Tri-Rail Could Be Arriving At All Aboard Florida’s MiamiCentral As Soon As 2017

[thelakelander]

Good for Miami if they can pull this off that quick...

Discussions continue on a possible Tr-Rail Coastal Link that would terminate at All Aboard Florida's MiamiCentral project in downtown Miami.

A presentation made to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority Governing Board meeting last week states that multi-party talks were held on September 19 about the possibility of operating Tri-Rail to AAF's facility. The presentation states that the consensus is that both the public and all parties will benefit if Tri-Rail terminates at AAF's station.

Tri-Rail and AAF are considering a possible acceleration of interim Tri-Rail service to the station, which could begin in 2017, according to the presentation.

Full article: http://www.thenextmiami.com/index.php/tri-rail-could-be-arriving-at-all-aboard-floridas-miamicentral-as-soon-as-2017/

[spuwho]

Per the Sun-Sentinel:

Tri-Rail link to downtown Miami needs $69 million in funds to happen\

less than two years, commuters might be able to take Tri-Rail all the way to downtown Miami – without switching to Metrorail.

The plan would get passengers downtown quicker and save them money on fares by giving them a "one seat ride" on Tri-Rail.

But first, passenger platforms must be built for Tri-Rail in a giant new rail hub soon to be under construction for All Aboard Florida, a Miami-Orlando express passenger service to set to begin running in late 2016.

Tri-Rail needs to come up with about $69 million in the next two months to make it happen.

If it doesn't come up with the money, Tri-Rail won't likely ever run to downtown Miami because of the high cost of shoehorning its own station in a densely populated area where land costs are expensive.

"If we don't build it now, it will not be built. I don't see any other way to get into downtown Miami, without cutting up the local grid to build a station," said Jack Stephens, executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which runs Tri-Rail.

The cost includes about $60 million to build 50-foot tall platforms above the streets to connect Tri-Rail to All Aboard Florida's trains, Metrorail, the bus system and a downtown automated train called Metromover.

About $9.2 million is needed to upgrade a spur track connecting Tri-Rail's tracks in Hialeah to the Florida East Coast Railway downtown so it can handle passenger trains.

Tri-Rail wants to split its existing 50 weekday trains – 26 would go to downtown Miami, 24 would go to its new station at Miami International Airport that is slated to open in late March or early April after numerous delays.

To get to downtown, trains would split from the existing Tri-Rail tracks south of the Metrorail station in Hialeah and run along the upgraded FEC spur.

Tri-Rail officials see the link as a way of connecting its trains from Palm Beach County directly into downtown Miami. The downtown link could be a precursor to a much bigger plan to run commuter trains on the coastal Florida East Coast Railway tracks from downtown Miami to Jupiter.

About 2,000 to 4,000 passengers a day are projected to ride Tri-Rail to downtown Miami. The entire 72-mile line, which runs from Miami to Mangonia Park, just north of West Palm Beach, on tracks mostly west of Interstate 95, carries about 15,000 passengers weekdays.

Officials are courting the city of Miami, Miami-Dade County and the Florida Department of Transportation to come up with the funds. Another possibility is tapping the area's community redevelopment agency for a portion of the $163 million in increased tax revenues that All Aboard Florida expected to generate between 2017 and 2030.

Stephens said he expects Tri-Rail has about eight weeks to get funding in place before the design and construction of All Aboard Florida's station will advance without Tri-Rail.

The 9-acre site for the Miami station, located in mostly vacant area between Government Center and Metrorail's Overtown stop, was cleared in November and December. Pilings and foundation work for the station and the adjoining towers is underway and expected to take about four months. Vertical construction should start by the end of March.

Tri-Rail passengers can currently get to downtown Miami, but must transfer to Metrorail to finish their trip.

By running Tri-Rail directly to downtown, Stephens said passengers would save money on fares and get there about 5 minutes faster. They would save even more time on top of that by not having to get off one train, climb stairs or use an escalator to get to the other train.

