STUART, Fla. — Brightline formally announced Stuart, in Martin County, Fla., will be the site of its next station today (Monday, March 4), choosing the site approximately 40 miles north of West Palm Beach from five proposals by public and private landowners.
Stuart’s selection had been reported last week after Stuart officials informed city employees of the news [see “Stuart, Fla., says it will be site …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 27, 2024].
Brightline announced the selection at a ceremony at the Stuart site featuring local and regional elected officials.
“The City of Stuart is thrilled to announce that Brightline has chosen Stuart for the next station in Florida’s expanding passenger rail network,” said Stuart Mayor Becky Brunner. “This marks a historic return to our roots and fulfills a vision held by Stuart for over 30 years, offering residents and visitors alike a first-class journey to Stuart, away from the congestion of highways. Stuart welcomes Brightline to our seaside town and looks forward to developing a partnership that defines the future of travel and transportation in Florida.”
The planned station will be located on 2.35 acres in downtown Stuart.
“We’ve seen significant demand and support for a Brightline station in the Treasure Coast, which was evident during this process,” Brian Kronberg, Brightline senior vice president of development and construction, said in a press release. “It was a difficult decision and we’re grateful for everyone’s support and efforts to make this happen.”
When it announced the start of the application process for station sites, Brightline indicated construction could begin in 2026, with service starting in 2028. But the TC Palm newspaper reports the station could be open by the end of 2026.
