passenger rail station location study · portaveral can is the second busiest cruise port in the...

Miami

West Palm Beach

Orlando

Fort Lauderdale

Brevard

Passenger Rail Station Location Study

Final ReportMay 2016


Final Report

Prepared for:

Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Building B, Room 105

Melbourne, FL 32940

Prepared by:

Kittelson & Associates, Inc.

225 E. Robinson Street, Suite 450 Orlando, FL 32801

Funding Provided by:

Canaveral Port Authority

445 Challenger Road, Suite 301 Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

May 2016


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TableofContents

Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 2

All Aboard Florida’s Brightline Passenger Rail Service ....................................................................... 2

AAF/Brightline Infrastructure and Fixed Assets .................................................................... 3

Brightline Operating Characteristics ..................................................................................... 6

Opportunities for Brevard County ..................................................................................................... 8

Preferred Station Location Selection Process .................................................................................... 9

Station Location Criteria ........................................................................................................ 10

Station Location Evaluation Checklist ................................................................................... 10

Candidate Station Locations .................................................................................................. 12

Station Location Evaluation ................................................................................................... 14

All Aboard Florida Staff Review ............................................................................................. 16

Brevard County’s Transit Vision ......................................................................................................... 18

Commuter Rail Characteristics .............................................................................................. 21

Recommendations ............................................................................................................................. 22

Appendices

Appendix A: SCTPO Adopted Resolution 16‐14 ..................................................................... A‐1

Appendix B: Station Evaluation Form .................................................................................... B‐1

Appendix C: Submitted Station Location Checklists .............................................................. C‐1


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Summary

All Aboard Florida is developing an express train service, called Brightline, that will provide direct

intercity travel beginning in 2017 between Miami and Orlando International Airport, one of the

most populous and visited regions in the United States. The train will run through part of Brevard

County using the existing Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway corridor between Miami and Cocoa, and

connect on new track along State Road 528 between Cocoa and Orlando. Current plans do not

include a station in Brevard County.

The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (SCTPO) identified this as an opportunity to

advance the County’s public transportation vision, as described in the TPO’s 2040 Long Range

Transportation Plan (LRTP) and 2016 Strategic Plan, and support the region’s economy and tourism

industries. TPO staff encouraged All Aboard Florida (AAF) to add a Brightline station in Brevard

County, which AAF declined to do at least during the initial phase of Brightline development. In

December, 2014 the SCTPO and the Canaveral Port Authority agreed to undertake a study to

identify a potential station location that would be supported by the various stakeholders in Brevard

County. The location(s) would be submitted to AAF for consideration.

The TPO worked with local municipalities in Brevard County to identify candidate locations and

evaluate their viability as a station for express passenger rail service. The TPO developed a station

evaluation form to help cities identify and assess potential locations and collect the information

needed to evaluate their feasibility. Local municipalities submitted nine candidate locations in total,

which were analyzed and ranked by the TPO using a set of evaluation criteria based on the viability

of the station to support AAF’s ridership and development goals.

Based on the analysis and review by AAF staff, the SCTPO endorsed station locations in the vicinity

of SR 528, US 1 and Clearlake Road and at the former Cocoa Passenger Station on US 1 and Rosa

Jones Blvd. AAF committed to assess the ridership, development potential and operational features

of the sites to determine the feasibility of the locations as a passenger rail station.

AllAboardFlorida'sBrightlinePassengerRailService

In March, 2012, All Aboard Florida announced a plan

to develop a privately funded passenger rail system

between Orlando International Airport and Miami,

with additional stations in Ft. Lauderdale and West

Palm Beach. Figure 1 shows the route of the $3.5

billion service proposed to begin in 2017. AAF

officials noted future extensions to Jacksonville and

Tampa will be considered.

Figure 1: Brightline route between Miami and Orlando International Airport


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Brightline is noteworthy for two reasons. First, privately funded, for‐profit passenger rail has not

operated in the United States for the last 45 years. FEC halted passenger service in 1968. Second,

Brightline will operate at speeds up to 125 mph. Only the Amtrak Acela service in the northeast

corridor now reaches such speeds.

In August, 2015, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a "Finding of No Significant Impact" for

new track and bridges and train operation between West Palm Beach and Orlando, which includes

that part of the operation in Brevard County.

AAF/BrightlineInfrastructureandFixedAssets

All Aboard Florida (AAF) and the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) are subsidiaries of Florida East

Coast Industries (FEC‐I). FEC will continue to operate freight rail service. AAF will operate the

passenger rail service called Brightline on a new, second track within the FEC rail corridor between

Miami and Cocoa. AAF will install new track along the south side of SR 528 between Cocoa and

Orlando International Airport.

Figure 2: All Aboard Florida route through Brevard County


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The route through Brevard County (Figure 2) involves the existing FEC corridor parallel to US 1 as far

as the Cocoa Yard at US 1 and SR 528. Figure 3 shows the path the new AAF track will take in north

Cocoa. The new track will pass under SR 528 and over Industry Road.

Figure 3: Brightline route (red) through north Cocoa near SR 528 and US 1

Brightline train sets will be about 900 feet long and consist of two locomotives and seven passenger

cars. The trains will feature best‐in‐class innovation and technology such as low‐emission

locomotives and custom‐designed coaches optimized for passenger comfort. The locomotives will

be among the first in the country to feature Positive Train Control which enhances safety by

monitoring and controlling train speed, separation, grade crossing status and location. Cars will

feature Wi‐Fi, meeting space in business class and full ADA compatibility. Siemens, a world leader

in passenger train production, is manufacturing the train sets in Sacramento, Calif. The locomotives

and coaches are 100% American made.

