Brightline, the high-speed rail service, has received five proposals for a new station location on the Treasure Coast, surpassing the previously reported three. The company, keeping details confidential, had a December 22 deadline for submissions. Two proposals are from government entities: a joint proposal by the city of Stuart and Martin County, and another from the city of Fort Pierce. The third known proposal is from Audubon Development for the King's Landing project near Fort Pierce City Marina.
The remaining two proposals, speculated to be from private property owners, have not been disclosed to the public. The specific locations and details of these sites are unknown, including factors like acreage, railroad track frontage, and development plans.
Per a settlement agreement with Martin County and Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida, Brightline must have a station operational within five years of launching its West Palm Beach to Orlando service, which began last September. This station must be in either Martin or St. Lucie counties, as these are the only counties included in Brightline's request for proposals.
Brightline's criteria for station sites are stringent. Eligible locations must span at least two acres, accommodate over 200 parking spaces, and feature at least 1,000 feet of frontage along the rail line. This limits the options but leaves room for various possibilities, including sites near downtown Jensen Beach or on the outskirts of Port St. Lucie.
The proposals' financial feasibility is also crucial, particularly whether proposers can fund construction costs, which gives an advantage to the three known proposals that have committed financial support. The zoning status of the mystery sites remains unclear, as they are not government submissions.
Brightline is expected to announce its preferred proposal early this year. If the selected proposal isn't one of the undisclosed ones, details about them may remain unknown, as Brightline, a private company, is not obliged to disclose this information. The mystery proposers could still choose to reveal their plans, potentially gaining public support for their locations. Whether they will do so or remain anonymous sources of speculation is yet to be seen.
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