Cocoa station

Last updated

Cocoa
General information
Location2800 Clearlake Road
Cocoa, Florida
United States
Coordinates 28°23′51″N80°45′07″W / 28.39739°N 80.75202°W / 28.39739; -80.75202
Owned by Florida East Coast Industries
Operated by Brightline
Line(s) Florida East Coast Railway
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks1
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
ParkingOn-site parking garage; paid
Bicycle facilities Racks
AccessibleYes
History
OpeningTBD
Future services
Preceding station Brightline Small Logo.png Brightline Following station
Orlando
Terminus
 Brightline West Palm Beach
toward MiamiCentral
Location
Cocoa station

Cocoa station is a future Brightline inter-city rail infill station in Cocoa, Florida, United States. The station would be located just south of the Cocoa Curve, where Brightline's Orlando Line along State Road 528 merges with the Florida East Coast Railway main line. The station will be located on property already owned by Brightline, on the south side of the interchange between U.S. Route 1 and State Road 528. A timeline for construction or opening has not yet been established.

History

Brevard County had long desired a Brightline infill station since 2016. [1] That same year, the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (SCTPO) identified an area of land owned by Brightline used for construction on their Orlando Branch as the best possible location for a station. [2] The site, located at 2800 Clearlake Road, [3] was chosen due to its location just south of the Cocoa Curve due to Brightline already owning the land and trains being required to slow down while traversing the curve anyhow. [4] The SCTPO, since their initial study, had been pursuing a station there since. [5]

Brightline had initially expressed interest in adding a station on the Space Coast. Brightline indicated that Cocoa would make the most sense for a Space Coast station because of its close proximity to Port Canaveral's cruise lines as well as for positioning for future expansion to Jacksonville. [6] In June 2023, Brightline purchased land in Titusville, with potentially having plans to develop a residential neighborhood and station in Cocoa. [7] [8] However, even after the West Palm Beach to Orlando segment began revenue service on September 22, 2023, [9] Brightline had not yet formally committed to adding a station in Cocoa, as funding for it would need to be secured first. [10]

The SCTPO would eventually be able to secure $15.5 million in federal grants to fund a station at their chosen location. [11] On March 12, 2024, following a unanimous decision by the Cocoa City Council, an additional $5 million from the city's budget was allocated to fund the station. [12] [13] The city of Cocoa would also begin to coordinate with community stakeholders to present a financial proposal to Brightline detailing station funding plans, as well as continue to push for additional federal and state grants, while Brevard County Commission Chair Jason Steele also began to push for a tourism capital grant for the station. [11] With a total of $20.5 million in funding for the station finally secured, [14] a meeting was held between Cocoa city officials and Brightline executives later that day, [15] [16] leading to an announcement by Katie Mitzner, Brightline's director of public affairs, announcing that the company was finally ready to begin formalizing the station with Space Coast stakeholders and that they would begin finalizing a plan for the station. However, a timeline for construction or opening has not yet been established. [17] [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brevard County, Florida</span> County in Florida, United States

Brevard County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 606,612, making it the 10th-most populated county in Florida. The official county seat is located in Titusville. Brevard County comprises the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located along the east Florida coast and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocoa, Florida</span> City in Florida, US

Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida. The population was 19,041 at the 2020 United States Census. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocoa Beach, Florida</span> City in Florida

Cocoa Beach is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,539 at the 2018 United States Census. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titusville, Florida</span> City in Florida, United States

Titusville is a city in and the county seat of Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 48,789. Titusville is located along the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center, and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore. It is a principal city of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Coast</span> Region in Florida

The Space Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida around the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It is one of several "themed" coasts around Florida. All orbital launches from American soil carrying NASA astronauts have departed from either KSC or Cape Canaveral. The Space Force Station has also launched unmanned military and civilian rockets. Cities in the area include Port St. John, Titusville, Cocoa, Rockledge, Cape Canaveral, Merritt Island (unincorporated), Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Palm Bay, and Viera (unincorporated). Most of the area lies within Brevard County. It is bounded on the south by the Treasure Coast, on the west and north by Central Florida, and on the east by the Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida State Road 528</span> Highway in Florida