1

528


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Stations are planned for downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach with the

northern terminus at the Orlando International Airport South Intermodal Terminal Facility. AAF will

lease terminal and ticketing space from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. The Miami Station

will cover 35 acres in central Miami and include office, retail and residential uses.

The Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach stations (Figures 4 and 5) are of identical design and size

with a station building (30,000 sf), retail space (10,000 sf) and parking for 60 cars. The stations

feature transit/intermodal connectivity and proximity to attractions, public buildings and support

functions such as hotels. The station occupies about 4 acres. The boarding platform is on the west

side of the tracks. For safety, considerable attention is paid to separating passenger and freight

train activities. All stations feature distinctive V‐shaped exterior columns and bright, open interiors.

Figure 4: Rendering of West Palm Beach Brightline Station Phases 1 and 2



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Figure 7: Site Plan Concept of West Palm Beach Brightline Station

BrightlineOperatingCharacteristics

AAF is developing the Brightline service to travel between Orlando and Miami in about three hours.

Driving the same distance requires about four hours; flying about three. AAF contends that travel

time can be more productive and relaxing by rail than by other modes. In general, autos are most

effective for travel less than 200 miles; flying is most effective for trips over 500 miles. Passenger


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Figure 8: Market assessment for Brightline service

rail is best for trips between 200 and 500 miles. The Orlando to Miami via the east coast is within

the preferred rail trip range. Approximately 500 million trips are made between Central and South

Florida annually. The Brightline service, both infrastructure, rolling stock and operating

characteristics, are designed to attract as many of these trips as possible.

Brightline will operate 32 trains, 16 in each direction. Service will start at 6 AM and end at 9 PM

with hourly northbound and southbound headways. A station stop will last about five minutes

(dwell time). Trains will travel:

Up to 79 mph between Miami and West Palm Beach

Up to 110 mph between West Palm Beach and Cocoa

Up to 125 mph between Cocoa and Orlando

Maximum Allowable Speed is based on several factors such as curvature, signaling, track condition

and the number of grade crossings.

Brightline passenger trains will be faster and lighter than the freight trains that currently operate in

the existing rail corridor. Compared to freight trains, passenger trains will clear intersections in less

than a minute and produce less noise and

vibration.

Brightline service is designed for various trip

purposes. A profile of the anticipated market

characteristics for Brightline travelers is

provided in Figure 8. 75 percent of travelers

are expected to be families and leisure, with

25 percent traveling for business. Fares are

intended to be competitive with other travel

options. Ticketing will be offered on‐line and

follow the dynamic pricing model developed

for airline travel.


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OpportunitiesforBrevardCounty

This section highlights the benefits of locating a Brightline passenger rail station in Brevard County.

All Aboard Florida’s planned route runs through Brevard County. However, AAF currently has no

plans for a station between Orlando and West Palm Beach, let alone Brevard County. Without a

station, the benefits of AAF to Brevard County will be minimal. All Aboard Florida is a for‐profit

venture. The justification for a station must be fundamentally economic. That is, a station in

Brevard must generate sufficient revenue in the profit centers of AAF's business model ‐‐ passenger

fares and ancillary development ‐‐ to exceed expenses. The following highlights aspects of Brevard

County that can bring additional business to AAF and, vice versa, station benefits for Brevard

residents and businesses. (Some estimation or subjectivity will be needed until an investment

grade passenger revenue study is conducted, which AAF has pledged to do.)

About 105 million persons visit Florida annually. Of that

total, about 65 million visit Orlando making it the most

visited city in the world. In addition to Orlando, visitors

(especially repeat visitors) often explore attractions

beyond the theme parks for which Orlando is

internationally known.

A ridership survey conducted by AAF showed that

availability of inter‐regional passenger rail service induces

greater visitor travel. 80 percent of respondents agreed

they would visit more cities on their trip than they'd

originally planned. Access to multiple locations along the

rail line means travelers can disburse to other areas where

they may not have been able to go during their trip.

Brevard has three attractions that annually draw 2 million or more national and international

visitors:

1. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center is internationally recognized and one of the most

visited attractions in Florida.

2. Atlantic Ocean beaches stretch for 75 miles. Brevard’s beaches are closest to the Orlando

attractions.

3. Port Canaveral is the second busiest cruise port in the world. The Canaveral Port Authority

funded this study to look at how an AAF station could benefit the Port and vice versa.

Rapidly growing is eco‐tourism, based around the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Canaveral

National Seashore, the St Johns, Indian and Banana Rivers and the Atlantic Ocean.


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Currently visitors often stay in Orlando area hotels and take day trips usually via auto to these

attractions. The appeal of the Brevard attractions could induce many passengers to use rail rather

than auto. Furthermore, visitors staying in south Florida could travel to and from the Kennedy

Space Center or a cruise from Port Canaveral via train rather than driving. Access to Brevard

attractions can increase the number of passengers using Brightline.

Approximately 500 million passenger trips take place annually between Orlando and south Florida.

