AUGUST 5, 2010 UPDATE # 3 AMTRAK/FEC PROJECT: STATION LOCATIONS AND CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS The Summer of 2010 has been a time of tremendous progress for the Amtrak/FEC Corridor project and its goal of restoring of passenger train service on the FEC rail corridor. The project received extensive public input, with hundreds of participants and growing support and enthusiasm for the future service along Florida s east coast. Between May and July, a total of 32 public workshops and presentations were conducted in the eight station cities, including St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, and Stuart. In addition, public information workshops were held in Jacksonville and West Palm Beach. Broad public input was gathered, and participants shared their thoughts and suggestions regarding various future station locations in their communities. To help evaluate the strengths and challenges of each site, a design team was assembled by Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, which included participation by Amtrak, FDOT, agencies, and others. Station design sessions were conducted in each of the eight station cities, and the public helped develop conceptual plans for potential station locations. Each location was tested for its ability to function as an Amtrak station and be integrated into the community. A series of concept plans were developed and presented back to the public for review and additional comments. Subsequently, the results of the public input process were presented to the elected officials in each city. By mid-july 2010, each of the eight station cities adopted a resolution of support for the project that included the identification of the locally preferred station location. Select images are presented in this update, and all are posted on www.tcrpc.org. The FDOT has incorporated the results of the public input process into a Federal funding application for the project which will be submitted in early August. The application will include more than 160 resolutions and letters of support from local governments, agencies, and organizations as well as Florida s Governor, US Senators, US Representatives, and members of the Florida Legislature. TITUSVILLE STATION CONCEPT TITUSVILLE STATION: The City of Titusville has the oldest former station building in its original location along the FEC Corridor. Built in the 1920s, the building has been used for storage since passenger service ended in the 1960s (see photos above right). This station offers an opportunity to restore a historic structure to its original use (see station concept illustration to right). As shown in the concept plan above, the station s location in historic Downtown Titusville further reinforces its economic benefits and strong land use contributon to the community. In all the axonometric drawings (as above), bus/transit parking is shown in blue and locations for electric/other vehicle recharge in red, and all stations would be designed for LEED certification. Photo provided by Historical Society of North Brevard TITUSVILLE STATION (EXISTING) TITUSVILLE STATION CONCEPT
VERO BEACH (Existing Historic Station to left) VERO BEACH STATION - BEFORE VERO BEACH STATION: In Vero Beach, the preferred station location is the site that includes the 1903 historic Vero Beach train station in the heart of the downtown. The Indian River County Historical Society currently operates a museum in the restored historic station building on-site. The new Amtrak functions would be added in a small building adjacent to the historic station, sharing on-site parking and encouraging museum patronage. The images to the left illustrate before and after concepts of the new station building. The public suggested the addition of a small new building with architecture that complements the historic station and increases the site s pedestrian presence. Above, the station area is illustrated, with a covered platform in the foreground, which would be adjacent to the existing historic station. The new station building is shown in the upper-right corner of the image. VERO BEACH STATION - AFTER ST AUGUSTINE STATION ST AUGUSTINE STATION: In St. Augustine, the recommended station location is the former passenger rail station located at the northern edge of the city s historic district. West of US1 and near San Marco Avenue, a redevelopment concept for the solidly-built 1960s station is shown in the images to the right. The site offers plenty of room for transit access and parking, both of which are critical to help accommodate the City s six million annual visitors. In the plan above, the station building is shown with a covered walkway to a platform and canopy and easy access to multi-modal connections (bus/trolley) adjacent to the station. ST AUGUSTINE STATION
COCOA STATION CONCEPT COCOA STATION: At the border of the Cities of Cocoa and Rockledge lies the former passenger station that served these communities until the 1960s. COCOA STATION CONCEPT This location was selected as the future station site, offering an opportunity to restore the existing station building and provide easy access to Cocoa s historic Cocoa Village. The Cocoa station will provide access to cruise passengers departing Port Canaveral; therefore, the site s convenient transit access and on-site expansion opportunties further reinforce its local preference. Above left is a rendering of the renovated station, and the solar panels proposed for canopies along this corridor are visible. The concept plan for the station is to the right, which illustrates the site s expansive area for vehicular circulation and potential for related development. FORT PIERCE FORT PIERCE STATION CONCEPT FORT PIERCE STATION: The preferred station location for the Fort Pierce station is in the heart of the historic downtown on Orange Avenue, immediately across the street from the City s new municipal parking garage (see map above-right). As illustrated above, the station function can be accommodated in an existing building, with additional station uses fronting Orange Avenue. The seamless integration of the new Amtrak station is also illustrated in the axonometric drawing to the right. FORT PIERCE STATION CONCEPT
STUART STATION LOCATION STUART STATION: The Stuart Amtrak station is proposed to be integated into a multi-modal transit facility that is currently being designed for publicly-owned property in the heart of historic downtown Stuart. The location is within a block of Stuart s historic main street and the St. Lucie River. It is easily accessible from the local and regional roadway network as well as the City s public marina and anchorage facility. The site is also serviced by Stuart s downtown trolley and adjacent to the regional bicycle/pedestrian network.the image above illustrates the future station s integration into the urban fabric and ability to be further complemented by infill development (new buildings shown in pink). Above-right is a rendering of the station concept, and a larger-scale map is shown to the right. STUART STATION CONCEPT STUART (SHOWN WITH INFILL) MELBOURNE MELBOURNE STATION - BEFORE MELBOURNE STATION: The preferred station location for the Melbourne Amtrak Station is in downtown Melbourne, fronting Strawbridge Avenue, which is part of the major east/west vehicular traffic in the community. The location is adjacent to a new city parking structure and within one block of both Melbourne s main street and the Indian River Lagoon. The station plan includes a civic plaza to celebrate the prominent station location (shown in the axonometric plan to the left). Before and after images are presented below, which illustrate station architecture designed to replicate the former historic station that was located near the preferred location. MELBOURNE STATION - AFTER
DAYTONA BEACH STATION - BEFORE DAYTONA BEACH STATION: The preferred station location for the Daytona Beach Amtrak Station is on Magnolia Avenue in downtown Daytona Beach, in the same block as the site of the former station in the city. The image above-right shows a new station concept which can be easily accessed by local transit vehicles and others directly from International Speedway Boulevard, a major east/west roadway that links key destinations. Good station access is especially important to accommodate Daytona Beach s immensely popular special events, some of which attract more than a half-million visitors to the City. A location map and axonometric plan are presented below and in the bottom-right image. DAYTONA BEACH STATION - AFTER DAYTONA BEACH STATION CONCEPT DAYTONA BEACH WEST PALM BEACH PUBLIC WORKSHOP JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC WORKSHOP PUBLIC OUTREACH: The public outreach has been remarkable in the past several months. In addition to 32 public workshops and hearings in the 8 station cities, public information workshops were also held in Jacksonville and West Palm Beach (see images above). A summary of prior public workshops is included in Corridor Coalition Update #2 (5/31/2010). JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC WORKSHOP NOTE: This update was prepared by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. For more information, please contact Kim DeLaney, Growth Management Coordinator: kdelaney@tcrpc.org or (772) 221-4060.