.[32] The new Brightline station will officially connect the following transit modes: 2 Metrotrail stations, 2 Metromover stations, Metrobus, and the future Tri-Rail station. This will increase connections to activities and tourist destinations, including the Performing Arts Center, Bayside Market and Bayfront Park.

The Fort Lauderdale station will be located at NW 2nd Avenue between Broward Boulevard and NW 4th Street. The four-acre station site will have a 60,000-square-foot station and platform. The Brightline train service in Ft. Lauderdale will connect to the Sun Trolley, Broward County Transit system, future Wave Streetcar and planned Tri-Rail Coastal Link station. Brightline also owns about three acres of land to the east of the Florida East Coast Railway corridor, where there are plans to build a transit oriented development.[33]

The West Palm Beach station will be located between Datura and Evernia Streets and to the west of Quadrille. The two-acre station site will have a 60,000-square-foot station and platform that will connect with the neighborhood’s existing vehicular, trolley and pedestrian networks and establish links to the Tri-Rail, Palm Tran Downtown Trolley and Amtrak West Palm Beach station.[34]

The Orlando station will be included as part of the new South Airport Intermodal Terminal that is currently under construction at Orlando International Airport.[35]

Construction

Construction on MiamiCentral in 2015

Construction began on the Miami to West Palm Beach section with the laying of new tracks and closure of the temporary surface lots in Government Center, Downtown Miami, in mid 2014.[2] Heavy construction work on the station subsequently began in November 2014.[citation needed] Suffolk Construction is the general contractor for the Miami station.[36] Piles were being set on the four lots of MiamiCentral in early 2015.[37]

On October 29, 2014, work on the Fort Lauderdale station began with the demolition of existing buildings on the site.[38] A groundbreaking ceremony for the West Palm Beach station was held in November 2014.[39] Moss & Associates, of Fort Lauderdale, has been named general contractor for the West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale stations.[40]

In January 2015, crews started replacing track throughout the corridor. The system between Miami and West Palm Beach is expected to be operational by early 2017 and to Orlando by late 2017.

See also

References

  1. ^ Jennifer Sorentrue (October 8, 2015). "Company starts building engines that will power All Aboard Florida". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Chardy, Alfonso (August 25, 2014). "Work begins — finally — on Miami-to-Orlando fast train". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  3. ^ "All Aboard Florida - Miami to Orlando Passenger Rail Service". Federal Railroad Authority. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  4. ^ "Quiet zones plans for FEC tracks get boost, as All Aboard Florida picks up costs for some safety upgrades". The Palm Beach Post. September 19, 2014.
  5. ^ "All Aboard Florida seeks federal loan". Orlando Sentinel. March 18, 2013. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  6. ^ "All Aboard Florida shocker: Rail seeks private financing". Palm Beach Post. October 8, 2014.
  7. ^ "High-speed rail service heads south". Florida Today. Associated Press. July 9, 2014.
  8. ^ "All Aboard Florida - Miami to Orlando Passenger Rail Service". Federal Railroad Authority. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  9. ^ Tracy, Dan (July 8, 2014). "All Aboard Florida train could roll into Orlando in June 2017". Orlando Sentinel.
  10. ^ "All Aboard Florida unveils branding of its rail service". The Real Deal Miami. November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "Rail Magazine Podcast with All Aboard Florida President & COO Don Robinson". Rail Magazine. Blogspot. October 10, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  12. ^ Plumer, Brad (April 3, 2012). "Can passenger rail ever be profitable? Florida's about to find out". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  13. ^ "State requires All Aboard Florida to install millions in safety upgrades". WPBF. July 23, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  14. ^ "Private passenger train vision calls for double-tracking Florida East Coast". Trains Magazine. March 23, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Stone, Rick (August 14, 2014). ""Quiet Zones" Along The FEC Tracks May Silence Critics As Well As Train Whistles". WLRN. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  16. ^ "Federal Railroad Administration's Train Horn & Quiet Zone Rule". www.up.com. Union Pacific. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  17. ^ "All Aboard Florida secures funds for Broward-Palm Beach quiet zone". South Florida Business Journal. August 13, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  18. ^ "With "quiet zones' funded for Miami-Dade, All Aboard Florida moves ahead". Miami Herald. January 16, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  19. ^ "Southeast Florida Passenger Rail Update: Sept. 20, 2013 Council Meeting" (PDF). Trasurer Coast Regional Planning Council. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  20. ^ "All Aboard Florida - Miami to Orlando Passenger Rail Service Draft Environmental Impact Statement". fra.dot.gov. Federal Railroad Administration. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  21. ^ "All Aboard Florida Passenger Rail Project FONSI". fra.dot.gov. Federal Railroad Administration. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  22. ^ Smith, Stephen (March 29, 2012). "Florida East Coast Industries Announces Ambitious Plan For Private Passenger Rail Service". International Business Times. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  23. ^ Bandell, Brian (September 19, 2014). "All Aboard: 12M reasons for retailers to love MiamiCentral station". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  24. ^ "Deal could lead to Miami-Orlando train, extended Osceola toll road". Orlando Sentinel. July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  25. ^ "All Aboard Florida secures right-of-way, station agreements". Railway Track and Structures. October 4, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  26. ^ "US Code Title 49 § 26105 – Definitions". US Code Title 49. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  27. ^ "The Development of High Speed Rail in the United States: Issues and Recent Events" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  28. ^ Gale, Kevin (March 22, 2012). "Florida East Coast Industries plans Miami-to-Orlando passenger service". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  29. ^ "All Aboard Florida Selects Siemens as Train Manufacturer". Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  30. ^ "Siemens to build All Aboard Florida trains". Orlando Sentinel. September 11, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  31. ^ "Florida Rail Developer Selects SOM for Station Plan". SOM. July 30, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  32. ^ "Here Are Leasing Plans And New Renderings For All Aboard Florida's MiamiCentral Station Project". The Next Miami. September 22, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  33. ^ "Rail firm appears on track to transform Fort Lauderdale". Sun-Sentinel. May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  34. ^ "All Aboard Florida updates WPB station design". Palm Beach Post. November 11, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  35. ^ "Exclusive: What All Aboard Florida rail station may include at Orlando airport". Orlando Business Journal. August 11, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  36. ^ "All Aboard Florida Taps Suffolk to Build Miami Station". ENR Southeast. July 30, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  37. ^ Chardy, Alfonso (March 9, 2015). "On track: Details for downtown Miami railway hub are revealed". The Miami Herald. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  38. ^ "All Aboard Florida begins construction of Fort Lauderdale station". Trains Magazine. October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  39. ^ "All Aboard Florida to begin construction today on West Palm Beach station". Palm Beach Post. November 12, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  40. ^ "Rail picks contractor for Fort Lauderdale, WPB stations". Sun Sentinel. January 20, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
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