AAF is seeking to capture but a fraction of those trips. It should also be noted that significant travel

occurs between Brevard and Volusia Counties and south Florida. A portion of these auto trips can

be captured by passenger rail. Business trips between Brevard's many high tech companies and

suppliers or customers in south Florida is another opportunity for passenger fare revenue.

A Brevard Brightline station will be designed for ancillary TOD (transit oriented development) as is

the case for all of AAF stations. The non‐rail activities at the station could be operated on a

franchise basis, not necessarily by AAF‐related firms as in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm

Beach. For planning purposes, we are assuming a station design and size (40,000 sq. ft.)

comparable to the stations in West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale.

AAF has publicly discussed the future opportunity of extending Brightline service to Jacksonville.

FEC‐I owns the tracks and right of way, so the cost would be relatively less than a completely new

rail alignment. The future north‐south passenger rail line between Jacksonville and Miami will

intersect the east‐west track to Orlando (and maybe Tampa) in north Cocoa. A transfer

station/regional passenger rail hub would be naturally located at the north‐south, east‐west

junction. This hub would be accessible by rail from all major population centers of the state and

could develop into a significant conference, convention, office, hotel complex. The hub will be

located in proximity to what is becoming the international center for commercial space activity.

Brevard will benefit by increased economic activity both at a station and associated with the

transportation services needed to move patrons from the station to destinations. More tourists

with an easy means to visit should translate into higher visitor numbers and perhaps more hotel

nights. An alternative travel method to Miami and Orlando International Airport will improve

convenience for Brevard residents. Finally, a Brightline station will further augment Brevard’s

already rich supply of internationally recognized transportation resources.

PreferredStationLocationSelectionProcess

The TPO developed a process to identify potential stations and select a preferred location for

recommendation to AAF:

1. Develop station evaluation criteria

2. Solicit candidate station locations from municipalities


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3. Request criteria data from municipalities

4. Weight criteria and score locations

5. Review evaluation results with municipalities

6. Review evaluation results with AAF staff

7. Submit recommendations to Space Coast TPO and Canaveral Port Authority

Following this process, the TPO received nine candidate locations which were ranked in order of

how each performed based on the evaluation criteria. The following sections provide additional

detail about the station location evaluation and selection process.

StationLocationCriteriaSCTPO and Port Canaveral began in 2014 to consider opportunities to add a station along the AAF

alignment within Brevard County. Recognizing that AAF is a private entity, a potential station’s

viability depends on its ability to generate revenue for AAF, both through additional ridership and

development within and near the station location.

Development Potential – transportation investments like intercity rail service spur

economic development nearby, especially immediately adjacent to the station. For AAF,

higher potential for more intense development and redevelopment would translate to

potential economic returns for the AAF investment. This set of criteria evaluates specific

land use and transportation characteristics adjacent to the stations that can create optimum

conditions for high intensity development and result in maximum economic return for AAF’s

investment.

Potential Ridership – passenger demand for interregional rail depends on the number of

potential transit riders’ ability to access transit stations with ease and comfort. The closer a

station is to key origins and destinations, the more likely it is to attract them as customers.

For interregional passenger rail, close proximity to highways and ports increases the

accessibility and attractiveness of a Brevard County AAF station.

Operational Compatibility ‐‐ the station location must not interfere with the safety or

operation of passenger or freight trains. The station platform will be on the west side of the

right of way. The platform must extend along the entire length of the stopped train and

cannot block streets.

StationLocationEvaluationChecklistThe first step in the process was to identify the information needed to evaluate potential stations.

The TPO set out a series of evaluation criteria against which stations would be considered, ranging

from engineering requirements and logistics to land use compatibility. Criteria were divided into

two categories:


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TIER 1, which are mandatory requirements any station location must exhibit; and

TIER 2, which are scoring variables that determine each station’s potential for generating ridership

and revenue.

The Tier 1 criteria for candidate station parcels are:

1. Adjacent to Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway – for the station location to serve the train it

must be physically adjacent to the tracks.

2. Passenger Loading Platform on West Side of Tracks – Brightline anticipates using the

westernmost rail line, so the loading platform will need to access trains from the west.

3. Straight Railway Section – a minimum 1,000 feet of tangent (straight line) railway track is

required for all the train cars to stop and allow passengers to board and alight.

4. Minimum 3 Acres in Size – station development sites must be at least 3 acres in size to

accommodate station activities, parking, circulation, and associated development.

5. Developable Land – the land must be largely free of wetland or floodplain impacts.

6. Utilities Available – the site must have access to electricity, water, sewer, and

telecommunications (including fiber optics).

7. Planning Compatibility – existing land use and zoning regulations must allow high‐density

development and building heights greater than three stories. The site area must also be

compatible with potential noise and lighting impacts of early morning and evening station

activity and station lighting.

Candidate station sites that met all of the Tier I criteria were advanced for consideration as a

potential station location and were then evaluated against the Tier 2 Evaluation Criteria.

Tier 2 criteria were organized into the primary functions of a Brightline station in Brevard County:

1. Is the parcel developable? Who owns the parcel, how large is it, and what is the

developable area?

2. What is the development potential? Is the station location site adjacent to developable

parcels? Are there developable parcels nearby?

3. How visible is the site? How many vehicles drive pass the location? How long is the street

frontage?

4. Are development incentives available? Do municipalities provide incentives for

development?

