Stuart agrees to move forward with county in bid for Brightline station downtown
STUART — The city and Martin County are moving ahead with at least one of the sites proposed for a new Brightline station. City commissioners Monday approved an agreement with the county, outlining the responsibilities of each if Brightline chooses to build a station in downtown.
Commissioners approved the agreement in a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Christopher Collins dissenting. He said he wanted to know how much a station would cost residents. No one offered that answer.
"For me, I do not feel comfortable with signing that blank check," Collins said.
Collins also was concerned about a station's impact on traffic and on the potential gentrification of East Stuart.
Who pays for what
Under the agreement, the county and Brightline would share the cost of the station equally, and the city would pay for the parking garage, explained Tom Lanahan, executive director of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, which is helping Stuart and Martin County prepare their joint proposal for a station.
The station, on Southeast Flagler Avenue at Southeast Stypmann Boulevard near the county courthouse, could cost about $54 million. That was the price tag for Brightline's Boca Raton station, and city officials last week said they would use that cost as a guide.
The garage — which could cost about $8 million, based on Brightline requirements — would serve downtown drivers as well as Brightline passengers.
City official are excited
The potential for a stop near downtown Stuart got city commissioners excited.
"This is going to shoot us into the fourth dimension," said Mayor Becky Bruner. "It's really going to do great things for our city."
Stuart has been pursuing restoration of passenger rail service for about 30 years. The last passenger train to officially serve Stuart was July 31,1968, according to local historian Sandra Thurlow.
A train station on Flagler Avenue, which runs through downtown, would generate economic growth such as new businesses and tourism, City Manager Mike Mortell said.
Reducing the cost
The city and county will be filing joint applications for grants and seeking other forms of assistance to offset the cost of a railroad station. Stuart also may borrow money to pay its share of the project, officials said.
The county would donate the Flagler Avenue property.
Terms of legal settlement and expected opening
A legal settlement requires Brightline to build a station in Martin or St. Lucie county within five years of launching service to Orlando. That happened Sept. 22.
The agreement also requires the railroad to make two northbound and two southbound stops on the Treasure Coast each day.
More How many applications has Brightline gotten for its new station? Company mum as deadline nears
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City commissioners also learned Monday that Brightline may eliminate applicants in two rounds, effectively creating a smaller list of sites before making a final choice.
County commissioners also have discussed offering the county fairgrounds to Brightline as a potential station location.
A short list of potential sites, or the final choice, is to be announced in the first quarter of next year. Design, permitting and environmental work would begin in the second quarter.
Construction is expected to start in 2026 and take about 18 months. The station is expected to open in the first quarter of 2028.
Keith Burbank is TCPalm's watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Stuart votes to seek Brightline station, Martin County votes Tuesday
