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.