5. How would passengers access the station site? Does the parcel frontage allow for multiple

full access points? What is the available roadway capacity on the primary arterial serving the

parcel?

6. How well does the location serve Port Centers? What is the distance to Port Canaveral?

What is the distance to Melbourne International Airport?


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7. How well does the location serve cultural destinations? What is the distance to the

Kennedy Space Center? How many tourist sites, historic districts, and arts districts are

within one mile of the site?

8. How well connected is the site to regional highways? What is the distance to the nearest I‐

95 or SR 528 interchange?

CandidateStationLocationsLocal municipalities in Brevard County nominated nine station location sites. For each location, the

governing municipality completed the Evaluation Form with the requested information, which was

then evaluated by the TPO. Four municipalities nominated locations: Palm Bay, Melbourne,

Rockledge, and Cocoa. The nine sites are listed below and illustrated in Figure 9.

1. Palm Bay (Robert J Conlon Boulevard NE)

2. Melbourne 1 (Main Street)

3. Melbourne 2 (Waverly Place)

4. Melbourne 3 (Apollo Boulevard)

5. Rockledge/Cocoa (Rosa L Jones Boulevard)

6. Cocoa 1 (Plaza Parkway)

7. Cocoa 2 (Michigan Avenue)

8. Cocoa 3 (Clearlake Road)

9. Cocoa 4 (Beau Geste Road)

The full submittal package for each station is provided in Appendix C – Submitted Station Location

Checklists.


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Figure 9: Brightline Candidate Station Locations, Brevard County, Florida


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StationLocationEvaluationTo evaluate the station locations, each criterion was weighted and scored. The categories were

normalized to provide an even comparison and then weighted according to station location

priorities determined through conversations with AAF. Each criterion was scaled to a 0 to 10 scale

to provide a comparison across categories. The weights and scoring factors are provided in Table 1.

Each of the nine candidate locations were evaluated against the criteria and scored. Once the

evaluations were complete, the TPO facilitated a meeting with representatives from each

municipality to explain the process and share the results of the analysis. The results of the analysis

are presented in Table 2.

Tier 2 Evaluation Criterion Maximum Value Normalized By Weight

Developable parcel size 10 acres Total acres / max size 20%

Acres of vacant parcels immediately adjacent to site

30 acres Total acres / max size 20%

Acres of vacant parcels within ¼-mile 120 acres Total acres / max size 15%

Distance to I-95 or SR 528 interchange 6.4 miles (Max distance – distance) / max distance 10%

Distance to Port Canaveral 30 miles (Max distance – distance) / max distance 10%

Distance to Melbourne International Airport 27 miles (Max distance – distance) / max distance 10%

Distance to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center

45 miles (Max distance – distance) / max distance 5%

Daily traffic volume 52,630 vehicles/ day Daily traffic volume / max volume 5%

Linear feet of street frontage 2,500 feet Linear feet of frontage / max frontage 3%

Number of tourist sites within 1 mile 8 sites Tourist sites / max tourists sites 2%

Table 1: Station Location Criteria Calculations and Weights


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Tier 2 Evaluation Criterion

Robert Conlon Blvd

Main Street

Waverly Place

Apollo Blvd

Rosa Jones Blvd

Plaza Pkwy

Michigan Ave

Clearlake Rd

Beau Geste Rd

Palm Bay Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne

Rockledge/ Cocoa Cocoa Cocoa Cocoa Cocoa

Developable Parcel Size

5 5 5 5 7 6 7 7 7

Vacant Parcels (immediate)

7.0 2.3 8.7 0.0 6.4 3.3 8.3 10.0 3.3

Vacant Parcels (¼ -mile)

10.0 4.1 4.3 2.8 1.0 1.9 1.7 2.5 1.7

Distance to I-95/SR 528

1.7 0.0 0.3 1.4 3.8 5.3 8.6 8.6 9.7

Distance to Canaveral

0.6 1.2 0.0 1.5 6.0 6.3 6.6 7.0 6.6

Distance to Melbourne Airport

7.6 8.9 9.2 9.6 2.6 1.5 1.1 0.7 0.0

Distance to KSC

0.0 0.4 1.8 0.9 5.9 6.3 6.5 6.4 6.4

Traffic volume

7.8 9.3 7.8 10.0 6.3 5.6 5.6 2.9 5.2

Frontage 6.7 6.0 2.3 5.8 1.9 7.2 3.2 1.4 10.0

Tourist Sites 0.0 2.5 10.0 1.3 6.3 3.8 0.0 0.0 0.0

Weighted Total 5.09 3.46 4.77 3.29 5.45 4.45 6.25 6.51 5.43

Table 2: Station Location Evaluation Results


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Figure 10: The Clearlake Road station location in Cocoa, outlined in red, scored the highest against the evaluation criteria due to its strategic location and potential development opportunity.

Overall, the sites in Cocoa scored well, with the Clearlake Road location receiving the highest score.

The Clearlake Road station location includes several important features:

Good access to regional highways

Abundant developable land area

Considerable land already owned by All Aboard Florida

Relatively close to Port Canaveral

Located at future passenger rail junction, well suited for future expansion to Jacksonville

An aerial photo of the potential station site is provided in Figure 10.

AllAboardFloridaStaffReviewUpon completion of the draft location evaluations, TPO presented the study methodology and

findings to senior All Aboard Florida staff. AAF had not participated in the study in any manner.

