
"According to the July 19 letter, the city of Boca Raton would be required to donate the land necessary for the station, fund the construction of the parking garage and pedestrian bridge over Dixie Highway as well as, provide shuttle services and re-zoning requirements. Whereas, Brightline will provide the appropriate funds necessary for the construction of the physical train station and rail infrastructure improvements.
Although specifics have yet to be discussed, it is clear to see that the city of Boca Raton will hold the majority of the station’s financial responsibilities. Skeptics wonder whether this project is truly financially feasible, with extreme cost estimates surfacing the internet.
According to Boca Mag, a parking garage estimate price is around $20,000 per space, therefore, a garage of 600 spaces could cost around $12 million and a shuttle for downtown could result in a $600,000 cost per year.
Brightline is currently working closely with city staff to determine costs but city council discussions on the station have currently been halted until Brightline presents the city with a formal proposal.
Any privately owned company could face the possibility of bankruptcy in lieu of economic downfall. This can be demonstrated through the current bankruptcy of the hundred-million-dollar company IPIC Entertainment, so what if Brightline faces the same fate? The city of Boca would then provide millions to fund Brightline’s requests just to face financial burden.
Brightline has high hopes in Boca Raton’s ability to assist them in surpassing their 100,000 passengers a month rate should the station be built, but can this truly be possible with the city’s demographic?
Boca Raton resident Kandice Freedman, expresses her concerns on the success of the station due to the residents, “I feel Boca will not really benefit from a train station the way Deerfield and Boynton would because of the demographic. A small percentage of the population in Boca does not have their own transportation, majority would most likely stray away from using the trains.”
Brightline prices average at a commuter cost of $350 to $450 a month, so would this even attract frequent riders?
The site plan provided by Virgin Trains rendering the Junior League of Boca Raton’s Community Garden into a parking lot for the new station must also be addressed. The Community Garden features 100 plots that can be leased by Boca residents on a yearly basis with ten percent of all the fruits and vegetables harvested donated to Boca Helping Hands.
What is now a beautiful garden, flourishing and impacting the community, will soon become an eye-sore of concrete."
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Laura P. I cringe at the thought of Boca or any other city or town, having to bear the expense of things that Brightline wants and needs. Brightline should take full financial responsibility for the costs of all that's mentioned herein. Putting the financial responsibility on the city/town will only result in much higher taxes to the property owners!!!! This is so ridiculous. Where are the advocates for the townspeople, here and anywhere else this is being proposed!!!!?????
Joey G. Corporate welfare.....and that's coming from a Republican
Donald R. And the train people have always touted the Necessity of getting to MCO and 3 hours. Yes Grupo Mexico and Softbank of japan are the owners.
Kay M. Let's talk about the environment...Let's follow the money on this boondoggle just like the one in Cali but I do not think they have killed as many...This is wrong on every level. I live in Sebastian and am furious with the thought of 32 trains a day...And think of it this way; If this were you or I that owned that train, I call it deathline...we would already be in jail...
Philip M. Why did tri rail fail? No one will use it! Tri rail cars smelled like bums were asleep inside. Brightline just kills people.
John S. Hell No! If one lives in Boca, they would never take the train. Boca is one of the wealthiest towns in the east coast of FL
Barry M. at least if it stops in boca it won't kill more people when its stopped at the station
Bill S. No. Not a good idea for anyone...
Mark D. What balls
Blake D. SMH. The train NOR the tracks are even American owned and cities are just going to give them property that will be used to kill Americans?