Metrorail makes 10 stops between Tri-Rail and downtown. Tri-Rail would run directly to downtown with no stops. And passengers wouldn't have to pay a separate transfer fee or fare like they do now if they switch trains.

Despite the obstacles to obtaining funding, Stephens is optimistic something can be worked out.

"People will look back one day and say you missed the opportunity to put all these modes of transportation together. They would think, "Where was your head?' " Stephens said. "Our position is very clear. We are going to try as hard as we can to make make it happen."

[spuwho]

FDOT has committed $21 Million to the Tri-Rail to Miami Central Station proposal. Tri-Rail now needs to find the remaining $48 Million.

FDOT is already going to build the updated spur between the CSX and FEC lines regardless, but Tri-Rail won't get any dedicated platform space in Miami Central without the dough.

Per Miami Herald:

Miami-Orlando train track may host Tri-Rail commuter trains to downtown



Tri-Rail, the commuter service that has been running trains on the CSX track west of Interstate 95 between Palm Beach County and Miami since late last century, is now working on a major new plan: to run trains into downtown Miami beginning in late 2016 or early 2017.

Jack Stephens, executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, said the plan calls for running the trains on a stretch of the same track that would be used by a planned Miami-Orlando passenger service.

The plan requires construction of a spur connecting the CSX track that Tri-Rail uses to the Florida East Coast Railway track. Though the spur is slated to be built by the Florida Department of Transportation, Tri-Rail is seeking an additional $69 million — money that would be needed within eight weeks to mesh with the construction schedule set for the Miami-Orlando service, known as All Aboard Florida. The money would be used to build Tri-Rail train platforms plus other enhancements such as ticket-vending machines.

Stephens said this is the best chance Tri-Rail has to run trains straight into downtown Miami. He said if transportation authorities miss this opportunity, Tri-Rail may never be able to operate trains into downtown Miami because costs would be prohibitive in the future. At most, he added, Tri-Rail would only be able to set up a station in mid-town Miami, but not downtown.

Tri-Rail expects funding to come from the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County and Miami's Overtown Community Redevelopment Agency. Tri-Rail has yet to formally request any funds from the county. The plan did come up in a conversation in which Tri-Rail floated the idea of tapping CRA dollars.

Clarence Woods, executive director of the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA, said he's had two conversations with Tri-Rail and as of Thursday hadn't received any formal proposals. That may be because CRA Chairman Keon Hardemon has told Tri-Rail that the CRA shouldn't be expected to foot the entire $48 million bill.

"He's not too keen on that," Woods said. "The chair is determined to make sure other agencies pony up."

If the CRA does commit funds, they would come in the form of property tax rebates.

According to City of Miami officials, the Florida Department of Transportation has agreed to pump $21 million into the project, leaving Tri-Rail with a $48 million hole to fill.

Alice Bravo, Miami's deputy city manager, said she met with a Tri-Rail representative Wednesday. She said the public funding being discussed, if it flies, would involve funds from the CRA, with a percentage also supplied by the city and county, which also would receive a small percentage of property taxes contributed by the Miami-Orlando train project.

Bravo said there's no price tag on the city's possible commitment.

That train to Orlando will run on a track east of I-95 starting in downtown Miami. It will open in two phases: Miami to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in late 2016, extending to Orlando International Airport in 2017.

Construction of the All Aboard Florida Miami station has begun next to the Metrorail/Metromover Government Center hub. A new track, soon to be built, will stretch north from that station to an existing Florida East Coast Railway track running from PortMiami to 71st Street, where a spur turns westward to the FEC Hialeah Railyard and north to Jacksonville. It is currently used by freight trains.

The FEC track, which stretches east of I-95 largely along the eastern shore, runs through the downtowns of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Stephens said the Florida Department of Transportation is about to begin building the track connecting the CSX and FEC lines where they intersect near the Metrorail/Tri-Rail transfer station near Northwest 79th Street.

"It became clear that it was an opportunity for us to be able to get Tri-Rail directly into downtown Miami," Stephens said.