While aware that it was underway, AAF provided no direction, information or preferences during

the study development. Therefore, TPO staff believed it prudent to advise AAF of the findings and


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hear any feedback before presenting the conclusions in public to the Space Coast TPO and

Canaveral Port Authority.

AAF staff, overall, agreed with the study approach, evaluation factors, weighting and conclusions. It

was noted the highest scoring site on Clearlake Road in north Cocoa was rather isolated from other

related support facilities such as hotels, restaurants and attractions within walking distance, but the

site did offer the best access to Port Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center and had good,

although somewhat indirect, road access to SR 528 and I‐95.

AAF staff expressed interest in the former FEC Railway passenger station site at US 1 and Rosa Jones

Blvd. that straddles the Cocoa/Rockledge city limits, one of the nine candidate locations submitted.

The station illustration (Figure 11) was prepared several years ago to show what an Amtrak station

at that site could look like. AAF staff cited the central city location similar to other Brightline station

sites that can provide attractions within walking distance of the station. The land is owned and now

being used by FEC Railway, which would have to be resolved. The station and most of the

developable land is on the east side of the tracks and Rosa Jones Blvd is close to the station building

all of which could present operational issues. However, AAF officials requested the TPO staff

present the Cocoa/Rockledge site to the TPO and Canaveral Port Authority for favorable

consideration.

Figure 11: Rendering of Possible Cocoa AMTRAK Station (2011)


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BrevardCounty’sTransitVision

As the County looks into the future, this study also serves as a framework for introducing potential

future passenger rail transit in Brevard County.

The SCTPO 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan outlines a vision for premium transit in Brevard

County. The Plan identifies commuter rail as one of the premium transit services appropriate for the

County and outlines a vision for supporting transit service and directing future growth strategically

around this investment.

The vision for transit identified strategic corridors for commuter rail along US 1 and SR 528, as

illustrated in Figure 13. Premium transit service along the US 1 corridor expands travel mode

choices between Downtown Melbourne and Downtown Cocoa. The US 1 corridor, including both

the highway and FEC rail line, is the backbone for the region’s transit system plan. The plan

identifies several key opportunities along this corridor:

Regional commuter rail stops could be located at the County’s original rail stations in

Titusville, Cocoa, Eau Gallie, Melbourne, and Palm Bay.

Stations at Melbourne International Airport and the Space Coast Regional Airport in

Titusville.

Connectivity with the potential AAF hub in Cocoa with Port Canaveral and the Orlando

International Airport.

Rights of way along nearly the entire length of the alignment can accommodate three tracks

in the future.

The Plan also outlines a coordinated land use strategy to leverage a regional premium transit

investment. It emphasizes mixed‐use, higher density, and clustered developments in downtown

areas and near future transit centers. Transit oriented development (TOD) is fundamental to the

success of the multimodal and premium transit strategies. A few places in Brevard already have the

form and structure necessary to support premium transit, including downtown Titusville, Cocoa,

and Melbourne. For station areas identified outside these centers, the Plan recommends that

development intensities and patterns must fundamentally change to be supportive of premium

transit.


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Figure 13: The vision for premium transit in Brevard County features strategic corridors


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The Plan organized existing development and future growth within the framework of major

transportation corridors and mobility hubs. The mobility hubs include:

Intermodal hubs – includes urban core, traditional neighborhood, and multifamily

development types in and around the county’s space, air, and sea ports as well as existing

and planned rail and truck terminals.

Regional multimodal hubs – includes urban core and multifamily development in the

historical towns along the FEC

railroad and well as new larger

hubs where walking takes

priority and multiple travel

modes converge.

Multimodal hubs – includes

mobility hub, traditional

neighborhood and multifamily

development types in

walkable transit station areas

along multimodal corridors

with the intensity and mix of

land uses that support

premium transit.

These hubs represent the focus areas

for land use development and will

require enhanced transit service to

accommodate the growth. The hubs

are identified in Figure 14.

Figure 14: The vision for premium transit in Brevard County features mobility hubs


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Likewise, the SCTPO Strategic Plan Priorities 2016 emphasizes the importance of regional transit.

Priority B1: Enhance connectivity for people, goods, and economic vitality calls on the TPO to

support rail transit and complete a passenger rail location study. Figure 15 shows the

implementation priorities for 2016.

Figure 15: Passenger rail service is among the SCTPO’s priorities for 2016.

Both the 2040 Plan and 2016 Priorities establish a framework for passenger rail service in Brevard

County. These planning studies inform decision‐making and prioritization for potential high speed

rail service in the County.

CommuterRailCharacteristicsCommuter rail service is characterized by medium‐haul distances (15 to 50 miles) connecting

suburban communities and employment centers with downtown areas. Service focuses on

commuters, with the highest frequencies during peak commuting hours. Stations are placed one to

five miles apart, with trains ranging from five to nine cars per train. It is quite different from the

inter‐regional express service proposed by All Aboard Florida.

Commuter rail stations in suburban areas are primarily accessed by park‐and‐ride. As stations move

into areas of greater density, greater numbers of riders arrive at the station by bus, walking, or

bicycling. Stations in urban areas may provide no parking and rely entirely on walk, bike, bus, or

taxis/drop‐off service (kiss and ride) for connections to the station.


