Future Brevard County Transportation Priorities

BREVARD COUNTY, Florida -- The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization  announced recent Brevard County Transportation updates, which include future Brevard County road projects and the prospect of rail service from Miami, Florida to Orlando, Orlando via Brevard County along State Road 528.

2012 Transportation Road Project Priorities

The Space Coast TPO says that development of a Priority List is a very important step in the planning cycle, as it is the first step in the process of implementing transportation improvement projects.  Each year, new projects are added to the Florida Department of Transportation’s Tentative Five Year Work Program from the Priority List.  The projects below are not all inclusive, but highlight some of the major additions to the FDOT FY 2014-2018 Tentative Work Program.

1. A new southern interchange on I-95, north of Micco Road/ St. Johns Heritage Pkwy – construction has been added to FY 2015 for $28 million.

2. A new northern interchange on I-95 at Ellis Road/St. Johns Heritage Pkwy – right of way acquisition has been added in FY 2015 for $11 million.

3. Intersection improvement at US 192 and Hollywood Blvd – the design phase has been added in FY 2018 for $624,000.

4. SR 524 / SR 501 from I-95/Industry Road to Michigan Avenue – a Project Development and Environmental Study for expanding the roadway has been added in FY 2015 for $1.2 million.

5. US 1 six-laning from Pineda Causeway to Park Avenue – a Project Development and Environmental Study has been added in FY 2015 for $1.7 million.

6. Seaport Capacity for the west turn basin channel at Port Canaveral has been advanced to FY 2014 for $42 million.

7. $20 million per year between FY 2014 – 2018 for Spaceport Improvement projects.

All Aboard Florida, Passenger Rail Service From Orlando to Miami Via State Road 528

In March, 2012, the Florida East Coast Railway announced a major initiative to institute passenger rail service between Orlando and Miami by the end of 2014.  The privately-funded service is called “All Aboard Florida.”  New track traversing Brevard County is required to connect the existing FEC line with Orlando.  

TPO says that its staff has been closely monitoring the progress of All Aboard Florida (AAF) to assess potential benefits and impacts to Brevard County.  The preferred alignment to Orlando has not been announced by AAF.  However, actions are underway to secure the use of the SR 528 right of way.  A station in the Cocoa, Florida area is not planned at the present time.

At the December TPO Board Meeting, Mr. Husein Cumber, FEC Industries Executive Vice President for Corporate Development, presented a summary and status update of the AAF project.