The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) in Melbourne has announced a March 10 meeting to review nine potential sites along the rail corridor in Brevard County for a possible Brightline intercity passenger train stop. The Orlando to Miami high speed passenger train already has stops scheduled for Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The proposals were submitted to the Space Coast TPO by four municipalities, three from the city of Melbourne, four from Cocoa, and one each from Palm Bay and Rockledge. The proposals will be evaluated on development and ridership potential. The Brightline intercity passenger train is a privately funded $3.1 billion project by All Aboard Florida that’s scheduled to start full service by 2018.
“As passenger rail service has been expanding throughout the state, we in Brevard County have wanted stops here by anybody at anytime,” says Executive Director of TPO Bob Kamm. “Here comes All Aboard Florida, which in 2012 announced plans for passenger service with no stop in Brevard … I’ve been asking for a station since then.” “All Aboard didn’t turn us down or say go away,” Kammer said. “They said, ‘If you can provide one preferred site, we will do a ridership survey and see if it makes sense.’ ”