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The vision for passenger rail transportation in Brevard County relies on commuter rail. Commuter

rail stations will have different requirements from high speed rail service, which are oriented

towards longer inter‐regional trips and not typically serving commute trips. Commuter rail projects

are likely to be funded with public money (Federal, state, or local). Station location criteria for

commuter rail are likely to significantly consider economic development returns of the transit

investment, cost vs. benefits for each transit rider, and environmental benefits and impacts.

Brevard is part of the emerging Florida Megaregion and now among the ten most populous

urbanized regions in the country. Passenger rail, both inter‐regional high speed service and more

localized commuter rail, will likely play a significant role in the region's transportation future by

providing relief to increasingly congested roadways.

Recommendations

The station location study findings were presented to the Space Coast TPO Board on March 10,

2016 and to the Canaveral Port Authority Commission on March 23, 2016. The recommendations

are contained in SCTPO Resolution 16‐14 (Appendix A).

The SCTPO recommends locations along SR 528 near SR 524 and US 1 (Cocoa #3 and #4) as a

preferred site of a future inter‐regional express rail station location in Brevard County. These

locations offer great potential to generate ridership and ancillary development opportunities for

AAF. Its location at the intersection of US 1 and SR 528 provides ideal access to Port Canaveral and

the Port Canaveral Cruise Terminals, while positioning to serve the future Brightline expansion to

Jacksonville.

The SCTPO also recommends the former Cocoa passenger rail station site for redevelopment into a

Brightline station. That location offers proximity to an urban destination (Cocoa Village),

developable land and good access to Port Canaveral and the regional roadway network.

The SCTPO recognizes the information compiled on all submitted sites establishes a baseline for

future regional passenger rail planning. Station location sites evaluated through this process will be

retained for future consideration as commuter rail stations and to catalyze the growth of the

County’s mobility hubs. The results of these efforts will help improve multimodal connectivity and

mobility in the County to help support its economy and future growth.

Appendix A SCTPO Adopted Resolution 16‐24

Appendix B Passenger Rail Station Candidate Location Evaluation Form

Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization

Passenger Rail Station Candidate Location Evaluation

An intercity passenger rail station in Brevard County needs to meet the multiple objectives of attracting passengers and supporting ancillary development and investment. To serve these demands, the station must meet a set of feasibility criteria. All Aboard Florida (AAF) is under no obligation to include a station in Brevard County and will only do so if it makes good business sense for AAF.

This document outlines the criteria the Space Coat TPO will use to identify and prioritize candidate station locations. The criteria are divided into two tiers: Tier 1 criteria are required; and Tier 2 criteria will be used to evaluate and rank eligible locations. The following outlines the factors against which potential station locations will be assessed.

Tier 1: Parcel Requirements

1. Adjacent to FEC Railway – parcels must be adjacent to the AAF portion of the FEC Railway. AAF passenger trains will run on the west side of the tracks

2. Railway Tangent – stations must be adjacent to a tangent (straight line) section of track that is at least 1,000 feet long and contains no grade crossings or crossing that cannot be closed

3. Minimum Size – station sites must be at least 3 acres in size 4. Developable Land – station sites must not be in wetlands or floodplains 5. Utilities Available – access to electricity, water, sewer, and telecommunications (including fiber) 6. Planning Compatibility – zoning supports high density development and building heights greater

than 3 stories. Station site area compatible with early morning and evening activity and parking lot lighting

Tier 2: Evaluation Criteria

Based on these factors, the Space Coast TPO will assess potential sites that meet the minimum requirements according to a set of criteria. These evaluation criteria will help determine which locations have the most potential and warrant further analysis. The evaluation is organized into the two primary purposes of an AAF station in Brevard County:

Redevelopment Potential – transportation investments like intercity rail spur economic development nearby, especially immediately adjacent to the station. For AAF, high potential for higher intensity redevelopment would translate to potential returns for the AAF investment. Land use and transportation characteristics adjacent to the stations can create conditions better suited to realizing the full economic potential. Potential Ridership – passenger demand for intercity rail depends on its proximity to high concentrations of people and jobs and the ability to access destinations near the stations. The closer a station is to where people live and work, the more likely it is to attract them as customers. Likewise, close proximity to highways and ports increases the accessibility and attractiveness of a Brevard County AAF station.

All Aboard Florida Proposed Alignment

Station Location Evaluation Matrix The Space Coast TPO (TPO) will be working with each of the partner municipalities to conduct a preliminary assessment of potential sites. We are asking your help to conduct a self-evaluation of candidate sites within your municipality by filling out the information below and on the next page. Please attach a map of the candidate parcel. Provide any additional supporting documentation for each of the measures to help with the analysis.

In addition to the information provided in this document, the TPO will share relevant GIS data to help complete this assessment. If you have questions or need assistance with the analysis, TPO staff are available to help. Please contact XXXX XXXXXX at [email protected] or 321-690-6890.

Contact Information

Jurisdiction E-mail

Contact Name Phone

Number

Parcel Information

Parcel Location (tax parcel ID or address)

Notes:


Yes No 1. Can the candidate location accommodate a platform on the west

side of the track(s)?