Tri-Rail officials then crafted a plan to extend the service to downtown Miami once the CSX-FEC connector track is completed and the first phase of All Aboard Florida is built between Miami and West Palm Beach.

"If this happens it'll be great for me," said Blanca Heredia, a commuter who lives in Miami but travels regularly on Tri-Rail to Boca Raton to visit her daughters.

Currently, Heredia boards Metrorail at a Government Center in Miami and then travels to the Tri-Rail transfer station where she boards Tri-Rail northbound trains. On the return trip, she transfers to Metrorail and then travels backs down to Government Center.

"If Tri-Rail goes to Government Center my trip would be so much easier," she said.

Tri-Rail runs 50 trains each weekday between Mangonia Park Station in Palm Beach County and Hialeah Market/Miami Airport Station in Miami-Dade County, using the CSX track west of I-95.

If the downtown Miami plan is successful, Tri-Rail will divide roughly equally its 50 weekday trains between downtown Miami and the new station at the Miami Intermodal Center near Miami International Airport.

"Every other train would go to the different locations, one to the MIC and the next to downtown Miami," said Stephens.

[spuwho]

Per ABC 10 Miami:

Plan to bring Tri-Rail to new All-Aboard Florida station approved by Miami Commission

Commission votes 5-0 to support spending $5.5 million

MIAMI -A plan to bring Tri-Rail to the new All Aboard Florida station in downtown Miami was up for a vote Thursday by the Miami commission.

The commission voted 5-0 to support spending $5.5 million from the city's share of half-penny transit tax proceeds.

The money will go into the pot for the $69 million needed to build Tri-Rail tracks and platforms at Miami Central Station.

The resolution also calls for the city administration to look to other cities for financial help.

Mayor Tomás Regalado had threatened to veto the $11 million originally proposed if the money came out of the city's general fund.

Regalado backed off since the money would come out of money intended for transit improvements.

[spuwho]

Per Miami Herald:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article18291674.html

Push to build Miami Tri-Rail station driven by desire as much as data

A desire to do something — anything — to improve Miami-Dade's limited mass-transit system and wean South Florida off its automobile addiction is fueling a quest to bring commuter trains downtown.

Despite some dramatic proclamations of what that would mean for congested roadways, ridership projections show a minimal impact from connecting Tri-Rail trains from Hialeah to All Aboard Florida's transit hub. Also not an immediate game changer: a proposed $800 million coastal rail system connecting downtown Miami to North Miami, Aventura and Fort Lauderdale along existing FEC railroad tracks.

Tri-Rail executives told the Miami Herald this week that they conservatively expect an additional 2,000 riders will take their trains to and from downtown if and when they open their newest stop at All Aboard's MiamiCentral complex. That would instantly make the station Tri-Rail's busiest. But 2,000 people is a drop in the bucket in a tri-county area of more than 5 million; in Miami-Dade alone, 13,000 drivers pay to ride in the I-95 express lanes every weekday morning.

And while Tri-Rail believes its ambitious plan to build a coastal link on the FEC tracks will double ridership by 2021, that would still only boost train traffic to about 30,000 passengers between Jupiter and Miami. That's small compared to MetroRail, which is used by about 75,000 people every day.

"I understand that people want any solution," said Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, whose administration is now tasked with finding the money to connect Tri-Rail to downtown. "But I don't think this is it."

Regalado, however, may be in the minority. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has championed a Tri-Rail terminus downtown as a "once in a lifetime opportunity," the Miami City Commission is largely supportive, and the independent trust that controls the purse strings to the money raised by Miami-Dade's half-cent transportation tax says creating a Tri-Rail connection downtown "will dramatically improve mass transit in our community."

Their faith is, in some cases, unrelated to any ridership projections — which some Miami officials say have only been vaguely discussed with them, if at all — or on a belief that Tri-Rail is intentionally underestimating to avoid falling short of expectations. There is also the fact that, because Tri-Rail would be piggybacking on All Aboard's development, the project on the table is far cheaper than it would be if the heavily subsidized Tri-Rail were buying land and building on its own.