State Road 528 (SR 528), alternatively named the Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway, is a partially-tolled freeway in the U.S. state of Florida; it is maintained by the Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE), the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX), and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Spanning approximately 53 miles (85 km) along a west–east axis, it connects Interstate 4 (I-4) in Orlando with I-95, Titusville, and Cape Canaveral on the Space Coast. It passes close to the tourist areas of Orlando, including SeaWorld and Universal Orlando, and serves the north entrance to Orlando International Airport. Near its east end, it passes over the Intracoastal Waterway on the Emory L. Bennett Causeway, and ends at SR A1A and SR 401 near Port Canaveral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Coast Regional Airport</span> Airport in Florida, United States of America

Space Coast Regional Airport is in Titusville, Florida, United States, on Columbia Boulevard and Washington Avenue in Brevard County. Formerly known, and still colloquially referred to, as Ti-Co (Titusville-Cocoa) Airport, it is the nearest commercial airport to the Kennedy Space Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merritt Island Airport</span> Airport in Merritt Island, Florida

Merritt Island Airport is a general aviation public airport under the administration of the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority. It located in Merritt Island, Brevard County, Florida, United States, northwest of Patrick Space Force Base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida East Coast Railway</span> Class II railroad operating in Florida

The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida, currently owned by Grupo México.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Florida</span> Region in Florida, United States

Central Florida is a region of the U.S. state of Florida. Different sources give different definitions for the region, but as its name implies it is usually said to comprise the central part of the state, including the Tampa Bay area and the Greater Orlando area, though in recent times the Tampa Bay area has often been described as its own region, with "central Florida" becoming more synonymous with the Orlando area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treasure Coast</span> Region in Florida

The Treasure Coast is a region in the southeast of the U.S. state of Florida. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and comprises Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie counties. The region, whose name refers to the Spanish Treasure Fleet that was lost in a 1715 hurricane, evidently emerged from residents' desire to distinguish themselves from the Gold Coast to the south.

Brightline West is a planned privately run high-speed rail route in the United States linking the Las Vegas Valley and Rancho Cucamonga in the Greater Los Angeles area through the California high desert. The line will connect with existing rail at Rancho Cucamonga station of Metrolink's San Bernardino Line, a commuter rail line in Southern California. The project is intended to provide an alternative to air and automobile travel between Southern California and Las Vegas, a popular leisure destination. In December 2023, the United States Department of Transportation awarded Brightline West a $3 billion grant as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Construction was anticipated to begin shortly after the grant was announced in 2023, however construction is now expected to begin in early 2024. Revenue service is planned to begin in 2027.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SunRail</span> Commuter rail system in the Greater Orlando, Florida, area

SunRail is a commuter rail system in the Greater Orlando, Florida, area. Services began on May 1, 2014. The system comprises 16 stations along a former CSX Transportation line connecting Volusia County and Osceola County through Downtown Orlando. The SunRail system is financed by the state and federal governments and the counties it serves. SunRail is Florida's second commuter rail system after South Florida's Tri-Rail.

The History of Brevard County can be traced to the prehistory of native cultures living in the area from pre-Columbian times to the present age. Brevard County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The geographic boundaries of the county have changed significantly since its founding. The county is named for Judge Theodore W. Brevard, an early settler, and state comptroller, and was originally named St. Lucie County until 1855. The official county seat has been located in Titusville since 1894, although most of the county's administration is performed from Viera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brightline</span> Intercity rail route in Florida

Brightline is an inter-city rail route in the United States that runs between Miami and Orlando, Florida. Part of the route runs on track owned and shared by the Florida East Coast Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MiamiCentral</span> Brightline and Tri-Rail train station

MiamiCentral is a train station in Miami, Florida. Located in Downtown Miami, the station provides access to the Brightline inter-city rail service and the Tri-Rail commuter rail service. The station is part of a 9-acre (3.6 ha) mixed-use complex, which includes 3 million square feet (280,000 m2) of residential, office, commercial, and retail development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal</span> Intermodal passenger transport hub located at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida

The Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal, also known as the Brightline Orlando Station and South Airport Intermodal Terminal, is an intermodal passenger transport hub located at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida. The complex, which was partially funded by the Florida Department of Transportation, is the current terminus of Brightline, an inter-city rail service which provides service to Miami via the Florida East Coast Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aventura station</span> Brightline train station

Aventura station is a Brightline station in Ojus, Florida. It is located on West Dixie Highway, west of the Aventura Mall and the city of Aventura. The station is built on land purchased by Brightline and donated to Miami-Dade County, which funded a portion of the construction with $76 million. A groundbreaking ceremony was held September 3, 2020. Prior to Brightline's ongoing suspension of service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the station had been expected to open in the fall of 2021. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on December 20, 2022. Despite a scheduled opening date of December 21, 2022, passenger service did not begin until a few days later, on December 24, 2022, due to some last-minute finishing touches to the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boca Raton station (Brightline)</span> Brightline train station

Boca Raton station is an inter-city rail station in Boca Raton, Florida. It is served by Brightline, on their line from Miami to Orlando. The station is located near Mizner Park, right next to the Boca Raton Public Library, and is 22,000 sq ft on a 1.8-acre site. It was opened on December 21, 2022.

Stuart station is a future Brightline inter-city rail station in Stuart, Florida. The station would be located near the Old Martin County Courthouse in the downtown area of the city, having a station size of 8,750 square feet (813 m2) on a 2.35-acre site. Service at this station will begin by the end of 2026.

References

  1. ↑ Lynch, Ryan (March 14, 2024). "Why Brightline's Cocoa station should be big for these businesses". WFTV . Cox Media Group . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  2. ↑ Pallone, Greg (March 12, 2024). "Brightline, city of Cocoa working to finalize new station". Spectrum News 1 North Carolina . Charter Communications . Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  3. ↑ Glasby, Rick (March 12, 2024). "Brightline OKs train stop in Cocoa". WFIT . Florida Institute of Technology . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  4. ↑ Johnston, Bob (March 13, 2024). "Brightline to add Cocoa, Fla., station". Trains. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Brightline aims to locate rail station on Florida's Space Coast". Progressive Railroading. Trade Press Media Group, Inc. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ Solomon, Joshua (October 25, 2019). "Virgin Trains moving closer to station in Cocoa, leaning toward Stuart". TCPalm. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Brightline purchases land in Titusville, develops neighborhood in Cocoa" . Florida Today. June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  8. ↑ Lynch, Ryan (June 6, 2023). "Brightline just bought more land; see how it might be used". WFTV. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  9. ↑ Mazzei, Patricia; Chokshi, Niraj (September 22, 2023). "Arriving Now: Fast Passenger Trains From Miami to Orlando". The New York Times . Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  10. ↑ Berman, Dave (December 29, 2023). "Brevard officials hope to get Brightline train stop, but that could be years away" . Florida Today. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  11. 1 2 Berman, Dave (March 13, 2024). "Brightline gives green light to Cocoa stop for its Orlando-to-Miami passenger rail service" . Florida Today . Gannett . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  12. ↑ Tribou, Richard (March 12, 2024). "Brightline to add train stop in Cocoa, providing access to Brevard cruise ships" . Orlando Sentinel . Tribune Publishing . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  13. ↑ Summerall, Marian (March 14, 2024). "Brightline bringing new high-speed rail station to Cocoa". WMFE-FM . Community Communications, Inc. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  14. ↑ Heidler, Scott; Petro, Allison (March 16, 2024). "New Brightline station set to open in Central Florida". WESH . Hearst Television . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  15. ↑ Shields, Malcolm (March 12, 2024). "City of Cocoa in negotiations to get a Brightline station". WPBF . Hearst Television . Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  16. ↑ Bonanno, Chris (March 13, 2024). "Cocoa to work on plan for new Brightline station". Hometown News Brevard. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  17. ↑ Dahm, Daniel (March 12, 2024). "Next stop, Cocoa: Brightline travels toward new station in Brevard". WKMG-TV . Graham Media Group . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  18. ↑ Burke, Peter (March 12, 2024). "Brightline announces it's moving forward with Space Coast station in Cocoa". WPTV. The E.W. Scripps Company. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.