2. Is the candidate location adjacent to a minimum 1,000 foot tangent section of track?

3. Is the candidate location at least 3 acres in size?

4. Is the candidate location largely free of wetlands and flood plain impacts?

5. Is the candidate location close to all utilities (water, sewer, telecommunications, power)?

6. Is the candidate location compatible with area neighborhood?

Proceed to Tier 2 ONLY if all responses to Tier 1 are YES

Tier

2: E

valu

atio

n Cr

iteria

Cr

iterio

n Ev

alua

tion

Para

met

er

How

to M

easu

re

Resp

onse

Redevelopment Potential

7.De

velo

pabl

e pa

rcel

Si

tes o

wne

d by

FEC

pre

ferr

ed

List

all

owne

rs o

f can

dida

te p

arce

l(s)

Parc

el si

ze

Wha

t is t

he to

tal p

arce

l size

(acr

es)?

Deve

lopa

ble

parc

el si

ze

Wha

t is t

he to

tal d

evel

opab

le si

ze (a

cres

)?

8.De

velo

pmen

t po

tent

ial

Adja

cenc

y to

dev

elop

able

pa

rcel

s pre

ferr

ed

Acre

s of v

acan

t or u

nder

utili

zed

parc

els i

mm

edia

tely

adj

acen

t to

pro

pert

y (U

nder

utili

zed

parc

els h

ave

impr

oved

pro

pert

y va

lue

is le

ss th

an 4

0% o

f tot

al v

alue

)

Mos

t dev

elop

able

land

pr

efer

red

Acre

s of v

acan

t or u

nder

utili

zed

parc

els w

ithin

5-m

inut

e dr

ive

9.Vi

sibili

ty

Mos

t veh

icle

s pas

sing

site

pref

erre

d AA

DT o

f eac

h st

reet

with

acc

ess a

nd v

isibi

lity

to th

e sit

e

Site

s with

mor

e st

reet

fr

onta

ge w

ill b

e pr

efer

red

Line

ar fe

et o

f str

eet f

ront

age

10.I

ncen

tives

Si

te w

ith d

evel

opm

ent

ince

ntiv

es p

refe

rred

Ar

e th

ere

any

loca

l inc

entiv

es a

vaila

ble

(suc

h as

CRA

)? If

so,

plea

se li

st

Potential Ridership

11.L

ocal

stre

et

acce

ss

Site

s with

two

or m

ore

full

acce

ss d

rivew

ays p

refe

rred

Do

es th

e pa

rcel

fron

tage

allo

w fo

r mul

tiple

acc

ess p

oint

s?

Ye

s

No

Site

s nea

r roa

dway

s with

av

aila

ble

capa

city

pre

ferr

ed

Iden

tify

the

prim

ary

arte

rial r

oadw

ay(s

) use

d to

dire

ctly

acc

ess

the

parc

el

Wha

t is t

he L

evel

of S

ervi

ce?

Wha

t is t

he tr

affic

vol

ume?

12.A

cces

s to

Port

s Si

tes w

ithin

5 m

inut

es o

f the

Po

rt p

refe

rred

Di

stan

ce v

ia sh

orte

st ro

ute

to S

R 52

8 (B

each

line)

at S

R 40

1 in

terc

hang

e ne

ar P

ort C

anav

eral

Site

s with

in 5

min

utes

of

Airp

ort p

refe

rred

Di

stan

ce v

ia sh

orte

st ro

ute

to N

ASA

Blvd

at M

elbo

urne

In

tern

atio

nal A

irpor

t Ent

ranc

e Ro

ad

13.A

cces

s to

dest

inat

ions

Si

tes w

ithin

5 m

inut

es o

f the

Be

ach

pref

erre

d Di

stan

ce v

ia sh

orte

st ro

ute

to N

ASA

Caus

eway

at e

ntra

nce

road

to K

SC V

isito

r Cen

ter

14.A

cces

s to

regi

onal

hi

ghw

ays

Site

s with

in 5

min

utes

of a

n in

terc

hang

e pr

efer

red

Dist

ance

via

shor

test

rout

e to

nea

rest

I-95

or S

R 52

8 in

terc

hang

e (w

hich

ever

is c

lose

st)

15.

Are

ther

e an

y ot

her f

eatu

res o

f par

cel o

r pro

xim

ity

to a

feat

ure

that

cou

ld in

crea

se ri

ders

hip?

Appendix C Submitted Station Location Checklists

Site 1: Palm Bay-RJ Conlan

Station Location Evaluation Matrix The Space Coast TPO (TPO) will be working with each of the partner municipalities to conduct a preliminary assessment of potential sites. We are asking your help to conduct a self-evaluation of one to three candidate sites within your municipality by filling out the information below and on the next page. Please attach a map of the candidate parcel. Provide any additional supporting documentation for each of the measures to help with the analysis.

In addition to the information provided in this document, the TPO will also share relevant GIS data to help complete this assessment. If you have questions or need assistance with the analysis, TPO staff are available to help. Please contact Leigh Holt at [email protected] or 321-690-6890.

Contact Information

Jurisdiction E-mail

Contact Name Phone

Number

Parcel Information


Notes:




2. Is the candidate location adjacent to a straight line of track at least 1,000 foot in length with no grade crossings (or crossings that cannot be closed)?