"The only logical place for commuter rail to terminate/originate is downtown Miami at the Miami Central Station," Charles Scurr, executive director of the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust, wrote in an email to The Herald. "To not seize this opportunity for a true Grand Central Station would be inexplicable."

Currently, Tri-Rail runs trains along the CSX railroad tracks mostly west of I-95 down from Palm Beach, through Broward, and then southwest down to Hialeah and Miami International Airport. Riders who want to head downtown on a train have to pay to transfer to the MetroRail, and riding to downtown directly would ease that process, speed up travel time and reduce the price.

Tri-Rail has been eyeing downtown Miami for some time as a potential terminus, and All Aboard Florida's construction of MiamiCentral, a massive mixed-use complex near Government Center where they plan to run intra-city trains to and from Orlando, opened an opportunity for Tri-Rail to land downtown on the cheap. For $69 million, the publicly subsidized commuter rail system can connect to the FEC tracks and construct its own infrastructure on a train platform 50 feet above the ground.

And, more important, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority executives and local politicians say that would open up a huge opportunity to run Tri-Rail trains north to new stations on the FEC tracks as part of its coastal link system. The agency is still planning the 80-mile system, and expects to spend the next two years nailing down station locations.

"If you live in the Aventura or North Miami Beach area, traffic is very brutal and your bus options to get to downtown Miami or Midtown are slow, and Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton are non existent. It opens up options that you just don't have today," said Joseph Quinty, SFRTA's transportation planning manager. "Right now your choice is your car on U.S. 1 or your car on I-95."

Quinty said Tri-Rail's projections are based on sophisticated analysis, yet he also said the organization is using conservative figures after vastly overstating its ridership projections when the first trains began running in 1989. "We don't want to oversell this," said Jack Stephens, SFRTA's executive director.

So, while on one hand they're tempering expectations, they're also noting that there are a number of factors that suggest commuters will be more willing to get from behind the wheel and onto trains: an ongoing construction boom is expected to create 30,000 new condo units in the greater downtown Miami area; Tri-Rail trains are attracting younger riders, and coastal community mass transit opportunities are limited to busing.

Scurr believes those factors will drive more people to Tri-Rail's trains than their numbers suggest.

Meanwhile, Tri-Rail recently re-connected to Miami International Airport, giving the trains another direct, high-profile connection.

"It's hard to predict what the riders will be because the [FEC] connection doesn't exist yet," said Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez, who sits on the county's regional transportation planning board and has been among the biggest cheerleaders for the project. "Tri-Rail has probably been less successful than what they want it to be, but I think their lack of success had to do with the lack of connectivity."

Still, Tri-Rail's internal projections matter. Miami's administration has asked for ridership numbers in writing, and as of Thursday City Manager Daniel Alfonso said that hadn't happened. Meanwhile, Alfonso and his senior staff members are haggling with Tri-Rail and All Aboard Florida to negotiate the full $69 million package both entities say is needed to fund a downtown Tri-Rail connection.

Currently, the gap between soft commitments and the money needed is around $10 million.

They have until June to come to terms and present the package to the city commission for a vote. Whatever is presented, Miami commissioners will have to decide if the investment is worth the return.

"You have to start with the realization that cars aren't going to satisfy you, and you've probably hit that critical mass," said Commissioner Marc Sarnoff. "We have to figure out, what is the alternative? I think it's light rail."

[finehoe]

City officials plan to re-evaluate the price tag to expand Tri-Rail to downtown Miami, Mayor Tomás Regalado said.

The $69 million cost was estimated in talks among the South Florida Regional Transportation Agency, Tri-Rail's operator; All Aboard Florida; the company that owns All Aboard's rail corridor; and the Florida Department of Transportation.

"That number has never been vetted by the City of Miami," Mr. Regalado said.

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/2015/04/08/miami-to-vet-cost-of-tri-rail-link-downtown/