STUART, Fla. – Nearly six months after its March 4 ceremony, announcing a new intermediate station to be constructed in downtown Stuart, Brightline is now heading back to the drawing board. The TC Palm newspaper reported a city commissioners meeting on Sept. 9 to rescind both its ground lease and interlocal agreements with the passenger service, resulting in two favored 3-2 votes.
The initial deal called for a $60 million station with the City of Stuart and Martin County contributing $45 million and donating the planned 2.4-acre site for a $1 yearly lease to Brightline for 80 years [See “Stuart, Fla., says it will be site of new Brightline station” News Wire, Feb. 27, 2024]. A new agreement was unanimously voted on Aug. 12, but Commissioner Christopher Collins sees it as a “bad deal for taxpayers” with Brightline not paying its fair share for the new station, according to the TC Palm.
“We’re confident that tonight’s actions don’t reflect the wishes of the majority of business owners and residents who have supported Brightline’s efforts to bring a station to Martin County,” said Ben Porritt, Brightline’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs in a statement sent to the newspaper.
While a Sept. 10 meeting by Martin County commissioners voted to continue negotiations between all parties, Fort Pierce officials expressed interest in another bid to have their city as an alternative for Brightline. The Treasure Coast town was one of three applicants to bid on a new station location for the region along the West Palm Beach-Orlando route before Stuart was eventually selected [See “Fort Pierce, Stuart enter bids for new Brightline station” News Wire, Dec. 24, 2023].
No one in Stuart is pushing back on a recent federal grant to plan for a new rail bridge over the St Lucie River to allow the free flow of boats without a drawbridge to impede them. Funny how that works. What happened to pay your own way? How much is coming from their marine licenses and taxes?
Train stations don’t help people and their boats navigate more freely. One must get their priorities straight. Federal largesse to help me get my boat out…..sure! Local contribution to support a rail transportation center? Hurumph! No way.
Rep. Rick Mast office is just 10 blocks north of where the planned station was going to be. He was leading the anti-Brightline crowd and forced a last minute rule change with the Coast Guard which has severely impacted service south of West Palm.
As for the $60 million, it was going to be more than just a station. There was a planned redevelopment district that Stuart wanted to include.
This area of Florida is kind of odd. From Vero Beach to the north all the way down to Jupiter, this area fought against the building of I-95 in the late 1960’s. Said it would allow “strangers” to come into town. They didn’t want to pay for the new, more safer crossings with the FEC/Brightline ROW. Tried to convince themselves that they were required. Turns out FDOT paid for most of them.
Are convinced that private industry should pay their own way for everything in the public domain, anything less is an affront to liberty. (no kidding). But have absolutely no qualms about others in the State of Florida or the US Government pay for things that only benefit them.
Commissioner Chris Collins (cited int he article) is an avowed NIMBY whose sol purpose in life is to keep developments in Stuart FL from being larger than single story Florida bungalows. He has repeatedly voted against any zoning change anywhere within Stuart. No surprise he led the charge to stifle Brightline.
Brightline, it’s clear that Stuart is not where you want to be. so you should really take your ball and bat and go elsewhere.
“This area of Florida is kind of odd.” Understatement of the year, sir.
I know construction and land costs are high, but $60 MILLION for a station?
Fair point. That’s double the cost of the WPB station. No clue as to the difference. Maybe it’s the parking facilities? WPB parking is in an adjacent apartment building.
Just saw some local color and, yes, Stuart wants to drop the “$30 million parking garage.” Go ahead, the garage can always be addressed later.
Stuart’s loss = Fort Pierce’s gain?
Hah! Stuart’s NIMBY’s fought tooth and nail against Brightline in its planning stages. Now let them drive to another town for a ride!
Oh look. Stuart wants a handout. Doesn’t work that way here. If you want a Brightline station you play by Brightline’s rules.
That’s too bad. Brightline is not convenient for me with the closest station being 100 miles away. But I would have considered driving the hundred miles and riding to Stuart for a day trip. Hard to do without a station.