3. Is the candidate location at least three acres in size?


5. Is the candidate location close to all utilities (water, sewer, telecommunications, power, fiber)?



City of Melbourne slewis@melbourneflorida

Shannon Lewis 321-608-7200

Parcel 1 - Tax ID: 2824980 and Parcel 2 - Tax ID: 2824989, 2710 Main Street Melbourne FL 32901

The site (3.23 acres) is located in south Melbourne in the City's DowntownCommunity Redevelopment Area and is 225 feet away from US 1. Parcel 1 (2.68acres) is vacant and Parcel 2 (.55 acres) is the location of a park. The site hasover 1,800 feet of frontage along the west side of the FEC Railroad track.

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Site 2: Melbourne-Main Street


Criterion Evaluation Parameter How to Measure Response

7. Developable parcel

Sites ownership List all owners of candidate parcel(s)

Parcel size What is the total parcel size (acres)?

Developable parcel size What is the total developable size (acres)?

8. Development potential Adjacency to developable parcels

Acres of vacant or underutilized parcels immediately adjacent to property (Underutilized parcels have improved property value less than 40% of total property value)

Proximity to developable land Acres of vacant or underutilized parcels within ¼-mile

Acres of vacant or underutilized parcels within ½-mile

9. Visibility Vehicles passing site Daily traffic volume of each street with access and visibility to the site

Sites with more street frontage Linear feet of street frontage

10. Incentives Development incentives available Are there any local incentives available? If so, please list

11. Local street access

Number of access driveways Does the parcel frontage allow for multiple full access points? Yes No

Vehicle capacity on nearby roadways

Identify the primary arterial roadway(s) used to directly access the parcel

What is the current roadway corridor Level of Service?

12. Access to Port Centers

Proximity to Canaveral Space Port Distance via shortest route to SR 528 (Beachline) at SR 401 interchange near Port Canaveral

Proximity to Melbourne International Airport

Distance via shortest route to NASA Blvd at Melbourne International Airport Entrance Road

13. Access to cultural destinations

Proximity to Kennedy Space Center

Distance via shortest route to NASA Causeway at entrance road to KSC Visitor Center

Proximity to cultural and recreational destinations

Number of tourist sites, historic districts, and arts districts within 1 mile (Refer to attached figure)

14. Access to regional highways Proximity to nearest interchange Distance via shortest route to nearest I-95 or SR 528

interchange (whichever is closest)

15. Are there any other features of parcel or proximity to a feature that could increase ridership?

Florida East Coast RR and City of Melbourne

3.23 acres

3.23 acres

7.04 acres

49.1 acres

76.7 acres

See attachment for AADT volumes

1,500 feet

See attachment■

US 1LOS C

26.1 miles

3.1 miles

43.0 miles

See attachment

6.4 milesLess than one mile to the Downtown Melbourne Entertainment District - 24 restaurants, 11bars/taverns, a microbrewery, and a proposed hotel. Also within 1.6 miles of Florida Tech (FIT).

Site 2: Melbourne-Main Street

Site 3: Melbourne-Waverly Place



Contact Information

Jurisdiction E-mail

Contact Name Phone

Number

Parcel Information


Notes:










City of Melbourne slewis@melbourneflorida

Shannon Lewis 321-608-7200

This 3.34 acre site is part of a much larger parcel owned by the Melbourne International Airport - Tax ID: 2728400

The site is located on property owned by the Melbourne International Airport. It is approximately onemile from the entrance to the terminal. This property has frontage on Apollo Boulevard and isconvenient to several other arterial roadways. The 4.30 acre parcel is currently vacant. The site hasover 1,240 feet of frontage along the west side of the FEC Railroad track. Additional vacant landowned by the Airport is located north and west of the subject site.

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Site 4: Melbourne-Apollo Blvd.































Melbourne International Airport/City of Melbourne

4.30 acres

4.30 acres

See attachment

See attachment

See attachment

See attachment for AADT information

1,440 feet

See attachment■

Apollo BoulevardLOS C

25.1 miles

1.0 miles

41.1 miles

See attachment

5.5 milesOne mile to the Melbourne International Airport terminal area. In addition, less than three miles to the DowntownMelbourne Entertainment District - 24 restaurants, 11 bars/taverns, a microbrewery, and a proposed hotel.

Site 4: Melbourne-Apollo Blvd.



Contact Information

Jurisdiction E-mail

Contact Name Phone

Number

Parcel Information


Notes:










[email protected]

2425530, 2425529

City of Rockledge

Alix Bernard 321-690-3978

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Site 5: Rockledge/Cocoa-Rosa L Jones































Florida Power & Light

32.97 acres

29.61 acres

4.19 acres (underutilized)

11.99 acres (underutilized)

10 acres (underutilized)

32,920475 Ft on Rosa L. Jones Dr.

Yes

■

US 1 to Rosa L Jones to Huntington Ln

B

17 minutes, 12 miles



5

I95 9 minutes 4.2 miles, SR 528 8 minutes 4 miles

This site is located 1 block south of SR 520, which also provides access to the port and Orlando.locating a station in the Center of the County makes easy access for all Brevard residents as well asbeing able to accommodate tourists going to the port and OIA Site 5: Rockledge/Cocoa-Rosa L Jones

Site 5: Rockledge/Cocoa-Rosa L Jones

Site 6: Cocoa-Plaza Parkway

Site 7: Cocoa-Michigan Avenue

Site 8: Cocoa-Clearlake Road

Site 9: Cocoa-Beau Geste Rd

passenger rail station location study · portaveral can is the second busiest cruise port in the...

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